Re: Looking for a part

[Mike Wattam <MikeWattam@domain.elided>]

Hi Frank

With the 'A' type overdrive there should be a switch below the base of the
gearlever which prevents engagement of overdrive in 1st and 2nd gears. 
This is provided to prevent the increased torque available in the lower
gears from physically breaking the overdrive (Laycock reasoning).

You should be able to bleed the clutch just by opening the bleed valve on
the slave cylinder and letting the fluid work its way through.  However,
the slave cylinder is often inmcorrectly fitted by DPO the wrong way up,
with the fluid inlet connection at the top and bleed valve at the bottom. 
The bleed valve needs to be at the top in order to get all the air out.

Then suspect a scored/rusted bore on the slave cylinder which fares badly
due to closeness to the road, especially if used with Glycol-based brake
fluid which takes in the moisture very easily and causes corrosion of the
walls.  Or if you are using a reconditioned slave cylinder, it may be
bell-mouthed due to over-enthusiastically cleaning off the corrosion - you
could pull air in every time the clutch is returned.

Otherwise the master cylinder seal is not doing its work and you can check
this by getting somebody else to depress the pedal while you watch the
fluid going down (or not!).

Hope the above helps.

IMHO - Mike Wattam
Chairman - Triumph Stag Register