'85 Westy's clutch died the other night at the local gas station.  I started
it in gear and got her home shifting at the proper rpms with no real
problems.  At first I thought it was a hydraulic problem since the pedal
would go to the floor with no resistance, and there was some wetness at the
arm on the side of the tranny right below the clutch slave.  Changed the
clutch slave and master cylinders(they usually go bad together) and bled the
system.  Now the pedal would go down halfway and stop like it was hitting
something.  Pulled the trans and here is what we found:
The operating shaft that pushes the throw out bearing against the pressure
plate normally has two short arms on it to support and push the TO Bearing.
One of these had broken off!  The TO Bearing had come off of the remaining
arm and was just sitting up against the pressure plate.  It seriously messed
up the fingers on the pressure plate.  I have never seen this before.  Today
when we are putting everything back together I think I figured out what
broke the operating shaft.  The TO bearing slides on this metal tube that is
around the splined input shaft of the transmission.  This metal tube was
worn so bad that there was a grove in it and I think this was binding up the
TO bearing enough to put a strain on the operating shaft lever arms.
Eventually the strain was enough that the arm broke at the weld.

My advice: If you are putting in a new clutch, check this tube that the TO
Bearing slides on for wear.  If it worn replace it (it is only a $10-$15
part).  Hopefully this type of clutch failure will remain rare.
Just thought I would share.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242