A Wheelbarrow Tale - about a Clutch

[Mad Manny]

A Wheelbarrow Tale refers to a Thread that's inane & the topic is of limited interest to most readers.
Made famous on Anythingbutt4x4.cum by a non 4x4'er who repaired his R650 wheelbarrow for R650.

Here is mine:

Fearless' Clutch went early, around 90 000km, this was partially because Fortuner's have crap clutches & partially because my trailer's bump stop shock was seized so refusing it resulted in the brakes constantly re-applying & I burnt the clutch bad on a few occasions until I found the problem.

Anyhoo, Toyota refused to replace it & wanted nearly R9k for a new one. SAC quoted over R7k & I needed a cheaper option.
I finally bought a LUK which I'm told is a crap clutch for the Fortuner & took it to a mechanic who said it was for the 2.5 & refused to fit it.
I took it back to Mintrams but they refused to exchange it.

Finally the mechanic fitted some other clutch, I think he said it was the Sachs & then bought the clutch off me for a 2.5 Hilux he was fixing.
All done for around R6k...

[Mad Manny]

PART TWO...

But I was never happy with the clutch, it soon developed a bad shutter which got gradually worse.

Then a new problem arose - I occasional had difficulty getting it into 1st gear.
This only occurred when the vehicle was well warmed up & got progressively worse.

It was especially bad when I did NHW patrols, you cruise around, mainly in first gear, for over an hour.
I had occasions where I couldn't engage 1st even after 3 or 4 attempts.
I learnt to smash it into 2nd, release the clutch &, as it took, quickly smash it into first.

When using Low Range (4x4'ing) it was even worse...

Strangely, on a 'Mall run' & general driving around, engaging first was not that difficult.

So I asked on two WhatsApp groups for advice:

The 'Sticker Spotter' Group said it was the clutch Master Cylinder & I should buy the O-Ring kit for around R1000.
One suggested going to B&C in K'dorp & getting it for R800. Others urged me to buy the OEM one.

On the 4x4AG Legends group, Michael (Axego) said its the Master Cylinder kit & I could get a new one at Toyota for around R1600.

So I went to Halfway Toyota @ The Dome, Honeydew.
They said there is no such thing as an O-Ring kit & the don't sell the Master Cylinder as a separate item.
I raised hell & the Technical Director was summoned - he said my symptoms are NOT caused by the Master Cylinder.
He said I must bring it in - it's either the Slave Cylinder or the Clutch, but it could even be the Synchromesh.

At this stage I realised he is an idiot & asked if I could buy a Master cylinder kit.
He said I could but it won't help.
I asked why his parts lady said it wasn't sold as a separate item.
Blah, blah, they looked like idiots & sold me the Master Cylinder for a low R1200 odd...

[Mad Manny]

PART THREE...

My brother is a Diesel Mack, so I asked him to fit the part, three months later he still hadn't done it & with the problem engaging 1st getting worse I put him under pressure.
A week later I chatted to him, this was three weeks ago, & he said he'd do it on the weekend as he wasn't feeling well.
Well, two days later he was rushed to hospital & has been in ICU & in & out of Theater ever since - not looking good.

So I decided to do it myself & asked for help & guidance.

Michael Craig of NF (AxEgo) came round & helped me - he was brilliant! I don't know what I would have done without him.
THANK YOU MICHAEL.

We fitted the kit yesterday (21 December - KurtG's birthday) it took nearly two hours, including bleeding the clutch.
Then we headed off to the 4x4 Action Group Committee meeting/Kurt's Birthday braai.

[Mad Manny]

FINAL CHAPTER...

Well, today I test drove Fearless.
Clutch is better than it has been in years.
In fact, it's better than since before it was replaced.
Slides into first like a finger in a Drive In...
That shudder - gone.
The shudder was always worst when coming home, stopping halfway up my driveway (slight incline) waiting for the gate & garage door to open, the driving cautiously into the garage - well its completely gone.

Thanks to the 'Sticker Spotters' for diagnosing the problem correctly, but providing the wrong solution.
Thanks to Honeydew Toyota for cocking up so badly, that they had to sell the part at a discount - useless, clueless bunch.
A big THANKS to Michael (Axego) who was 100% correct all along & for helping me...

[Prof]

So the Master cylinder fitted on a wheelbarrow?









Sometimes an issue is misdiagnosed....you seemed to show restrain over the period of the problem, you must like Fearless a lot!

[grips]

You should have fitted an Exedy heavy duty clutch kit from day one. Never skimp on a 4x4 clutch system.

[KurtG]

Gripping....

[ThysleRoux]

R1600 for a master cylinder KIT ?!?!?!?!?!

[Mad Manny]

R1600 for a master cylinder KIT ?!?!?!?!?!

R1200

[ThysleRoux]

A quick search for clutch master cylinder prices shows that the COMPLETE master cylinder for Nissan Navara/NP300, Isuzu D-Max and even the mighty Amarok is available for under R1000 Could not find prices for FrotTunas, 'coz they are spêshall, I assume

[ThysleRoux]

R1200

Discounted because they were IDtenTs, you said

[Mad Manny]

A quick search for clutch master cylinder prices shows that the COMPLETE master cylinder for Nissan Navara/NP300, Isuzu D-Max and even the mighty Amarok is available for under R1000 Could not find prices for FrotTunas, 'coz they are spêshall, I assume

From the Dealers?
OEM ?

[ThysleRoux]

Not dealers, no. Why buy parts that the car manufacturer does not manufacture themselves from the dealers if it is available elsewhere? Their mark-ups are ridiculous.

[grips]

Thinking about this your old master cylinder. Could maybe only needed a proper adjustment after the clutch replacement. Toyota adjuster normally located on the clutch pedal. Usually a pain in the arse to adjust as you need to wiggle your frame in such a position at the drivers foot-well under the dash.

[ThysleRoux]

Manny does not have a frame, Chris - he'll fit anywhere.........