Clutch juddering - 1st gear only.

As part of the top end rebuild, fitted a new flywheel and clutch.

Used brake and clutch cleaner on the flywheel and clutch cover before fitting it all.

As title...lots of juddering when pulling away in 1st.

 

Have you been able to adjust the cable so that there's the right amount of slack?

 

Have you checked you have the right amount of bend in the Bowden tube?

 

Have you got a nice S shape in the Bowden tube? And is it fixed firmly to chassis?

Was the new flywheel actually new?

 

Snap (sort of)

 

Brand spanking new from Brickwerks

 

Will check the boden tube next it's on the driveway

 

Has your fixed clutch cable conduit come adrift from the rear torque tube?

 

The solid tube that runs under the van, holding the clutch cable. If the rear end weld breaks (as they can do) the conduit will flap around and you'll get terrible clutch judder.

 

Don't think so...will check all the things suggested next weekend.

The odd thing is...it will happily pull away in 2nd without any judder.

 

There would be less torque between the engine and gearbox in 2nd?
Maybe clutch cleaner wasn't enough to remove the anti-rust transit/storage coating, it's pretty weak stuff compared to for example paint thinners.
You appear to building up a list of reasons to yank that engine back out.

 

I know. However, with all the tools/equipment I've now got, it'd be done in a weekend.

 

That's the spirit!

 

Will whatever is on the flywheel/clutch cover wear away through use?

 

I used my original flywheel, and a new clutch disc. I rubbed the flywheel down with 1500 wet and dry first. It works like it should.

 

More likely turn the clutch shiny I'd think - waxy stuff.
Still, might not be that anyway, you still have the most common cause to check.

 

Well, the bracket holding the Bowden tube wasn't tightened up (probably my fault).
Tightened it up and problem solved.

The top bolt is struggling to tighten properly so may need to be tapped out and a bigger bolt fitted.

 

The top one is very short so easily over-tightened and stripped. The hole is not deep and flat bottomed so drilling and tapping is a wee bit difficult.
Good luck.

 

The threads on mine went down further than the original short bolt.
When mine pulled the first couple of threads out I just fitted a longer bolt that pulled on the previously unused thread.