Premature clutch slippage, idiosyncrasies, & life expectancy

[ksgrimsr]

I'm a new Elan owner, so please be gentle.

I just purchased my '91 Elan (us model) with only 24K miles on the clock, and after just a few test rides to shake things down in preparation for catching up some deferred maintenance I have found that I can spin the clutch if I do an agressive start with the rev's up slightly before launch.

24K miles on a clutch doesn't seem like much, but it is original and over 15 years old. What are the expectations for an Elan clutch and are there known idiosyncrasies with the clutch behavior that I should know about in getting the expected performance from it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Knut

[Sy V]

Knut

Welcome
Just to confirm what you're saying - your low mileage clutch slips when you try a 'sporty' take off/get away?
It doesn't sound right, for sure, but who is to know the driving habits of the car's previous owner(s). Maybe they had a propensity to 'ride' the clutch which will certainly facilitate early wear to the friction surfaces.

Is that gentle enough for you?

Sy

[theelanman]

Is that gentle enough for you?

[DeeAitch]

I recently had the dubious pleasure of sitting in with a guy - he had only just passed his test - who never used the handbrake, he had mastered the art of balancing the car on the clutch at every stop, no matter what the situation, gradual slope, steep hill, any junction including red lights, slowly moving traffic - the lot. Downhill was on the brake, clutch depressed ready to go. Some feat but I can't imagine he was taught that way. I'm sure he thought it demonstrated his high level of skill .
Not for me to tell him his clutch was not up to such abuse Never mind the thrust bearings.
Daughters 'male friend' also admitted to the same last week - seems it's the only way in London traffic

[ksgrimsr]

Thanks for the helpful comments. Since the car is new to me, the driving habits of the previous owner might indeed have contrinbuted to premature clutch failure.

I suppose this is something I'll be adding to my list of items to take care of. I guess I can first check to ensure the cable is adjusted properly so I don't have pre-tension on the cable that is compromising clutch performance, and if it checks out I'll be taking on some clutch service. Not really the modest project I had in mind to start getting acuainted with the Elan...

Knut

[bobbrown]

Have you checked the cable?
I have seen these stick/drag in past or be badly adjusted, not necessarily on the Elan but it is an area I would check first as it is the easiest to fix.
And the clutch lever