The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Clutch Not Working

I'm re-assembling my '41 3/4 ton after a complete restoration, which included a new pressure plate and throw out bearing (all stock). The engine runs fine and the transmission shifts fine with the engine off. Last night I put wheels on for the first time, started the engine, put the transmission in reverse, with the clutch pedal depressed, and the rear wheels immediately engaged and the vehicle started to take off (with clutch pedal still depressed). The nuts on the hook-shaped bolt that connects the clutch pedal to the clutch fork are adjusted all the way in, which if I'm correct would not cause the pressure plate to bind against the flywheel. The clutch pedal feels normal when you depress it. There are no unusual noises. What is wrong here? Do you think I have something together wrong, or perhaps is the new pressure plate just sticking to the flywheel? Any thoughts?

I take it the adjustment is quite different from before? Was the release bearing exactly the same? Which way was the disc installed?

The adjustment is pretty much the same as before. I adjusted it slightly to give as much room as possible between the pressure plate and flywheel. The release bearing is identical to the old one. My son installed the pressure plate and I'm assuming he put it in correctly. Says he did at least.

The only adjustment that there is on a clutch is the clearance between the TB and the pressure plate fingers. There is no other adjustment and if the pressure plate is not disengaging with the pedal adjusted to the factory clearance, which will be something on the order of 3/4 to 1 inch, then you have a problem with an improper pressure plate or a disc who’s lining is to thick, either way one or both are not the correct units.

It sounds like you haven’t been into the mechanical end of the truck much so let me point out, that the pressure plate is bolted to the flywheel and the clutch disc floats on the transmission clutch gear spline.
DG

Problem solved. My son put the clutch disc in backwards. Tonight we dropped the transmission and reversed the disc and now everything works as it should. Easy mistake to make. The hub on the disc goes towards the engine, not towards the transmission. I would probably have done the same.

Great, looks like Fred nailed it. Amazing how smooth this old stuff works when we put it
together the way it looks in the picture.
Ar ya gonna us those trucks to haul lumber from the sawmill? Lets see some pictures of
the new shop, us guys that spend more time in the barn than in the living room like to see
how good others have it.
And looking at the mountains in the background of the '40 picture sure makes me jealous,
wish I had a back yard like that. Really purrty country out there.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I almost posted the same thing on the first response but...
did not think anyone would believe me...........happen to me on my 70 International half ton...........mine just made a terrible noise when putting it in gear or trying to......

Denny, heck, those aren't mountains, just little hills. You should see the view in the other direction. Kidding aside, I do live in a pretty nice place.

Here's a link to a couple pics of my new shop. I cut nearly all the framing lumber myself on my sawmill. Every single bit of work on the shop, except the foundation and floor slab, was done by me with occasional help from my son. Not bad for a 62 year old man with a bad back.
http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad342/summerfi/shop/

we almost have the same birthday, mine is June 17
but I am about 9 yrs older....lol

Now I'm really jealous. If I had that in the back yard my "big old wife" would have a hard time getting me in the house for the holidays.

Heck, your just a kid, when I was your age......aw, never mind. Now you talk about an old man, Oops, Fred alrady stepped up for himself..

Well back to the trucks, keep us posted on what your doing with them. Ya joined a great bunch of guys here on the Bolt, none better at any price.

Denny G

Those are nice photos! So that was the year of change, 40 to 41. It is interesting to compare the differences in the body style.