Jimny Clutch

Hi all. Went off roading or rather on roading at holme pass today in some rather deep snow. Road was closed for a reason I guess. The snow was fun at 1 foot deep. The problem was round the next bend 2 to 2.5 feet deep in places. Anyway to cut a long story short,got stuck, had shovel, lots of digging, 1st gear low all the way and made it out. In the process though my clutch was giving off an odour of BBQ sausages. Not good I know. All seems well now though. I drove home and no more smell and no slipping.
I am now weighing up whether or not to replace the clutch and what type to get. I see that KAP have a flash one on their website but it is many pennies.
In summing up I want to know what type others have used and what are they like? Is it a difficult job to change on your own and do you need any special tools?
Any info much appreciated thanks.

I wouldn't replace it yet if the biting point is not too high and it's not slipping. Jimny clutches like to smell alot when worked hard but they are not necessarily about to go.

Last year in the Lakes I had my clutch smelling like you wouldn't believe so stopped to let it cool - it was a new clutch for the trip.

A passing lady walker commented to her husband "that doesn't smell good" and he informed her "it's his clutch burning". She gave me her expert advice of "you might want to put some water on that clutch of yours then!".


Naturally I didn't take her advice, I just had a cuppa and we went on our way and it is still fine now after another trip round the Lakes doing extreme laning - including Gatescarth Pass which is very heavy on the clutch.

I have now taken a lot of strain off it in the form of a Rocklobster transfer box as the ultra low ratios mean I can climb ascents without straining the clutch at all now. Could have done with it in the Lakes this year though!

If you did want to change it, I believe it is a one person job and Martin has kindly put a "how to guide" on this site - but my understanding of the job is that it's a simple job made harder by there being a cross member welded across the chassis behind the gearbox stopping you pulling the gearbox back too far to work on the clutch. The result of this is that space is tight.

I used to favout whipping the engine out on my old SJ instead but there's alot more connected on the Jimny with all it's electronics.

Hence I let my trusted local garage have that delight and hope if I'm careful I'll never have to do it myself! If it came to it, I would do it myself next time though.

I understand from people on this forum that the KAP clutches are quite good but they will be a litte heavier so replace your clutch cable at the same time as they have been known to get full of mud and therefore have the potential to snap.

Kirkynut

Thanks Kirkynut. I think I will leave it for now. I do remember that it did the same last year in deep snow and has been ok for the last year till my latest snow ploughing escapade. Think I might avoid the deep stuff as the burning smell does wory me a bit. It was great fun though!

Yeh im not a fan of the nasty smell either, got me worried a bit too lol!

I nuked our clutch within 500 miles in thick mud and recovering a landrover.
I replaced it with one of KAP's "Flash" and expensive competition clutches... 6000 miles and a lot of mud plugging / recoverys and its still going strong. at £180 plus fitting its not cheap, but its a top quality pieve of kit. recommended