Jowett Kestrel Rebuild & Restoration

[ian Howell]

Well now, having had a look, I see (I think!): -

My clutch pedal is clamped outside the bell housing onto a cross-tube through the bell housing that in turn carries a 'finger' either side of the gearbox input shaft that push the clutch thrust bearing onto the toggle levers and thus operate the clutch.

So far, so good.

The clamp on the clutch pedal 'arm' or 'lever' has a boss roughly 1 1/2" diameter and about 3/4" wide on the side nearest the bell housing.

There are then a couple of spacers about 1 1/4" diameter and totalling 5/8" wide between the 'inside' of the boss and the outside of the bell housing. Total gap about 1 3/8".

There are no signs of 'chafing' where any return spring would have rested on the boss of the clutch pedal arm, or the pedal arm itself or on the spacers, and no obvious places where the inner end of any return spring could have rested / should rest on the bell housing.

Fairly simple (is it ever?) to make up a spring with an extended 'hook' at one end to engage with the pedal itself, but where should the other end rest?

There are also no signs of any possible anchorages on the clutch pedal arm to fit - for example - an ordinary tension spring to return the pedal to a 'rest' position against the floorboards.

What have I missed or is missing?

[Keith Clements]

Perhaps a PM /email to Ken Rogers (member = k.rogers) might shed some light.

[ian Howell]

Good idea Keith. If there is no further info here I was thinking more about Tim Brown as his car's chassis number is only about 6 from mine so would probably be similar.

[richard turner]

The return spring is not a conventional return spring but is a coil spring around the shaft and to the pedal at on end and to the mechanism at the other. As previously mentioned the pre war spring is different to the Bradford. Regards Richard

[ian Howell]

Richard: -

This sounds like mine - the question is EXACTLY where does the 'other' (non-pedal) end of the spring rest?

I can see no bosses, lugs, studs or holes where things should be.

Hmmm . . .

[Tony Fearn]

Ian have you seen this before?
The set-up depends on the clutch pedal being held hard against the foot board by the pedal return spring.
https://jowettnet/forum/download/file.p ... &mode=view

[richard turner]

Will take a look at mine next weekend. The location of the other end is vague and tricky! It requires to be under torsion and will lock locate wherever there is somewhere suitable. Can't remember a definite lug or similar.

[ian Howell]

Tony: -

Yes I have seen those instructions but again there is no mention of the clutch pedal return spring.

Richard: - That sounds 'interesting'! I will have another, more careful, look at mine but I am reasonably sure there is no obvious place for the 'other' end of the spring to engage.

Also I find it a bit odd that there are no wear marks to be seen. Just about everything else on the car was worn to b. Er Out!

This is what makes Jowetteering fun! (Apparently).

[Tony Fearn]

Hi Ian,
Still doesn't show the anchorage points, but you'll have to agree that they are there, as shown in a couple of cross tubes in my spares.

Tony.

[AlanBartlett]

Does it not hook onto the pedal shaft mounting bracket sort of like a "U" shape tail off the spring, around metal bracket, then around the pedal shaft then another U shape around the actually clutch lever pedal? I don't think there is any hole as such for it just sort of hooked around the two points? Hope this helps. Can take a picture of mine if it is of any use?

[ian Howell]

Well now All: -

From these pictures it appears we are 'talking' somewhat at cross purposes. In all these set-ups it looks as if the clutch is operated by TWO rods acting in what the Jowett literature describes as a 'rolling action'. One rod pushing, the other one pulling a double ended lever on the clutch shaft.

On my car the clutch pedal is clamped DIRECTLY onto a tube/shaft that runs in TWO BOSSES cast into the sides of the bell housing.

Inside the bell housing there are two 'fingers' clamped onto the tube/shaft which (after 1/16" clearance) bear on the clutch thrust bearing that in turn pushes three lightly-spring-loaded toggle levers that then separate the clutch plate via plungers.

Both the BOSSES referred to above are practically smooth, with no obvious place for the 'other' end of the pedal return spring to push against.

Perhaps I am wrong in assuming that there SHOULD be a spring, like the ones shown in your various photos, AROUND the shaft OUTSIDE the bell housing where there are a couple of spacers on the shaft that sort of invite the presence of a return spring?

If so, a couple of questions arise: -

a/ Is this the correct type of gearbox for the age of the car? It is definitely a 1930 model and the gearbox is three speed, ball-change type.

b/ If it is correct, then HOW should the clutch pedal be returned to a 'rest' position against the floorboards? As I said before, there is no obvious point on the pedal arm for a tension-type spring to be fitted between it and the floorboards.

I got a photo and it was B----Y cold out there![attachment=0]clutch spring 004v2.JPG[/attachment]

[ian Howell]

I got a photo and it was B----Y cold out there!(See previous post please.

(Just in case I missed the 'last post'!

The boss on the bell housing is tapered and smooth so anything resting on it would slip.

[richard turner]

1930 is a little early for me. Best guess is a circumferential spring with a hook supporting the pedal and a tag that locates adjacent to the horizontal shown in your photo. Had a look in the shed but couldn't locate the springs. Rich

[ian Howell]

Richard: -

That coincides with my thinking BUT:

Whilst there could easily be a 'hook' end to go round the pedal shaft, there is no obvious place for the 'other' end of the spring to get a 'foothold'. Hence my questions.

However, in the middle of the night (am I the only one that worries like this?) I did begin to wonder if there might be a hole in the machined face of the boss where a tag on the end of the spring might find a resting place.

We shall see . . .

[AlanBartlett]

Ian, I'm wondering if it lists any springs in an early 30s spares list?

That is one of the places I look when I get stuck.

Is there a spares list for early 30s cars?