New BX owner/worn clutch?

[Retrofrench]

Hi guys,

New owner of a bx 1600. Always wanted one, finally got one! Quick question. Clutch is heavy and has hardly any travel. It began to slip on the motorway slip road (slight incline). It was okay for the rest of the journey unless you hit the throttle hard. I'm guessing the clutch is on its way out? Is there anything particular about this type of clutch? Or can a regular garage change it without much hassle?

Thanks

[citronut]

hi and welcome

first thing i would do is try adjusting/backing off the clutch cable,

nout really out of the ordinary with the clutch on a BX except depressurising the system, and unbolting the regulator and flow valve, i would still only allow a Citroen knowledgeable type to take the job on though,

were are you located


regards malcolm

[Retrofrench]

I'll have a look in my Haynes manual and give that a go. I am in Bristol.

Many thanks

[Defender110]

Nothing to fear.

[hilarystone]

If you need a clutch I'd suggest you go to Tony Weston at Cambridge, near Gloucester, they are extremely experienced with Citroens and very reasonable with their prices. A clutch on a BX is a very straightforward job. Tony and Andrew have done all the work on my Citroens for more than 20 years now… Its not difficult to get to and from their place – they are very close to Cam & Dursley railway station.

[Retrofrench]

Thanks for the tip, I may well pay them a visit today as I'm off. Always good to get a decent garage recommendation. I'll have a look at the adjustment too.

Cheers guys!

[Tinkley]

Clutch is straightforward, though very easy with the whole lot out!. Be aware there are 2 types of release mechanism, the fork on a ball type and a fork lever type. They each have their own release bearing which you should replace along wit the clutch. Try and ascertain which type you have, possibly a small torch inside the clutch release lever will show it up. The Haynes is not correct for my 1.6 - it says it has the lever/fork arrangement but it actually has the fork on a ball type.

Also be aware that LUK technical don't know the difference in clutch type between a 1.6 and a 16v.....
Personally I'd recommend a Valeo (which comes with centreing tool) but you may have to find the release bearing separately.

Drive shaft seals are easy to find and remember to use only the Total BV oil in the gearbox, not any other brand.

[Retrofrench]

Luckily it seemed that the pushrod mechanism with the clutch cable attached to it with the bearing/bush inside was the culprit of the heavy pedal and slipping clutch! Those cracking chaps at the citroen specialist in Cambridg (near Gloucester) removed it, freed it up and now the clutch is soft, light and doesn't slip! So that was a relief. They also noticed that the rear spheres need repressurising so it's going back in next week.

[citronut]

the easy way to tell which release bearing you have is look at the type of cble/linkage you have,

the type with a fork on a ball pivot has the complicated linkage, the type with a shaft with two prongs that the bearing sits on has the cable attached directly onto the fork actuating arm

the usual bearing supplied with a BX clutch kit these days is the later type, so as Mr Tinkley say you might have to source the correct bearing separately, if the one in the kit is wrong

regards malcolm

[Kaapelimies]

remember to use only the Total BV oil in the gearbox, not any other brand.

YACCO is another french brand that has the right type of oil for older Citroën boxes, the 75W-80 "GL4+" as they call it (BVX-R500). I use either one Total BV 75W-80 or Yacco, depending what's on hand locally. Both work very good, also for the winter time.

[Thread Bear]

Goodness YACCO. Used to have a French rotivator that was marked up for YACCO products, plus some old, collectible, tins with unctuous fluids in. So they still exist.