[david moore]

Thanks for your helpful comments, Gordon.

The little cover doesn't really give access to the clutch disc but I can see that the three release arms are working as they should but the disc is staying firmly in place. I tried a variant of the shock tactics given the confined space that I am in - I jacked up a rear wheel and tried shock starts that way but no luck; solidly engaged all the time..

Given the likelihood of the last resort, I'm inclined to think that getting at the clutch via removing the drive shaft/gearbox is much less hassle than getting the engine out. Am I right in thinking that I have to drop the oil pan so as to get at the three pairs of cap screws that hold the clutch pressure plate cover/disc in place? I guess that I would have to rotate the engine with the crank to bring them around for access - I don't think I can get at them where the main engine casting is in the way. The book says to undo them a turn at a time so as to reduce the risk of distorting the pressure plate cover.

Any further advice welcome