Hydraulic Throw out bearing

[Dingocooke]

I laughed out (mc)loud when I read this thread, yep Ive had McLeods finest(sic), resealed it, switched from DOT4 to DOT 3, resealed again, emailed McLeod numerous times, no answer, wrote a proper paper letter with a nice sticky stamp, even used american english (just in case) its clear by McLeods (total and utter lack of) response that they know the 'product' is not suited to purpose; that is unless your purpose is on a race or strip car that will have the engine gearbox pulled frequently and a reseal then is no real chore.
I gave up and put my Mcjunk in the bin marked 'dont ever use again', I was going to throw it in the river but felt sorry for the fish!!

Whatever you plan to do, build an external slave system; I was hindered by the spaceframe chassis on the car I had then (a RAM cobra replica), but got around it by using an external Wilwood pull cylinder slave; presto a leak free result (this was on an ED kitted 302 SBF with Tremec TR3550TKO and steel scattershield).

My opinion? The McLeod hydraulic bearing is expensive junk, I cant speak for other manufacturers throw out bearings, but the very fact that theyre installed inside the bell housing makes a reseal a gearbox out job, whereas an external slave cylinder reseal is a casual saturday morning walk in the park:-)

My experience from this side of the pond!!

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by Dingocooke

I laughed out (mc)loud when I read this thread, yep Ive had McLeods finest(sic), resealed it, switched from DOT4 to DOT 3, resealed again, emailed McLeod numerous times, no answer, wrote a proper paper letter with a nice sticky stamp, even used american english (just in case) its clear by McLeods (total and utter lack of) response that they know the 'product' is not suited to purpose; that is unless your purpose is on a race or strip car that will have the engine gearbox pulled frequently and a reseal then is no real chore.
I gave up and put my Mcjunk in the bin marked 'dont ever use again', I was going to throw it in the river but felt sorry for the fish!!

Whatever you plan to do, build an external slave system; I was hindered by the spaceframe chassis on the car I had then (a RAM cobra replica), but got around it by using an external Wilwood pull cylinder slave; presto a leak free result (this was on an ED kitted 302 SBF with Tremec TR3550TKO and steel scattershield).

My opinion? The McLeod hydraulic bearing is expensive junk, I cant speak for other manufacturers throw out bearings, but the very fact that theyre installed inside the bell housing makes a reseal a gearbox out job, whereas an external slave cylinder reseal is a casual saturday morning walk in the park:-)

My experience from this side of the pond!!

You must drink Budweiser and put ice in your tea. I didn't think the Brits were big whiners.

David,
That Jamo is behind everything.

[Dingocooke]

Hi Tony
Nope 100% not a whiner!
I take my tea hot with a dash of milk, and Budweiser is called shandy over here (ie like beer thats been 50-50 mixed lemonade) the girls like it though. Im not sure its strong enough to get me drunk enough to whine!

No, the reason for my post was because I hate it when a company sells a product that just isnt up to the job in hand, then ignores all polite requests for tech help, if these posts saved one person wasting their hard earned cash on kit that is substandard, then I think thats a positive outcome; of course I could just sit back, keep quiet and suck the mop; is that what you'd do ;-)

[David Kirkham]

From the look of his avatar I think you are right!

David


oh, man, I can feel a pay-back coming.

[Igofastr]

I've had my car on the road for about a year. I just noticed that the clutch is a little soft, and checked the reservoir...half low. Humm....wonder if its the hydraulic TO?...made by.... Mcleod.

Dang, I hate having to take out the seats!!

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Naumoff,

I was a fool; I was an idiot; I was wrong, I was...what else do you want me to say? It is probably right! Just call me John Kerry.

The units usually blew up about 1 year into ownership...which leads me to my feelings of today! They worked great in the beginning when you first put them in. Anyway, I repent of my error of the past.

Jamo,

I still like your's.

David

[Dingocooke]

oh dear, dont tell anyone though, you might be accused of being a whiner; let them find out for themselves LOL on a serious note Im sorry to hear yours has gone belly up as; sometimes its just the banjo seals, so if you are resealing, get those seals as well. If the banjos are leaking it doesnt get on the clutch cover plate/friction plate unless youre very unlucky, unlike the main seals springing a leak, in which case it can soon get to the clutch. If you can work out an external solution it will be better in the long run, but I'd check for fluid in the bell housing drain hole 1st before you decide mr leaky is the culprit.

[David Kirkham]

I know someone who makes a really cool external unit with NO welding required!

David


I'll give you a good discount. I feel your pain man.

[Dingocooke]

Nice one; thats the spirit!

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by Dingocooke

Hi Tony
Nope 100% not a whiner!
I take my tea hot with a dash of milk, and Budweiser is called shandy over here (ie like beer thats been 50-50 mixed lemonade) the girls like it though. Im not sure its strong enough to get me drunk enough to whine!

No, the reason for my post was because I hate it when a company sells a product that just isnt up to the job in hand, then ignores all polite requests for tech help, if these posts saved one person wasting their hard earned cash on kit that is substandard, then I think thats a positive outcome; of course I could just sit back, keep quiet and suck the mop; is that what you'd do ;-)

Just Checking. I must of got one of the above standard ones.
Or McLeod is holding a grudge for a long time toward the English.

[Naumoff]

Hey Dingocooke Steve, I see you got rid of that RAM POS and purchased a real Cobra.

I was at Cendon last Summer with Wilf and Neil O.

[Roscoe]

Suck the mop??

Now that's a new one..

Roscoe

[David Kirkham]

Roscoe,

It does give a nice visual--especially if it was just used to clean the bathroom.

David

[Dingocooke]

Originally Posted by Naumoff

Hey Dingocooke Steve, I see you got rid of that RAM POS and purchased a real Cobra.

I was at Cendon last Summer with Wilf and Neil O.

Yep, had a Hawk in between, but the handling was a bit, well 'steroidal MGB', and had more mid corner body roll than a Chevy Malibu; but thats what you get when you throw lots of corners at a live back axle; only fit for boulevard cruisers and farm vehicles!
The Hawk 289 was a really nice car period correct wise, much better than the RAM in that respect, although the Adrian Reynard chassis that the RAM had was the better ultimate road holder/high speed cornering tool of the three; very flat and neutral if a little hard; but the Crendon aces them both IMO; with a great blend of sufficient rigidity yet compliance. Wilf lives about 30 minutes from me, his Crendon convinced me it was the way to go.

[Dingocooke]

Originally Posted by Naumoff

Just Checking. I must of got one of the above standard ones.
Or McLeod is holding a grudge for a long time toward the English.

Ahah!! Maybe thats the real reason; the UK gets the substandard export versions that McLeods QC guys reject; in which case I'm relieved to hear all USA purchased McLeods are fluid tight!!
Glad you like the turn of phrase; cant say its an attractive thought

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by Dingocooke

Yep, had a Hawk in between, but the handling was a bit, well 'steroidal MGB', and had more mid corner body roll than a Chevy Malibu; but thats what you get when you throw lots of corners at a live back axle; only fit for boulevard cruisers and farm vehicles!
The Hawk 289 was a really nice car period correct wise, much better than the RAM in that respect, although the Adrian Reynard chassis that the RAM had was the better ultimate road holder/high speed cornering tool of the three; very flat and neutral if a little hard; but the Crendon aces them both IMO; with a great blend of sufficient rigidity yet compliance. Wilf lives about 30 minutes from me, his Crendon convinced me it was the way to go.

John is great. My Uncle lives in Croughton near Brackley. Not far from Crendon Replicas. Wilf picked me up from my uncle's house in his Crendon and took me to John's shop. Neil was already there and we all scrutinized his chassis.
I was impressed with his chassis and loved how he gain some rigidity. I won't say in case it is a trade secret of John's.

[Jamo]

Of course, there was a colonial posterior in the left seat of Sir Wilfred's Crendon several years before yours, and the owner of said hind quarters also had the bloody foresight to take a picture of the "engineering marvel" in its native surrounds.

[scott h]

i am not happy with my McLeod HTOB, if i were to change to an external slave would that also require a new bell housing or is there some kit i could use

[JayBar]

This is a very long thread with all kinds of information and opinions.
But the simple answer is no, use you current bell housing.
The easy way with out a custom bracket is to get a Wilwood Type (there are a lot cheaper ones out there) "puller" slave cylinder.

Take the rod off the back, and the rubber bellows off the front. Stick the front shaft through the hole in the Bell housing (put there for the clutch cable). Get a (don't know the name, but it is a long bolt type thing about three inches long that will screw on to the end of the Wilwood shaft) then attach the shaft you took of the rear of the Slave. It will screw into the "nut" thing. Then attach it to the yoke. It is really very simple. The slave is held in position by the connection of the shaft to the yoke no bracket needed. I will try to post a picture which will be worth a thousand words.

I would purchase my slave from:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/GmSear...itleDescr=True

They show two models, the "universal" one has a 1/3 inch greater pull. If you need more that one inch go with that one. The cost is half the Wilwood.

[olddog]

My Cobra (that I just purchased) has a HTOB in it - about 2500 miles on it. Now you all have me a little worried about it. Thanks.

Now I have to ask, are the slave cylinders having O-ring failures as well? I know they are much easier to change. What I am trying to figure out is if the failures are related to a change in the rubber chemicals that the O-rings are made of.

We had a bunch of rubber coated roller failures at work about a couple years back and traced it to a chemical change in the rubber compounds. Fuzzily I seem to remember the tree huggers stopped production of some chemical that was used. They have since improved the rubber to a tollerable level, but still not as good as it was.

[Naumoff]

Originally Posted by olddog

My Cobra (that I just purchased) has a HTOB in it - about 2500 miles on it. Now you all have me a little worried about it. Thanks.

Now I have to ask, are the slave cylinders having O-ring failures as well? I know they are much easier to change. What I am trying to figure out is if the failures are related to a change in the rubber chemicals that the O-rings are made of.

We had a bunch of rubber coated roller failures at work about a couple years back and traced it to a chemical change in the rubber compounds. Fuzzily I seem to remember the tree huggers stopped production of some chemical that was used. They have since improved the rubber to a tollerable level, but still not as good as it was.

Everything fails but the slave is much easier to work on. That is obvious.
I don't mind pulling my trans right now. So when I have a failure I will probably just change the o-rings. Take me about three hours to pull the trans and re-install and that is with the car on jack stands.

Damn tree huggers! Go live in a cave and leave us alone.

Don't worry about it until it happens. if it ain't broke don't fix it.