Legless spiders

bjork · Post by **bjork** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:13 pm

Having belted my G15 all the way back from Poland, it developed a lot of slack in the transmission and an unpredictable clutch action over the last 200 miles. I stripped it this afternoon and found the AMC clutch centre (3 leg spider bit) had sheared off all its legs/vanes. The cush rubbers had disintegrated and allowed the centre to flap about and break, but what caused the rubbers to turn to a dry powdery mess? They were new only 9000 miles (1 year) ago.

great rally though, great place too, thanks Anna and Chris Rotta and (small) team.

Steve

wilko · Post by **wilko** » Thu May 15, 2008 2:09 am

Hi Bjork, i guess i'll be competing with you for the next AMC clutch on evilbay!! Cheers! Dugless

itma · Post by **itma** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:16 am

Its the rubber they use to make pattern parts thats at fault.
The orginal stuff was a lot longer lasting. I have seen pattern rubbers dissolve in oil,/swell up in oil,/ turn to mush. often within 1000 miles or so.
I dont know what the answer to this one is.

Biscuit · Post by **Biscuit** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:33 am

itma · Post by **itma** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:17 am

What....... bomb it?

bjork · Post by **bjork** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:57 am

quote:
B52.

crikey Alan, you don't normally come up with destructive answers! Are you advocating area bombing or precision? As an engineer I suspect the latter.

Off to JSL this morning for new bits, so you don't need to worry about me on evil bay, Wilko! I want it back together sooner than that and JSL and Norvil list them as available. Btw. Club charges less than Norvil.

Ken I wondered if oil might be responsible, I have been using ATF and there seem to be two types available. Think I'll switch back to some type of engine oil. I take the point about rubber types being the most likely cause and will just have to suck the new ones and see, I suppose. (No not literally, I prefer liquorice)

G15 Roy · Post by **G15 Roy** » Thu May 15, 2008 12:12 pm

I you sure it was nothing to do with the heat that was generated when the headlamp packed up.

Biscuit · Post by **Biscuit** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:20 pm

I recently fitted a new spider and rubbers. Trying to compress the thick 'uns to insert the thinnys the tool (clutch plate plus handle) just buckled and folded up. I cut a sliver off the thickys to get them in.

Samuel · Post by **Samuel** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:29 pm

quote:
Are you advocating area bombing or precision? As an engineer I suspect the latter.

B52 for area, Stealth for precision ?

bjork · Post by **bjork** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:40 pm

quote:
I you sure it was nothing to do with the heat that was generated when the headlamp packed up.

Hey, I didn't think of that! been re-doing the wiring today though. Think it must have been pinched, can't see any other reason as the bulb holder was so melted. Just going to fit a new one and take more care over the cable routing.