Advice needed urgently on clutch diameters

[MikeOJ]

I have a 1984 watercooled T25 with 1900 Engine which I understand is not the original engine.

Had it for about 8 years and the gears have often been very still although it seems to vary randomly. I only drive it a couple of hundred miles a year max on annual camping trip etc.

Gears now got so bad that I though i'd try a new clutch kit. I see that there are two diameters 215mm and 228mm. Does anyone know how I can tell which one to buy without physically getting the thing out as I'd prefer one garage bill to replace it rather than two garage visits to check the dimension and then install.

Help much appreciated

[MikeOJ]

Sorry - meant to say gears are 'stiff' rather than 'still'

[toomanytoys]

"stiff"??? explain.. when moving the gear lever?? might want to try and grease up the bushes in the linkage.. before resorting to a clutch change.. normally the one above the fuel tank is forgoten and gets quite bad...

Most are 228mm.. but some early ones were 215mm.. no way of telling without taking apart.. as anyone could have fitted either flywheel and clutch...

[MikeOJ]

Well its actually nigh on impossible to get it into first or reverse when the engine is running, but no problem when the engine is off. It seems to vary though and can sometimes be ok. I've been reading around the forum a bit and there are a few threads re gear linkage lubrication, tightening the clutch pedal cable etc which I'm going to work though tomorrow before resorting to new clutch kit.

I'm not a great mechanic but some of it sounds straightforward to try.

thanks for your help

[toomanytoys]

Spigot bearing in the end of the crank... could also be breaking up.. that would give the symptoms you are getting..

No cable.. its hydraulic is there enough fluid in the resevoir? as the clutch is the first thing to fail when fluid is low.. before the brakes go (same resevoir used)
Is either the clutch master cyl or slave cyl leaking?

[MikeOJ]

Ah you can see I'm not a mechanic. Anyway I'll make sure I check the fluid levels. There is a small fluid leak from left front brake caliper which I am getting fixed with a seal kit, but the gear problem predates that. It was so bad that I broke a gear lever a couple of years ago and replaced it. Spigot sounds worth investigating too.

[MikeOJ]

Well having tried a few things today here's what I've found

Fluid levels fine
No obvious leaking from master and slave cylinders
Linkages look fine with nothing obvious missing
I've greased all linkages and seems to move ok
Gears all select easily with engine off
Once I'd pumped the clutch a few times it was ok selecting first (still need to push lever quite hard for it to pop in, reverse a bit more difficult but selected after some clutch pumping.

So pumping the clutch seems to do it

Is this a sign of a failing master cylinder? Would the aforementioned slight leak from brake system affect the clutch?

Thanks