So, I sorted my clutch problems?
You know the answer.
I tried various settings for the slave cylinder push-rod. But all to no avail. I was still getting horrible crunching noises when trying to move into first or reverse gears, and sometimes also when shifting between 2nd, 3rd and 4th when driving along. And then I noticed something very odd. When I depressed the clutch, the slave cylinder push-rod would extend properly; but then after a second or so it would begin to retract. Therefore, the gear crunching wasn't because the push-rod wasn't extended far enough. It was because it was retracting. Which meant a leak somewhere in the clutch hydraulics. And since there was no obvious leaks in any of the pipes, the most likely culprit was the clutch master cylinder.
Deep breath, get the syringe out, extract the clutch fluid from the master cylinder and begin dismantling. It's not a difficult job, just time-consuming; especially when you make stupid mistakes (which are a regular occurrence for me). And while I was about it, I decided to do the brake master cylinder at the same time.
Cutting a long and brake-fluid sodden story short, cleaning out and reassembling the clutch master cylinder made no difference. So yet another bullet had to be bit and a new master cylinder bought. And what a difference! At last, beautifully smooth gear changes (leaving aside my not infrequent incompetence at double-declutching). Which just goes to prove that you shouldn't assume that old cars have to be difficult to drive.
