The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Clutch Problems

I have a '41 3/4 ton with the original drive train. After the clutch began to slip I sent the clutch disk out for a new lining. Once I got it all back together I found that there is not enough pedal travel to completely disengage the clutch.

I have taken up all of the adjustment so there is NO FREE TRAVEL in the pedal. I can see that the throw out bearing is sitting tight against the pressure plate fingers and begins to move as soon as the clutch pedal is begun to be pushed. With this in mind I believe all the slack and free movement is out of the system. But still I cannot completely disengage the clutch.

So my question is...Is there something in the pressure plate that could be worn and using up a lot of the available pedal travel ?????

Did you replace the throw-out bearing? There is a long and a short version (at least on later trucks) so that could be the issue.

Kip's41,

Two other things come to mind (other than the possible throw-out bearing thing Martin mentioned).

Have you checked the thickness of the rebuilt clutch plate? Some possibility exists that the rebuilder may have used the wrong thickness new lining material, taking up more than the normal space between the pressure plate and flywheel.

The other question is, any possibility that you flipped the new clutch plate when reinstalling? IIRC, the protruding clutch plate spring pack if facing the flywheel instead of the pressure plate, will make constant contact with the flywheel and will not "lift" off and away from the flywheel even when pedal is mashed all the way to the floor. (Please don't ask me how I know this )

Let us know what you figure out.

Hello Martin:

And thanks for the tip, I did not know about two lengths of throw-out bearings. But I did not change it. I examined it while it was out, and it spun freely with no slop.

Hello Dan

And thank you too. Interesting thought on the thickness. Seeing it all has to come apart again I'll measure the disk thickness and see if I can find a spec to check it against. On the other Idea, I'm quite sure it is in correctly as I made a special note of its orientation when I removed it

OK so I finally have an assignable cause. The disk spring in the pressure plate is broken in 2 places.

So now the important question....Anybody out there have an extra 10-3/4" pressure plate or disk spring ???

Kip's41,

Thanks for the update and glad you at least identified the problem. Others will respond, but have you checked to see if the pressure plate can be rebuilt?

If not, suggest next best step would be to post an ad in The Swap Meet. Am sure folks will chime in with parts help or pointers for sources as they are able.