Lunutz, still sorting my clutch out. 1954. Can you describe how bolting down the pressure plate with the disc
reversed damages the pressure plate?
I think mine was that way when I got it, and I am experimenting with re-installing it correctly.
Will it be ruined? Well, I will find out soon!
Is it that the diaphragm springs get bent?
Yes, I think the internal springs of the pressure plate were distorted enough that the clutch disc couldn’t effectively move away from the flywheel. Reinstalling the clutch disc in the proper orientation didn’t undo the damage.
At first I was convinced that the pilot tip of the transmission was binding in the pilot bushing. The symptoms would be exactly the same. So I removed the T5 transmission and checked for burrs. Didn’t find any but I ran some coiled 120 grit sandpaper inside the bushing just to be sure. Then I checked to be sure the ID of the pilot bushing matched a brand new one. It was in tolerance. Then after installing the transmission again, it had the same problem so I knew it was the clutch disc not being released.
New clutch package solved everything. I thought a new clutch package deserved a new flywheel. Flywheel was very reasonable and about the same as getting my old one resurfaced, but without the running to a shop and waiting a week.
