Clutch Fork Failure

[StuartL]

To those of you with

This week my clutch fork failed, luckily it was on Robson Street rather than on Mount Robson. After it happened my googling revealed it to be another common problem. Basically the clutch slave push rod pushed through the fork. The dimple the rod pushes into is pressed into the fork so therefore thinner than the plate itself. (see pictures below, not my fork but shows the problem)

While many are of the opinion that the fork will last longer then the clutch this wasn't the case. I have 155,000 original km's with me personally putting on 95% of them and the clutch is still good!

There are various Heavy Duty forks available aftermarket and I will be installing the Bearmach version that has a plate welded behind the dimple. So in this case I recommend non-Land Rover forks when you replace your clutch or, as in my case, when the Original Land Rover part fails.

I hope this saves someone from having to do a premature clutch replacement due to the fork failing. You normally know in advance your clutch is failing but the fork isn't as cooperative. :cry:

Fork 1.jpg

(90.72 KiB) Downloaded 2643 times

Fork 2.jpg

(87.92 KiB) Downloaded 2643 times

Fork 3.jpg

(26.29 KiB) Downloaded 2643 times

[ANDYD]

Hi Stuart,

Sounds familiar, anyone would think our Land Rovers came from the same place!

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/roverforum/vi ... lit=clutch

Andy

[red90]

My theory is they fail from wear and lack of lubrication. I added a remote grease line on mine.

I thought someone on the coast had made a bunch of super overdesigned forks? I know Britrest started making a version with a nylon wear cup, http://britrest.com/index_files/Page966.htm

[StuartL]

Wow Andy, looks like i plagiarized your post.

Hopefully we don't see too many more of these....

[ANDYD]

My theory is they fail from wear and lack of lubrication. I added a remote grease line on mine - Red90

Yes, I agree. with the dry sand / dust build up causing friction on the fork its easy to see how the metal gets thinner and ends up failing. The grease line sounds like an interesting upgrade. On saying that, as long as the reinforced clutch forks last as long as the clutch does then that's probably good enough as you would change it at that point (same time) any way.
Has anyone seen one of the reinforced clutch fork fail in the same way?

- Andy

[bclandrover]

Hi Stuart,

That looks very familiar. We have seen a few like this come through the shop.

Last year, we put four of the "replacement" options side by side, including the Britpart "re-enforced" option. We found the genuine Landrover part had the best finish quality and smoothest surfaces of the pivot and push rod, so we now add re-enforcement to the Landrover part in house.

Good luck with your repair.

Don