Here are some tips to check the clutch:

With the engine hot, select top gear apply some revs,and try to drive way with the parking brake applied. The engine should instantly stall.
Any "softness" or continued slipping indicates that center plate replacement is due.
The continued wearing of the friction material in service over time causes the fingers of the clutch pressure plate to move out pushing the mechanism and ultimately the slave cylinder piston back into its cylinder.
For that reason the amount of free play (travel) of the clutch pedal will decrease as wear develops/progresses.
A new clutch will cause take up after about 1/3rd of pedal travel from the floor. This naturally will decrease over time until the clutch take up is almost at the top of the pedal travel.

Often an increase of pedal effort is experienced as the fingers are forced by the release bearing to deflect those fingers from "way out of centre position" and then deflected closer towards the flywheel. The effort to achieve this, increases pedal resistance felt through your foot.

It is adviseable to change the clutch plate once a significant loss of free play is experienced. In this manner you will reduce the risk of complete failure and all its attendant costs.
So beware, don't neglect your clutch a complete replacement will dent the wallet and so will a tow if its needed.

By the way if you need to resurface the flywheel the unit has a 2 step face, the step is ,004" or 0.010mm, should your local machine shop need it.
Flwheel torque is 28lbf then tighten a further flat. All threads must be buffed on a wire wheel then liberally daubed in Loctite. If you have a dial gauge "clock" the flywheel on the crank to mke sure its seated right.

Contributed by Dennis Williams, LinDen Engineering