Clutch pressure plate lifter bearing.

[Chariot]

After a winter check up on my engine and new clutch fitted I had a complete facelift and redesign of the Chariot by Lumley Engineering including lowering the diff ratio. Got the Chariot back in time for the lovely weather in April and took it out for a run. The clutch lifter failed within 50 miles a total of some 100 miles. Hide the rope and razor blades! Luckily for me my son, who is handy on the tools, was up house sitting while my wife went on holiday. Here is what we found. The clutch pressure plate lifter bearing part no. 16003 Jesa bearings had collapsed destroying the lifter spindle. My lifter mechanism is the latest one which does away with the thrust bearing. The engine builder sent me up the parts hotshot only to discover the bearing was the wrong one but with right part number from Triumph. This bearing fits the second lifter pin with 17mm shaft, my shaft is 16mm in diameter. We got the clutch back together, test run for 15 miles, engine flushed and filter changed with hours to spare before he went to the airport. Hoping for some warm weather again to go for a run, its like winter here. I WhatsApped a Swiss guy at Jesa bearings and he phoned me. His explanation was that they hadn't made that bearing since 2016 and the bearing that was fitted in the rebuild was old stock and the oil film had probably broken down, so the bearing would have started up dry. As its a wet clutch I am skeptical to say the least, see photos attached. Triumph workshop manual and parts manual is confusing. Bearing fitted is Fag 16.003 C3. This bearing has the C3 clearance which allows for thermal expansion.

 

[atomsplitter]

OUCH!!

 

[R-III-R Turbo]

That seems really odd. Wonder is there something else going on in that clutch

 

[Gregger]

I think that is the first failed ball bearing I’ve seen for a lift shaft. Normally, it’s the lifter shaft button or actuating rod that fail.

 

[R-III-R Turbo]

I've seen a couple, seemed to have been a result of unevenly tightened clutch spring tower bolts.
E.g. when tightening up if they aren't done in a gradual criss cross pattern then there can be a tight spot on rotation of the bearing.

Though killing the bearing in 50-100 miles seems very sudden.