Lagondaforum

Subject: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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Does anyone make and sell the greasing cap that one is supposed to use to periodically grease the clutch driving pins? Also, does anyone know the modern equivalent of "solidified oil"?

Thanks!

John

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Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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Suggest you contact BishopGray who are good Lagonda specialist engineers - based in Aldermaston, Berkshire call Brian Bishop on 07776 005633 or Charles Gray on 07720 401845

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Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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You don't really need a special device for this. In my experience the easiest thing is just to squirt a bit of engine oil in the pins every now and then.
It works perfectly, better than with grease actually.

Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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I have a tub of what is called "chassis grease". It's very thick and like treacle, yet at the same time when left to settle has oil in it. IMHO this would be perfect to this job.

The problem with ordinary engine oil is that it will not stay there very long and may instead find its way onto the clutch linings. I think instead a few squirts of steering box lubricant would do the trick.

The other issue is that if the pins are worn and have ridges on them, the pressure plate will not slide smoothly on them. However it is a foul job to dismantle a 2 Litre Clutch in situ, so try thick oil first!

Colin M34

Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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In my experience grease or even thick oil are not ideal to grease the clutch pins on a 2 Litre. On my car (which has relatively new pins) the clutch tends to stick when I use them.
I squirt in a bit of engine oil every 1000 miles or so, a small job which takes me no longer than a few minutes. I have never had trouble with oily clutch plates; even if some oil would drip on them it will be rubbed off the moment you use the clutch.
If you're really in a hurry and the pins need immediate freeing, a bit of WD40 from a spray can is ideal. The little tube fits exactly in the pins and one brief squirt per pin does the job (and nicely blows out the dirt and frees the clutch if it had stuck). Of course that does not last very long but certainly long enough for the trip.

Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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May I suggest motorcycle chain lube. The spray can form offers an easily sprayed (inc via small tube) format with a lubricant that goes in in a very liquid form, so it gets onto the pins along their length, but subsequently becomes much more viscous so it does not run off into places it should not such as the clutch face. It lasts well too, so you only need to do it occasionally.

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Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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Brilliant!

This sounds exactly like my chassis grease and of course, on reflection from my motorcycle days this is a very similar application. Having it in a convenient spray can is a bonus so thanks for a great idea. I will go and get a can.

Colin

Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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I have tried that but it made the clutch stick terribly - at least on my car. I had to use petrol to get it all out again.

Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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I would like to say a bit more about this - hope it will be of use to you. I had to deal with this problem about a year ago when I restored my clutch and also had to put in new pins as two had broken off.
I did actually make a device which screws into the pin and has a grease nipple at the other end (you're welcome to have it John!) It works fine but grease, as I found out, is not the right lubricant for these pins. When I used it the clutch got semi-stuck and started to "lag behind". Very unpleasent when you drive. I then used the "motorcycle chain lube" as described above; somebody had told that it is fluid when you squirt it into the pin and then becomes more grease-like. However, although very practical, it made the clutch stick completely. It took me half a day to get it all out and clean again. From my experience I can say that I find the best way to lubricate the clutch is to press the nozzle of an oil can against the hole in the pins and squirt in a bit of regular engine oil. It doesn't matter if some oil leaks on the clutch lining -that is rubbed off the first time you use it and you don't even notice it. Also it is not necessary to do it often. I have just completed a 1000+ Mile tour of the Dordogne with my car and never looked at the clutch. However, IF the clutch should stick it is easy to use a spray can of WD40 which will free it immediately. It would be best to put in some engine oil right after that but it is not even necessary. It happened to me last summer on a very hot day (and I hadn't oiled the pins for a long time!) and I just used the WD40 which only took me a few minutes and enabled me to finish the trip (about 50 miles) without problems.

Subject: Re: Clutch driving pin greaser?

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Quite a late reply but here is a simple adaptor I made: modern grease nipple on one side 5/16 BSF thread on the other for the floating pins.

Solidified grease could be Shell Retinax G. I used it in the gearbox of my Aero 18 30 yers ago (and it is still there).

I wonder myself whether grease or oil is better for the clutch pins. Several Lagonda people recommended oil. On the other hand grease is much more viscous, so when you press it in, it distributes more evenly to the 3 exit holes of the pin. And it was recommended by Lagonda.

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