Bradford Clutch Adjustment

Keith Andrews · Post by **Keith Andrews** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:19 pm

The Bradford I purchased is worn...yesterday I had to set about adjusting the clutch....A fully reconed gearbox clutch plate/clutch is sitting here to go in with the engine when rebuilt...but in the mean time...

The manual goes along these lines.
1/release clamp on thrust bearing shaft (mayhave to open further with a screwdriver forces in till loose)
2/pedal upper end 1 1/4 from floor board ( stick and siized block under the pedal helps here)
3/turn the thrust bearing shaft forward from the left side till the trust pad is in contact with thrust ring
4/lock the clamp (make sure the trust shaft has no play on the left side and the clamp is against the side of the bellhousing) and release pedal.
5/set the return stops.

This is fine where the linkages and trust shaft bushes are not worn or baddly worn...If they are u will not get the clutch to work.

So for worn bushes linkages
I do not know the state of the clutch or pressure plate..new/worn or how worn.
1/ loosen off the clamp and spread so is loose.
2/remove 1 end of each of the adjustable length actuating shafts (2)and adjust the top one so no play when long...this pushes. And the lower one (pulls) shortened. So that both work at the same time. If this is not done the housing bush will slop out quickly, and if already baddly worn, will help to take up slack free play. It is best to have the top shaft with threads 3/4 scewed in and the bottom 3/4 screwed out as a starting point. If in the middle u may run out of usable threads if start in the middle of the threads
3/ set the pedal about 1/2 to 3/4 inch down from the top. A screwdrive handle between the body and pedal lever under car holds this in place.
4/turn the thrust bearing shaft forward from the left side till the trust pad is in contact with thrust ring.
5/lock the clamp (make sure the trust shaft has no play on the left side and the clamp is against the side of the bellhousing) and release pedal.
6/Recheck any end play in the top and bottom activating shafts.
7/Check the clutch works. Normally (I believe) the clutch engages towards the bottom of the pedal travel...due to wear in linkages and trust bearing shaft bushes, this is not possible and the clutch will now engage 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up the pedal travel.
8/Set the upper and lower stops.

A job that should have take 10/15mins turned into a couple hrs just figuring out how and where to take up worn slack...Manuals dont meantion "if the car is 60yrs old and worn....do it like this " lol

The improvement with the clutch was dramatic on test drive...If the engine had more power I would have wheel spun on the driveway...an excellent /clean operation of the clutch.

As Im still on a learning curve, comments suggestions from those more expetrianced is welcomed.

Post by **Forumadmin** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:04 am

You might get wheelspin with a greasy road and bald tyres; but not much chance on a dry road with a Braddie!

Keith Andrews · Post by **Keith Andrews** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:30 pm

Bald tyres? In my books there is no such thing, not a phrase in my vocabulary...and they should never exist.
Min tread is 5mm here in NZ, I have yet to have a tyre below 6 or 7mm in 40yrs.

Keith Andrews · Post by **Keith Andrews** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:59 pm

If the engine had more power I would have wheel spun on the driveway...an excellent /clean operation of the clutch.

Its a tongue in cheek comment..
To even attempt a wheel spin in a Bradford is disrespct to the vechile.

I walk out the back door..."what will I drive today?"
400 +hp mid 13 sec classic '69 Camaro..or Bradford... or the jappa?
All daily drivers.
So any abuse of the Braddy is out of the question.

Steps

Tony Fearn · Post by **Tony Fearn** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:52 pm

Chill out Keith.
Lose the Camaro and the Jappa, and use the Bradford as much as you can so you will come to see the world from a different perspective, but keep sending your posts!! They're very interesting. Regards, Tony.

Keith Andrews · Post by **Keith Andrews** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:31 pm

LMAO !!!
M8 the other day I took the jappa out...every bloody time I started off in 2nd lol...
Everyone else is the other way around, jump in the braddy and hit reverse

No never get rid of the Camaro, the wife banned the subject around 10 yrs ago..had it for 26yrs now...The Camaro that is.