4200 Clutch Question

[Evo Cymru]

Hi all,

Wondered if anyone could answer this - read recently (cant where!) that the 4200 Cambiocorsa clutch requires checking and adjusting every 10k miles by dealer or specialist to compensate for wear? According to the piece as many people don't do this it means the clutch wears more quickly and needs changing sooner ie around 25-30k? Is this right? Never heard it mentioned before although I have heard the clutches in the CC do seem to last a short time?

Olly

PS Sorry if this is a common question - did look around but couldn't find it mentioned.

 

[safrane]

It's a common question...but what you write there is not true.
A cc clutch can last as little as 10k if abused or up to 50k+ if a duel tang and set up correctly.

 

[2b1ask1]

43,000 on the present clutch and I'd say it was fairly abused!

 

[CatmanV2]

It's cos you have a leg for each pedal, Newton

C

 

[2b1ask1]

What can I say....

 

[CatmanV2]

Bloody good diet, Newton. Very quick results!

C

 

[Evo Cymru]

It's a common question...but what you write there is not true.
A cc clutch can last as little as 10k if abused or up to 50k+ if a duel tang and set up correctly.

Thanks for the reply - as I said I had never heard about this annual check either so thought I would ask.

When you say 'set up correctly' does that mean it needs a dealer or specialist with special equipment to install?

Olly

 

[safrane]

The clutch requires to be balanced, which although done by the factory it is good to check with and SD3 once fitted.

You can also adjust the PIS, (point of initial slippage) to your own preference and this changes how the clutch bites...quicker = less wear, more relaxed = more wear

 

[Woody]

My clutch is on over 50k now. I hope to get to 60k but even if it doesn't, I dint think 50k+ is at all bad.

 

[Evo Cymru]

The clutch requires to be balanced, which although done by the factory it is good to check with and SD3 once fitted.

You can also adjust the PIS, (point of initial slippage) to your own preference and this changes how the clutch bites...quicker = less wear, more relaxed = more wear

Wow! That's interesting - thanks for the info.

 

[conaero]

Woody would you say you drive it like a ***** cat....you come across as a more aggressive driver...or shall we say, drive it like it was designed for.

Great effort getting 50k out of it.

From my perspective, it would appear the clutch cover springs go before clutch wears out so its difficult to get a true idea of how long they last.

 

[Woody]

Ha. I don't hold back when the opportunity is there but I drive pretty normally. I almost always drive in sport, never in auto.

Its not a daily driver, but I do use it for the M25 crawl occasionally. It's a mixed bag really - all up, I'm chuffed the clutch has done so well.

 

[Parisien]

Have the fingers been improve on the new designed clutch, mentioned double tang to Marios, he gave me a slightly baffled looked re the double tang thingy


P

 

[Emtee]

The facelift 4200's and all GS's had the later improved clutch plates, but as most early cars will have had their clutches changed by now anyway, this shouldn't be an issue. I doubt you'd actually find an early clutch. There have been a number of clutch failures due to collapsed finger springs in the housing, but this is a different thing. I'm not aware of the springs being strengthened over time, so this may be an issue that grumbles on.

If memory serves me correctly, and with regard to adjustment, the later 4200's and GS's have a small magnet (sometimes incorrectly installed at the factory!) to monitor clutch position. The early 4200's need the clutch adjusting as it wears, which is usually done at service.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

I adjusted mine yesterday. Set the PIS to a very aggressive setting, and she's ready to give you lot of pain on the head..

Did exactly the same with the previous clutch, that lasted 72000 kms, including hard driving and track days.

But yes, it needs adjusting every 1 or 2 years. It's a way it will perform good without slipping, despite wearing.

Miles...what is this magnet? My engineer told me mine should be replaced, but if you say that it is wrong OEM installed, then i should check this out.

 

[Emtee]

Miles...what is this magnet? My engineer told me mine should be replaced, but if you say that it is wrong OEM installed, then i should check this out.

Nikos, from what I've been told, or have seen for myself, it's part of the F1/clutch position sensoring system. Very basic - a magnet mounted against the release bearing, but I know of some that we're found to have been mounted the wrong way around and so throwing out false readings, particularly as the clutch wears. Very simple to check of you're in there for any reason.

 

[2b1ask1]

The magnet was explained to me by the Dick Lovett engineer thus; as you take off the release bearing, watch for the magnet as it drops out, it MUST go back in the same way or it will not read correctly.

 

[Evo Cymru]

"If memory serves me correctly, and with regard to adjustment, the later 4200's and GS's have a small magnet (sometimes incorrectly installed at the factory!) to monitor clutch position. The early 4200's need the clutch adjusting as it wears, which is usually done at service."

Thanks for the replies - very interesting. Perhaps this what was meant in the piece that I read previously regrading the need for am annual adjustment. Out of interest what actually is this adjustment, does it increase wear if not done?

 

[zagatoes30]

The Spyder has nearly 47k on it now (sorry Matt can't help but use it) no evidence in the paperwork of a clutch change but touchwood it seems OK so far. I am however budgeting for a replacement sometime this year or next.

 

[Emtee]

Out of interest what actually is this adjustment, does it increase wear if not done?

Hi Evo Cymru, on the earlier 4200's the PIS needs to be reset to the desired gap. This is done with the SD2. On the later cars the clutch position sensor (magnet) takes care of this (when it's working properly) but the earlier cars need to re-learn the gap as the clutch wears. Not doing this will open the PIS over time and "relax" the gear change. Leave it too long and you'll begin to get slippage and potentially begin to glaze the flywheel. IIRC glazing can also be read via the SD2.

please treat these comments as my experience and seek appropriate corroboration from a decent indi.