The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Clutch Pilot Shaft Bushing ERROR?

Well, in my haste to get my bell housing, flywheel, clutch and tranny back on my block, I forgot to soak the clutch pilot shaft bushing in oil at least overnight. Drove it in and installed the bell housing, torqued it down and then remembered. I will yield to all the persons who know more than me about this, do I need to pull the bell housing and bushing and then soak it or can I just apply some moly lube in the opening and get away with it? This truck is not a daily driver but I want to do it right so it is dependable. Engine is a 261.

Acording to the books you are not supposed to put anything on them. They supposedly are impregnated with lube when manufactured. Iv,e always put a little grease on the bushing or the shaft.

it is supposed to be an oil impregnated bushing and if it came sealed in something, like a plastic bag, it was probably properly soaked before it was sent to you.

As a matter of precaution I soak the bushing before installing them, but strictly speaking I don't think its necessary.

In your case, its a fairly cheap bearing/bushing and probably not worth the trouble of pulling now, since if it fails there won't be any permanent harm caused, you'll just hear some squealing. The same effort to pull it now could be invested at some point down the road if it does start squealing and you then replace it with one you do soak or one of those $10 trick roller bearing pilot bushings.

You did do it right. Soaking is unnecessary as the bushing is oil impregnated. The shop manual makes no mention of lubing this part. Even with daily use the bushing will last your lifetime.

Thanks guys! Glad I don't have to pull it out again. It was in a plastic bag and I'll put a little grease on the tranny shaft on the install. Starting to update my "Engine Rebuild" webshots page as I get this thing ready to go back into the truck.


http://community.webshots.com/user/geezer

Lookin good Mike!!

Installed the flywheel, PP and disc today. Used an old front shaft from a donor tranny (think a passenger car tranny) as the alignment tool. Was tight in the bushing going in with the donor shaft. Grabbed the old bushing I took out just to check and slipped it over the tranny shaft on my rebuilt 3 speed......Wow! was it ever sloppy and loose. I would guess that the new bushing should be a tight fit on the tranny shaft as the brass bushing is sacrificial to the steel shaft. Then tried putting my rebuilt tranny onto the bellhousing to check the bushing fit. Slipped in nicely with a little force. Next, the release bearing and then the tranny!