The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Clutch woes

Ok got the re-lined clutch in, pressure plate, bearing, 4 spd, torque tube and rear end. Greased and assembled the clutch linkage, started engine, won't go into gear (grinds). Adjusted clutch all the way out and still cannot dis-engage clutch while running. It is almost as if the push rod needs to be longer! '48 with 216 and 4 spd manual. Everything original. Has some tension on pedal but not enough! What did I miss?

Is it possible the throw-out bearing is reversed, although I am sure someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

Did You check to make sure You had the right throw out bearing there are differant ones some are longer than others.You should place both bearings on the work bench and make sure they are the same.A small differance can mean alot to the clutch pedal adjustment.

Pete

First off is it possible you have the disc in backwards. The extended center goes into the opening in the pressure plate. Then like the guys say you may not have the right TO brg for the pressure plate. Even if it matched the old one sometimes the replacement is the newer style & needs a different TO brg. Prop the clutch down or get someone to hold it down & get under the truck & take off the lower cover. The pressure plate should move away from the disc. With the trans in neatral you should be able to turn the disc. Kcal mentioned the to brg. may be in backwards. That happenned to one of the fellow bolters recently. Let us know what you find. There are more ideas.

Guys, wouldn't there be an awful noise when depressing the clutch pedal if either the clutch disc or throwout bearing were installed backwards?

Yes to the brg. in bacwards but not with the disc in backwards.

Ok, all I can see under the bell housing is the pressure plate and flywheel. I cannot see if the disc . I can see that the TO bearing is in correctly. I am also suspect of the disc is in wrong. I read the stamping on the disc before installing (install this side towards flywheel)the extended center side. I had the original disc re-lined locally, could something have changed at their site? I guess it is time to remove the axle, trans and pressure plate to dble check

If you look up through one of the recesses in the pressure plate cover you can see the edge of the disc. Have someone step down on the clutch while you watch it. The plate against the disc should move back when the pedal is pushed down. If not you have a linkage problem. If it does then probably the disc is in backward. There is a possibility the pilot brg. is too snug on the trans. shaft causing a drag. Try this carefully. With the trans in high gear, push in the clutch & try to start the engine. If it starts you have a drag in there or the disc has some loose material on it. If thats the case running it & slipping the clutch a little may free it up. If it tries to lurch foreward then it's time to start tearing it down again. Naturaly you want to have distance in front of you & be ready to apply the brakes when you do this.

Wrench
What I was saying is that there is no recesses on the pressure plate to see thru. A few holes, but the only thing visible thru them is the pressure plate springs.

Hy bowtiefan, what Wrenchbender Ret. wants you to look at is at the outer circumference of the pressure plate, with someone holding the clutch pedal down you should be able to move the clutch disc, which is sandwiched between the pressure plate and the flywheel, if it won't move, either the clutch is not releasing, or it is stuck mechanically, from the disc being in backwards or as he said a tight pilot bearing, you should be able to see the three pieces, [flywheel, clutch disc, and pressure plate] if you look at the outer circumference of the pressure plate, hope that helps.

There are some clutches that have the cover around the full circumference of the plate. Maybe that is what is in there.

Bingo... There is solid steel around the circumference Just a few small holes with no way to see the disc. I understand what you guys are saying about trying to see the disc, but I cannot. It might be that I have an unusual pressure plate.

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After wrestling the 4 spd trans back out, I confirmed that the pressure plate and TO bearing were in right, as well as the disc.
My disc has stamped on the extended center side "Flywheel side", not the pressure plate side. I re-installed all, and my 3 spd trans for comparison, and it still will not engage. My guess is the pressure plate is bad!

Are there 6 or 9 bolts holding in the pressure plate.