Cable clutch problem

[Geoff Butcher]

Today I got caught in a bad traffic jam and my clutch started to drag. I had this happen a few times last summer in heavy traffic but it's been alright until now. Why should getting slightly hot and bothered affect the clutch?

[streetsy]

Is it cable or hydraulic?

[streetsy]

If it is hydraulic a fluid change may help, brake fluid is hygroscopic, absorbing water molecules, if it is older fluid it may have water molecules which when hot turn to steam and give a spongy, ineffective or at times grabbing clutch.

[Geoff Butcher]

Is it cable or hydraulic?

Clue is in the topic title!

[Jin]

Where is the biting point normally?
Could it be heat expansion of the cable? I had that once on one of my past cars,
Can't be too sure which one.
Maybe my Fiat Tipo
Not every day I admit to that one....

[Geoff Butcher]

The bite point seems the same, and as the cable is self adjusting it ought to compensate if there was any expansion.
Sorry about the Fiat..

[Hans Efde]

Is the clutch pedal modified? An unmodified pedal has only 75% of the original throw in a Midas. It's a must to have them cut and rewelded to prevent any clutch problems.

[streetsy]

I see now, I'd had a few beers at the time of my posting

[fozzza]

I had a similar problem with my 1275 many moons ago, the one I built my Midas out of infact. I thought it was to do with the actuation of the clutch, I tried everything with the hydraulics and even simulated a traffic jam with my old man in the car and checked the clutch lever operation, it was still good. This made me point to the clutch itself. I changed the complete clutch, it was then fine. I later found out from an old mate who raced minis that I had probably got a warped clutch plate that was made worse by heat and maybe caused by uneven spring pressure from the diaphragm.
This worked for me but I hope you find that it is something simpler causing the problem, Obviously exhaust every other avenue before you go for a clutch strip down.
Good luck Geoff I hope its an easy fix.

[Geoff Butcher]

Thanks fozzza but I never seem to do easy fixes...I think it's going to be a new clutch - it's probably done at least 80k miles so I can't complain, although I usually do!