Fast Marina Magazine

I was contacted by a club member who has bought a non-runner only to find that both the clutch slave and the push-rod was missing. I have been able to help with the slave, but don't have a spare push-rod. The guy has a lathe and can turn up one if we can supply the dimensions

I was wondering wheter it might be worthwhile having some made up in stainless steel - would anyone want one?

In the meantime, if anyone has their car apart or a spare rod, could you measure it and let me know the dimensions (either imperial or metric), mine is in the car and I really don't want to grovel for it at the moment.

i.e.

Overall length
Length of rod shaft
Diameter of rod shaft
Diameter of the mushroom button
Length of the mushroom button

Thanks in advance

Hi Chris, I will have a look in the garage at the weekend and see if I have a spare pushrod in my box for measuring.

I would like a nice stainless one if they get done 8)
Mine was a bit rusty and my gearbox may come out soon!

Thanks Philip

If you can post the dimensions here or PM me that would be great.

Paul,

I'll have to cost out a stainless steel version, if they are too dear that it won't be worth having them done if no-one will buy them.

Well keep me posted Chris as I will be wanting one as I can't see them being to expensive for stock rod turned down.
They always get pitted and be nice to have a polished one 8)

All,

Martec has come up with the dimensions and I have just bought some 304 grade stainless steel rod, so now to contact my local machine shop.

I don't know the cost yet, but I'd be interested in expressions of interest, to give me an idea of how many to get made.

Just the one for me

May be worth keeping for a spare, depends on price, as always :| :|

When I bought my MK2 it didn't have one, and still doesn't. So I would be interested in one or two.

Whats the betting there are six of you out in your garages right now.



Made from 0.281" Diameter stock steel. it is 3.525" long. I suspect that the diameter and length is not too critical +- 0.025". One end is turned to a crude radius with just the edges radiused as this fits in the cup of the slave cylinder piston.
The other end is more complex and may have to be fabricated as It has been swaged or forged to 0.50" Diameter with a 0.3125" radius head that locates on the clutch arm. It could be replicated by welding a domed button on the end rather than attempting a swage. I would not like to replace it with a simple domed end on the shaft, as the other, as the point load on a sheet bracket would be very high and the angle of contact varies as the clutch plate wears.

Do I get the first one off the production run for my troubles? I would be happy to arrange for a few to be made in Stainless if there is enough interest.

The trouble is that you will have to lever the clutch arm out of the way to fit this. Marinacoupe has done it with a ratchet strap but I have a home made tool that should fit in the confines of a Marina.

See above Steve,

Thanks for the dimensions, Martec beat you to it! Already bought some stainless steel rod to run some off.

Oops. Sorry Chris.
I wont bother doing an enginering drawing then....

MarinaCoupe wrote:See above Steve,

Thanks for the dimensions, Martec beat you to it! Already bought some stainless steel rod to run some off.

I have a spare that i will never need (Cable clutch) that i will post out free of charge to you. PM me your address.

I would imagine that if the rod was the diameter of the large button end the rest could be turned down although there as a lot of waste and stainless being harder than steel it would not need to be hardened etc.
I agree that the large domed end will need to be there as I think it would punch through the clutch fork / lever otherwise.

Simple part to make with a good lathe.

I have bought some 15mm dia rod (304 grade) for turning down, so the rod and the button end are all one peice.