Clutch cover - little black seal for the actuating rod

[barryr]

Hello all,

I've got myself in a spot of bother! - I spent absolutely ages stripping, polishing and applying 2k clear to all my engine covers. The clutch cover was by far the worst looking like it had been half submerged in the sea. Being thorough, I thought I'd remove that little black seal where the spined part of the clutch rod pokes through. Now I've come to refit a new one it looks like I didn't get it all out and of course now its all nice and shiny I am being a bit careful.

Digging around with a craft knife is not that effective and is no longer getting out the little remaining bits. Is it possible to remove the rod entirely - or to knock out what looks like a metal insert round that seal? - the parts diagram just shows the whole clutch cover and not the components...

Any advice welcomed!

thx

Barry

[barryr]

It's ok - I worked it out and was clearly overthinking things.

To anyone else who might want to know how to do this, simply flip the clutch cover upside down and head to your vice or suitable support arrangement. Protect whatever finish you have with some thick rags either side of the splined rod, let the spline bit sit between open vice jaws and use a suitable drift and hammer to push the actuating rod out - be careful not to damage the roller bearings the rod spins in as you do this.

I thought the new seal was just rubber but it has a bonded metal inner so I actually hadn't taken much of the old one out. underneath the seal is a collar which you will also drift outwards with the rod.

I lubricated the new seal with some rubber grease and drifted the whole lot back in. job done.