Maserati clutches

[Parisien]

....so why have I being going into neutral at every opportunity Loz....and freewheeling the beast to a halt?!





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[aliquot]

i was going to ask the same question

plus i avoid putting back into gear till the last minute

 

[lozcb]

Clutch only engages when the brake switch is disengaged ,( otherwords your foot is off the brake ) sometimes if your unsure of the amount of time you will spend at the lights/junction then no harm going into neutral and then re engaging gears to pull away,


regards loz

 

[aliquot]

thanks for clarifying that Loz. I did wonder if that was the case, but since the car had a new clutch just before i purchased i thought i would after it.

 

[2b1ask1]

Hmmm...If it is in gear I accept that the clutch may be full disengaged whilst your foot is on the brakes but that means it is 100% pressure on the thrust bearing surely??? I have not seen one apart but this is either going to be a carbon/graphite type ring in contact with the clutch spider or it is like the old Fiat ones and is a deep grove bearing with an extended center that remains in contact... My money would be on the latter as this wopuld account for the owl noise if it is run dry by heat? If it is dropped back to neutral the clutch will re-engage relaving the pressure on the thrust mechanism. This has to be better?

 

[lozcb]

Hmmm...If it is in gear I accept that the clutch may be full disengaged whilst your foot is on the brakes but that means it is 100% pressure on the thrust bearing surely??? I have not seen one apart but this is either going to be a carbon/graphite type ring in contact with the clutch spider or it is like the old Fiat ones and is a deep grove bearing with an extended center that remains in contact... My money would be on the latter as this wopuld account for the owl noise if it is run dry by heat? If it is dropped back to neutral the clutch will re-engage relaving the pressure on the thrust mechanism. This has to be better?

Its not the release bearing that queals but the spiggot bearing , a mere £15 in the scale of things , but 8 hours labour to change , common fault and not particuarly threating when going , just annoying



regards loz

 

[hunta]

Its not the release bearing that queals but the spiggot bearing , a mere £15 in the scale of things , but 8 hours labour to change , common fault and not particuarly threating when going , just annoying



regards loz

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a pet owl (love that description - I've been trying to describe it for ages). Roberto at Grimaldi identified it as clutch-related but didn't give any more info, just recommended that it was doing no harm and could be treated for little extra the next time the clutch is done.

Excuse the blatant show of ignorance, but would someone mind pointing out the various functions of thrust and spiggot bearings? (I think I'm there with the clutch...!)

 

[sibradbury]

One thing in favour of keeping the car in neutral at the lights, is that if you brake heavily to stop, the pads are still hot and whilst the rest of the brake disc is cooling, you keep a lot of heat in the area of the discs around pads which can result in warping. For that reason I don't keep the car in gear and on the brake at lights (plus I had heard that it saves wear on the clutch)

 

[lozcb]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a pet owl (love that description - I've been trying to describe it for ages). Roberto at Grimaldi identified it as clutch-related but didn't give any more info, just recommended that it was doing no harm and could be treated for little extra the next time the clutch is done.

Excuse the blatant show of ignorance, but would someone mind pointing out the various functions of thrust and spiggot bearings? (I think I'm there with the clutch...!)

Spiggot bearing is the one that supports the central shaft that the clutch plate is operated from , wheras the release bearing is the one that engages and retracts the clutch plate to and from the flywheel , if that helps


regards loz

 

[Klive]

Excuse the blatant show of ignorance, but would someone mind pointing out the various functions of thrust and spiggot bearings? (I think I'm there with the clutch...!)

Here you go. As simple as I can! Numbers relate to the Eurospares pictures, t for top, b for bottom.
The bit that spins in the engine called the crankshaft (1t) has to connect to the bit that spins under the car, called the driveshaft or torque tube, taking the power to the gearbox. This is achieved through the clutch shaft (25b).
At the end of the crankshaft a large metal disc is bolted called a flywheel (3b). The clutch bit (1b) is a disk with a specific friction material on it that disconnects from the flywheel allowing the crankshaft to spin at a different speed to the clutch shaft. Thus you can change gear and stop.
The thrust or clutch bearing (9b) is the bit which is pushed up hard against the clutch to disengage it from the flywheel.
The clutch shaft is splined, as is the hole in the centre of the clutch, because when the clutch disengages from the flywheel it needs to slide along the clutch shaft.
To prevent the clutch shaft wobbling around in mid air when the clutch is disengaged, it needs to be supported. This is done by drilling a hole in the end of the crankshaft and slidiing the end of the clutch shaft in it. As these spin at different speeds they need to be joined through a bearing. This is the spigot bearing (9t).
You may also hear of the bell housing bearing (23b). This is another bearing that supports the other end of the clutch shaft just before it enters the driveshaft.

How's that?

 

[BennyD]

Very nice Klive. A concise and easy to understand precis. Well done, and thanks.

 

[hunta]

How's that?

Klive, you're a gent - crystal clear, very grateful to you for taking the time.

 

[2b1ask1]

Not your 45 mimute change of your family hatchback then! Thanks Klive / Miles very useful info.

 

[rs48635]

Nice one Klive.

This rings a bell now, when I fitted new clutch on our old 911 (engine and box out of the car) I fitted a "top-hat bearing" into the face of the flywheel. This must be the spigot bearing. Advised to do it "while I was in there" as it cost about a tenner, but takes a full day to access.
Never realised the free end of clutch shaft actually sits in this bearing when your left foot is on the floor.

 

[2b1ask1]

So if it is the spigot bearing that is giving the owl some voice... is it possible and or worthwhile changing just that and is it possible to achieve this without disturbing the cliutch settings?

If this is the case it may be a job I could tackle myself or not advised?

 

[hunta]

2b1, from what I understand it's as long a job as it is to change the clutch, so it tends to wait until then. I'd love to hear otherwise though - mine was in fine voice this afternoon driving through town (hill starts up the high street). Caused a few puzzled looks!

 

[Klive]

2b1, to get to the spigot bearing bearing you've got to take the clutch out.
I had just the spigot bearing changed on mine a few times when I first bought it, fortunately under warranty as it's around a £1000 in labour to get to it.

 

[2b1ask1]

Cheers, I'm aware that disturbing parts of the electronic clutch would require resetting by computer effectively scuppering a home done fix and that the clutch also requires shimming and ballancing I was just hopeing the owl could be vanquished without disturbing the expensive bits!

 

[Emtee]

the clutch also requires shimming and ballancing

There are conflicting opinions on this.

Having had conversations with both Graypaul and Shiltech, there seem to be many that do not balance the clutch, nor think it necessary, though I have heard other reports that it's a requirement.

There's a link here where it was discussed in more detail... http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/showthread.php/1295-Clutch-replacement?highlight=clutch+balancing

Em.

 

[Parisien]

................so its 50/50 split by the sounds of it? The Maserati mechanic I dealt with in Belfast said he can do them minus the kit.........


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