A scuzztastic, totally corroded and seized up clutch slave cylinder can really slow your roll. Or, more to the point, not allow to even begin – at least not in gear. Even with the electronic ignition working, and the Spitfire 1500 firing on all four cylinders, I’m not going anywhere until a new one of these arrives in the post!

Provided the gearbox tunnel is not in place (and covered with interior carpet), access to the mounting flange and removal of this bad boy is comparatively painless. Separating the cylinder from the mounting flange is another matter entirely, however…

“Recalcitrantified”: (adj) conjunction of “recalcitrant” and “calcified” that the Brits should’ve created given the aging habits of their hydraulics, particularly those in the ’74 Triumph Spitfire 1500 that found it’s way into my garage. Fortunately, the colonists invented Liquid Wrench.

3 days of liquid wrench + 5 minutes actual wrenching + some Hammertime (to jettison the slave cylinder from the mounting flange) = one liberated defunct clutch cylinder. Then a bit of wire brushing on the flange and (almost) good as new, and ready for install of a replacement cylinder. Next stop: 1st gear…

New clutch slave cylinder installed & ready to shift….