2006 2.8 JTD Burstner Elegance Clutch Replacement In Kent? (1 Viewer)

[Jimbost]

We have managed to get nearly 28,000 miles out on the clutch on our Elegance I821. The clutch pedal is now right at the top of its travel. No slip but I feel it will go soon. Timing belt is also due so also need all associated items replaced while it is apart, belt, bearing water pump etc. Can any suggest or recommend a garage within a reasonable distance of the Medway Towns (Rochester Kent) to complete all the work?

Jimbo and Kim

 

[orridge]

you could try Choose leisure in Canterbury we brought our Eura Mobile from them and have had some maintenance work done also.

 

[denisejoe]

You could try Thomsett's at Stockbury, just off A249 (Detling Hill). We've had both our MHs serviced and repaired there and they've been good.

Denise

 

[mitzimad]

28000 is no age for a clutch

 

[Jimbost]

28000 is no age for a clutch

Thank you for pointing out your opinion. If you check online you will find that for an almost 5 ton vehicle its pretty well just above the average for Type. For a van conversion I agree that would be quite a low mileage. I refer back to the original posting of this thread and hopefully someone will post a meaningful, helpful reply. Thank you again for your reply but would suggest that it would be more helpful to me to actually post something that would help me find the information that I am seeking.

Regards Jim

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[Deleted34567]

28000 is no age for a clutch

All depends on the driver, keeps workshops making dough though I suppose

 

[Jimbost]

Thank you to Orridge and Denise I will Google them and give them a ring. Want to get it done soon as we are away to France in early April. Looked at the date today and thought I had better get busy sorting it out.

Jimbo

 

[Billy23]

Thank you for pointing out your opinion. If you check online you will find that for an almost 5 ton vehicle its pretty well just above the average for Type. For a van conversion I agree that would be quite a low mileage. I refer back to the original posting of this thread and hopefully someone will post a meaningful, helpful reply. Thank you again for your reply but would suggest that it would be more helpful to me to actually post something that would help me find the information that I am seeking.

Regards Jim

Well what ever you say. But I have driven trucks, vans, coaches and the like up to 60 tons and if i only gave my boss 28,000 I don't think he would be happy. I drove for about 40 years ( now retired) as far as Bagdad a few times. I think what he said about no miles is a fair comment. I would have made a similar comment as mitzimad. But I hope you get your problem sorted. I do hope you don't think I am trying to wind you up because I am not.

 

[Khizzie]

Well what ever you say. But I have driven trucks, vans, coaches and the like up to 60 tons and if i only gave my boss 28,000 I don't think he would be happy. I drove for about 40 years ( now retired) as far as Bagdad a few times. I think what he said about no miles is a fair comment. I would have made a similar comment as mitzimad. But I hope you get your problem sorted. I do hope you don't think I am trying to wind you up because I am not.

I personally thought the reply somewhat rude and uncalled for.but then what does my opinion matteras I probably misconstrued the response to mitzimad.

 

[Jimbost]

From what I have read the Fiat Ducato clutch is a weak point when married to the Alko tag axle type chassis as the weight and the Tag axel push the clutch to its limits. I would hope that as the vehicles you were driving were designed for the purpose intended you would expect a long life of the drive train components. No offense taken or implied Just after the facts.
Please note that I have not said the clutch had failed but just reached the top end of its travel with no slip. It may well go on for thousands of miles but after 20 0dd years as a plant and heavy vehicle mechanic the signs are there pointing to a possible failure in the near future. I am not one to leave it to chance so the opportunity to replace it is here along with a major service.

Jimbo

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[Billy23]

I personally thought the reply somewhat rude and uncalled for.but then what does my opinion matteras I probably misconstrued the response to mitzimad.

Yes I do understand how it could have been read that way. I just thought, that I would just say that what he said was fair comment, maybe not said in the best way......but i am also prone to do that. So if I did I apologise

 

[Billy23]

From what I have read the Fiat Ducato clutch is a weak point when married to the Maxi type chassis as the weight and the Tag axel push the clutch to its limits. I would hope that as the vehicles you were driving were designed for the purpose intended you would expect a long life of the drive train components. No offense taken or implied Just after the facts.
Please note that I have not said the clutch had failed but just reached the top end of its travel with no slip. It may well go on for thousands of miles but after 20 0dd years as a plant and heavy vehicle mechanic the signs are there pointing to a possible failure in the near future. I am not one to leave it to chance so the opportunity to replace it is here along with a major service.

Jimbo

Good point. I now understand your thoughts better

 

[Deleted34567]

Ducato clutches work "strange"..... They actually pull the pressure plate instead of pushing (compressing) the pressure plate.
I have sold vans to a particular individual for years, 1 of which was a ducato and we fitted 2 clutches in it before 100k. I have never fitted clutches to any other types he had.
So the OP probably States a valid concern.

 

[Billy23]

Thank goodness I didn't buy one of them! I think they need rich owners!

 

[jaygee]

There are many reports of early clutch replacement on ducato 2.8jtd due to weight issues,I have replaced mine after 20000 miles, its no bigger than a mondeo clutch and being 4.5 tonn on a tag axle is hardly fit for the purpose. On the smaller models its not too much of an issue.
If you then have an ecu up grade you are asking for trouble.
Cannot help with your request for a repairer but when my clutch was removed it was only 50% worn and was slipping under very heavy load, it could have lasted a lot longer but didnt want to chance it.

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[dave newell]

If the clutch isn't slipping then it doesn't need replacing. A 2006 Ducato has a hydraulic clutch and the "bite point" is always toward the top of the pedal travel. If it ain't broke don't fix it. About 3 years ago I thought I felt the clutch slipping a bit on my Iveco camper (bear in mind its a 4.2 Tonne GVW, actual weight all up is just over 3.5 Tonnes but it spends most of its life pulling a trailer with either a 1000KG car on it or a 850KG exhibition box). guess what, I still haven't replaced the clutch and it still shows no signs of slipping. Even if it does start to slip on a long jaunt careful driving should enable you to return home or at least get to a garage that can fix it. In over 1 million miles of driving I've only killed one clutch and that was deliberate!

Also on the 2.8 the water pump isn't driven by the cam belt so if it fails it won't write the lump off (well unless you ignore the temperature gauge of course) but it is behind the belt so if the water pump subsequently fails the whole lot has to be stripped down to change the pump.

D.

 

[dave newell]

Just seen your other reply and to be honest if you've spent 20 years as a plant mechanic why not do it yourself?

D.

 

[Techno]

So is my 3.0 litre doing well pulling over 4 ton with no clutch pedal and hence no user error, heading for 45 k? Should I expect a sudden failure?

 

[Jimbost]

Just seen your other reply and to be honest if you've spent 20 years as a plant mechanic why not do it yourself?

There is a valid reason and I wish I could do the things I was once able to do. I do what I can. I have to bow to your experience of Motorhomes Dave and respect your advice but the prospect of being stuck somewhere remote worries me. I know 'it could' last longer and a new clutch may well not be required for the reasons you state.
I have also travelled many miles in both Europe and the Americas in many different kinds of vehicles with light and heavy trailers. These are memories of the past and do not reflect my present situation.

Jimbo

 

[Billy23]

There is a valid reason and I wish I could do the things I was once able to do. I do what I can. I have to bow to your experience of Motorhomes Dave and respect your advice but the prospect of being stuck somewhere remote worries me. I know 'it could' last longer and a new clutch may well not be required for the reasons you state.
I have also travelled many miles in both Europe and the Americas in many different kinds of vehicles with light and heavy trailers. These are memories of the past and do not reflect my present situation.

Jimbo

I with you on that one.......all the things I could do......once upon a time, long, long ago!

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[Jimbost]

Mitzimad. If I have offended I apologise this not was not my intention, merely to politely point out that quips were of no help to me.

To all. If I have offended in any way I apologise. I try to keep concise and to the point. I feel now that my manner may have come across as abrasive. This was not my intention but to be as factual as possible.

 

[mitzimad]

i was merely pointing out what dave newel has put much better, spending the best part of a 1000 pounds on a clutch that isnt slipping doesnt seem to be sensible ive got a fiat for work and the clutch has been at the top for 3 years and still no slip, im thick skinned so no need to apologise

 

[mitzimad]

ok dave ive got to ask why did you deliberately kill a clutch ?

 

[laurieash]

No relevance to motor home clutches but I had a driving school car with all sorts of kids in it 230,000 miles same clutch Diesel clio 1.9 and was still going strong when I gave it to my Daughter, sobit depends how you drive.

 

[laurieash]

Go to a stock car race see what vehicles can stand up to before they die

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[dave newell]

ok dave ive got to ask why did you deliberately kill a clutch ?

I was working for a courier firm as mechanic/driver, got sent out on a job in escort diesel van, came back put in defect sheet for clutch slipping knowing that other drivers would kill it at the other end of a long run. Main mechanic tried it said "no problem found". Two days later I had to use same van and it was worse (other drivers had it on day in between) so I nursed it on the run until I was 20 miles from home then rode the bugger till it failed, limped into the yard with it smoking badly and just said "I told you the clutch was failing". Main mechanic would not change stuff till it was totally b0!!0xd up, the moron would even change just one brake disc and pads on one side only and every other week we had a transit recovered with a broken cambelt.

D.

 

[Jimbost]

You could try Thomsett's at Stockbury, just off A249 (Detling Hill). We've had both our MHs serviced and repaired there and they've been good.

Denise

Rang them today and now waiting for a quote.

 

[Jimbost]

£846.16 plus Vat to replace clutch. Timing belt etc and the water pump. I think that is a very reasonable price.

 

[denisejoe]

It's quite a steep hill up to their place but the owner did have his own van last year
Joe

 

[tonyidle]

Ducato clutches work "strange"..... They actually pull the pressure plate instead of pushing (compressing) the pressure plate.

As far as I can see they are completely conventional?

To the OP: If it is an hydraulic clutch the pedal position doesn't alter with wear making it impossible to see how worn it is without stripping it. Personally I'd test for slip before spending money. I've just had to do some research on these clutches as mine briefly slipped at around peak torque rpm. The (internet) consensus is that the clutch is borderline for the 2.8JTD engine torque and because of this I'm considering an uprated version when I have to replace mine.

http://www.larkspeed.com/index.pl?c=CLUTCHFIAT&s=category

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