Clutch replacement.

[conaero]

Go on Loz, have a go, I know I will.

I have another mole in a main dealer at the moment who is doing some undercover SM investigations, so if he comes up with the same conclusion as above, I will do my next clutch, especially as I am looking into a 4 post lift at the moment.

Do the clutch yourself, buy a 4 post lift with the money you saved.....simples!

Brand new 975 notes:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPERB-BRAND-...g_Equipment&hash=item4cef9ecba2#ht_4163wt_989

2.7meters in height, I am gona get the tape measure out tonight.

I have just sent them an email to check that it is for domestic 240v, cost of installation.....anyone fancy another group buy?

I can also serve as a car storage option, where you can put one car on the lift and park another below it.

Width is 3352mm

 

[conaero]

Just heard back:

Hi Matt,
NO VAT TO PAY!
YES 240V DOMESTIC SUPPLY AS IT IS A SINGLE PHASE
we will supply,deliver and fully installed by our engineers to CHICHESTER west sussex at £1320
all included!
Ramp come complete with CONTROL BOX(insurance compliant)warning buzzer,emergency switch function,alarm,sensor,on/off switch by keys...
Fully CE certified,12 months
for you peace of mine we always got all the spares parts in stock,and easily accessible anyway,you also got the option ti joint our maintenant schedule every 6 months(inspection and service)
Any more enqueries feel free to ask
Kind regards
David

 

[Parisien]

Sounds very enticing Conaero........are you salivating at the thought?!...


P

 

[conaero]

oooohhhhh yeeeesssss!!!!!!

 

[ENZ525]

Would love one, but am vertically challenged.

 

[safrane]

Me too...in the garage dept. Also I have to re-read Caneros post when ever he mentiones SM investigations! Just so I don't get the wrong idea about him.

 

[Parisien]

Me too...in the garage dept. Also I have to re-read Caneros post when ever he mentiones SM investigations! Just so I don't get the wrong idea about him.

Oh......you mean hes missing out the "&".........between SM......sorta......


P

 

[safrane]

Ruddy hope he's not!

 

[conaero]

You guys!!!!!

 

[JAGPURR]

Hi Matt,
Congratulations on the four post lift, you will have to post a pic!
I'm with you on the diy clutch change I was always dubious regarding the nessesity for ballancing.
Just to stir thing up even more, This kiss point thing, it seems like a software adjustment as I can't see any mechanical or electrical mechanisms that adjust anywhere near the clutch. Therfor is it a timing issue ie. the opperating time of the clutch release or the travel as measured by the sensor?( it would require detection of movement down to fractions of a millimeter which I doubt is practical in this environment. I personally think the sensor just tells the gearbox if the clutch is in or out) And once set up does it alter? If it alters to take account of clutch wear then I assume they mearly reset it to the optimum. If it does not alter why would it need changing and adjusting at each clutch change?
There that should keep this thread alive for a little while yet.

Keith

 

[Parisien]

Good points Keith......by asking these question we sortof unravel the myths surrounding the maintenance of the Maseratis!

And if lucid, clear and un-ambivalent answers aren't forthcoming, why spend the extra dosh!? As you say, just being set to an optimum point does leave room for manoeuvre!

Will await further clarification from those in the know....


P

 

[conaero]

Keith, thanks for your reply. I have not gone for the ramp yet, will have to pass it via the missus who will probably have kittens. Told my mates about this last night down the pub and they are all queuing up to use it if it happens.

With regards to the clutch KIS point, it will be all set up by Mike Roberts with his SD2. He only lives up the road, so it will be about £50 or so for him to come out to me and set it up. This setting is crucial, and needs to be reset so the clutch wear is accurate from the installation of a new clutch plate. I am not sure, but imaging this is how it works out the clutch wear. I suppose that if you tell it, its a new clutch and then set the KIS point, it can then calculate the wear as the friction plate thins and the KIS point is fixed. Only guessing here, but it must we some sort of maths in this department.

 

[Parisien]

will have to pass it via the missus who will probably have kittens.

Yes Conaero.....................when the late Denis Thatcher was asked...........

"Who wears the trousers in your marriage?"

His terse reply was...........


"I do......................................but I also wash them and iron them!"




P

 

[conaero]

Yep, I can sort of understand that statement.

 

[Emtee]

Hi Matt,
Congratulations on the four post lift, you will have to post a pic!
I'm with you on the diy clutch change I was always dubious regarding the nessesity for ballancing.
Just to stir thing up even more, This kiss point thing, it seems like a software adjustment as I can't see any mechanical or electrical mechanisms that adjust anywhere near the clutch. Therfor is it a timing issue ie. the opperating time of the clutch release or the travel as measured by the sensor?( it would require detection of movement down to fractions of a millimeter which I doubt is practical in this environment. I personally think the sensor just tells the gearbox if the clutch is in or out) And once set up does it alter? If it alters to take account of clutch wear then I assume they mearly reset it to the optimum. If it does not alter why would it need changing and adjusting at each clutch change?
There that should keep this thread alive for a little while yet.

Keith

Hi Keith, I spoke to the guys at Shiltech about this and they too believe ballancing, although possible, is unnecessary. They themselves don't ballance clutches they fit.

With regard to the adjustments, and I can only 'speak' generally here as my discussions weren't detailed enough; yes this is software driven.

Firstly the car needs to be told it has a new clutch fitted to effectively register the new baseline from which to take measurements. As a result of this the car then needs to know it's new kiss point. (Now on this one I have a question myself as surely a 'kiss' point or the point at which the clutch first begins to engage, is the same as the PIS point, or point of initial slippage, yes one is an engagement and the other a release, but aren't they the same measurement? yet I hear of them referred to independently?). Anyway, The setting of the kiss and/or PIS is also software driven and yes you're right that there doesn't appear to be sensors around the clutch, but I believe there is on the F1 pump and it is this sensor that is used to set kiss and PIS (hydraulic pressure measurement?) and also then controls the adjustment of the kiss and PIS (via the ECU) during the life of the clutch.

I'm throwing the above in as possible points for further clarification as my conversation was only general, but I will try to get more details from Shiltech when I'm next there.

Cheers, Miles.

 

[conaero]

Excellent work Miles, I have one further of my moles asking the same question in an Indie, so if that comes back with the same as you then I would be prepared to do my own clutch, as I have the step by step instructions.

Access is the only issue, but I am working on that one.

All I need now is for my clutch to go...I am sure it wont be long.

 

[JAGPURR]

Hi Guys,

Glad to hear that the moles are buisy. Judging by the replies and interest this thread is generating ,I would gather that the clutch issue is quite a bone of contention.
My thoughts are that the older these cars get the buyers start to become less affluent as it were ( please excuse me if I'm being patronising, I do include myself in this catagory ) and so the cost of maintaining our cars is a lot more of an issue. It's not good if you own a car that nobody wants to buy because they can't afford to maintain it. That does nothing for the value of our cars. Once their value becomes sub 10k I fear they will rapidly become worthless ? Maybe a bit severe but you get my drift. You see a lot of old good cars falling to bits due to lack of maintenance not because these cars are unloved, but just that the cars become financially unviable to maintain. If getting a new clutch costs the equivelent of a quarter of the cars value would you buy it?
I think this is one reason we must endevor to seek alternative ways of keeping our babies alive and well ,rather than chucking dosh in the dealers direction.
Keith

 

[Parisien]

Agree 100% Keith......thats why we bought these 2nd hand......but hoping things won't go wrong just after purchase, because we all have our limits...!!!

The easier, cheaper and less mythical we can make repairs and general care the better!

Maserati ultimately benefit, the buyer benefits, the indies benefit and the car world benefits........winners all around!


P

 

[Dave]

The clutch in my 4200 (manual) was changed, in October last year, by The Ferrari Centre (not my favourite dealer) just before I bought it. I quizzed the workshop about the parts and "balancing" and they said that it was no longer needed as the parts were balanced at the factory........May just be a cop out of doing the job properly or genuine. I've had no vibration although it does "rattle" from cold while I close the garage door. If I open the drivers door and listen the noise stops when I depress the clutch ie prop stops turning....maybe the support bearing in the bell housing is grumbling a bit ?

 

[conaero]

Well, the way I see it, its not a question of money, ok, I am carful with my money, but if someone tells me I cant do something, it makes me more determined to prove them wrong.

Its that the dealer tells you that you need 'Specialist tools' to do a job has always bought the sceptic out in me....and in this case, the fact that this forum has probed and asked the question is a great testament.

My clutch is fine, and was replaced a year/7k miles ago.

Loz, I know you need to do yours and you have the parts, surely it must be worth a crack...Ill give you a hand even.