I'm not sure this horse is dead yet, so I'm going to keep beating it....
I crawled under the truck and watched the pressure plate as my assistant pressed the clutch pedal. When the clutch pedal is released, the pressure plate firmly pushes the clutch disc against the flywheel. When the clutch pedal is depressed, the pressure plate moves away from the clutch disc (I would estimate 1/8 to 1/4 inch), and the disc is no longer pinched against the flywheel (I can wriggle it slightly).
I bought the disc, pressure plate, cover, and throwout bearing together as a kit, so I don't think it's the wrong disc/plate combination. I'm guessing I installed the clutch disc backwards because everything else seems to be working as it should. Harvester says the protruding hub on the clutch disc should face the pressure plate (toward the rear of the vehicle). The diagram in my Shop Manual seems to show the opposite (the protruding hub faces forward toward the flywheel).
Is there any way to verify that the disc is installed backward without removing the transmission and/or engine? Do others agree that the protruding hub on the clutch disc should face toward the rear of the truck? Could somebody check their shop manual and tell me if I'm seeing things? If the clutch disc is installed backward, would you expect the clutch to behave like mine?
Thanks! I wish I had asked these questions before assembling the whole darn thing.
Norcal49er
