1928 multi-disc clutch

Here is a couple of pictures showing the multiple disc clutch in the bell housing and the difference in the shafts.
 

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I have a multi disc setup and have it apart for a cleanup as I was having trouble moving from rev or 1st to neutral.
Hadn’t been apart for 40+ yrs so it was well worth a look.
The flywheel is grooved where the center 3 plates run but the rest is good, the centre hub was very dirty/ dusty where the steels run so a good clean up and I’m thinking it should be okay as the fibres are in great nick also.
I don’t have a lot of adjustment left on the pedal linkage so was looking for worn plates or something like that.
I have the gearbox on a bench and I assembled the clutch to the input shaft, connected up the pedal to see how it looked. I set the pedal with a minimal amount of clearance on the throw out bearing and when I leaned on the pedal,I noticed the input shaft moved forward a 16th or so. Can anyone tell me what the endplay should be on the input shaft?
That and a small amount of play in the throw out fork pin is using up quite a bit of adjustment.
 
Can anyone tell me if there is a procedure to line up the multi plate clutch assembly when fitting the gearbox /clutch back into the flywheel?
Thanks for any help.
 
For Pooch the English RHD single disc bell housing has the round pedals these are grooved on the pedal face . The multidisc also has round pedals but no grooves . I would think the RHD bell housings should be the same in OZ . I have not seen oval pedals on a RHD bell housing here in UK .

John in sunny morning Suffolk County England .
 
Barrelnose if the discs are lined up properly first,that whole assembly slides in a lot easier than you would think.I use 3 chainsaw files laid in the grooves,with a hose clamp around them when backing off the compression tool.I have never once had the fight I anticipated rassling things into place.
 
Thanks for the reply, I’ll give that a go.
Just that fact the fibre plate id is larger that the inner hub, they can easily not be centred.
Cheers again for the idea.
 
fyi
the easiest way to tell if the clutch is multi disk without doing any other research is.
look at the top inspection plate on the bellhousing. if it is louvered it will be a single disc, if it has no louvers it will be a multi disc.
 
Barrelnose if the discs are lined up properly first,that whole assembly slides in a lot easier than you would think.I use 3 chainsaw files laid in the grooves,with a hose clamp around them when backing off the compression tool.I have never once had the fight I anticipated rassling things into place.

Thanks Keith True, I did it your way and it worked out great, I lightly loaded up the spring and as the fibre rings are slightly larger than the outer steel case I centred them off that and then loaded the spring and did her up.
Perfect, thanks again.
 
The stuff I have I only want to sell as a gross lot. I am in Ohio, and you'd have to pick the stuff up.
 
Be careful disassembling the "clutch pack." A good read on this is Victor Page's book "Model A Ford" which shows you step by step disassembly - the proper tools to do it (KRW of course) and sufficient warning about the pent up energy/spring in that clutch pack.

I don't have the KRW tools, but if you have a 10 ton press, you can use blocks of wood/steel and approximate the restraint function of the KRW tools.

Another thing I've done is "restack" the saw tooth blades - take the one from innermost and put it outermost with all the others "following."

Technically as the clutch "binds up" on its own fouling (crap in the grooves) one by one the disk hang. To make the clutch work technically you only need one or two disks "free" - but cleaning and re-stacking can - for a while - restore clutch function.

Best is to have the friction plates re-covered. There are those here in the US who do this on an "exchange" basis. Search around and you'll see a couple of names. Search Terms "Multiplate re-lining."

Joe K
July '28 Multiplate.
 
I'm having new linings made for the clutch packs. There is an opportunity to have new disks made, but I don't think the minimum order (400 pieces) is worth the effort, unfortunately.
 
fyi
the easiest way to tell if the clutch is multi disk without doing any other research is.
look at the top inspection plate on the bellhousing. if it is louvered it will be a single disc, if it has no louvers it will be a multi disc.
On the multi disc clutch the inspection cover is wider than it is tall. The single disc inspection cover is taller than it is wide and did come with or without louvers. See the link in an earlier posting for pics.
 
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