78-7006 3 sp. question? Long version

J

JDH112

New member
I am new to this site and could not find the answer to my question by doing a search. I am new to old Fords so thank you for any help.

My wife inherited her fathers 37 ford pickup which hasn't run in 6 years. I have been working on it and was able to get it running.
Two weeks ago I drove it up the street, but when I pulled in to the garage I couldn't get it out of gear.

The clutch pedal had about 2"-2 1/2" of free play and when pressed to the floor it felt like it was barely engaging the clutch. You have to pull up on the pedal to get it to the top of the stroke. Almost like a broken return spring. Not sure if it is supposed to have one?

I pulled the floorboards and inspection cover to get a better look. The adjusting rod is almost all the way out. I do see a spring that goes from the trans to the pedal assembly area but doesn't move when the pedal is pressed.
Looking through the inspection cover I can see a spring (pressure plate?) and it appears to move about a 1/4" when the pedal is fully depressed.

I don't know where to start. Any help would be greatly appeciated.

Thank you

JD
 
There is a light spring at the top of the collar that keeps the throw out bearing against the two parts of the collar that actually pushes the bearing against the pressure plate that you might be seeing. I have not seen this happen but what you describe sounds like it could be the pin that holds the "fork" on the shaft that rotates when you push on the pedal may have broken or is loose. Do you have anything that shows an exploded drawing of all the clutch? If not you can probably Google old ford clutch and find a picture. Many of the catalogs have this picture. I don't think all the wear in the pivots could add up to enough play that you would have 2 1/2 inches of free play.
Can you tell if anything had been modified on the truck? If the arm on the shaft that the "fork" is attached to is the wrong one, (like too long) it could change the geometry so that more pedal travel would be needed.
That is a LOT of free play and you should be able to find the source but it may take removal of the transmission to find it.
Good luck and keep us informed. Others will have other things to check.
Also, check the pin holding the arm on the shaft on the outside of the transmission that the linkage attaches to.
 
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Thank you both for your input. JSeery, I had another exploded view of the ****** but looking at the one you linked to I think I lost a spring. I also think something internal is wrong as well but I will start with the spring.
Thanks again.
 
There could be a problem with the clutch cover (pressure plate). If you adjust the free play and there are still problems, the the clutch cover would be suspect. The pedal should also have a return spring that attaches to the frame. It the pedal and linkage are in decent condition and the free play is correct, the the release arms in the cover may be bent or out of adjustment. Springs in the clutch cover assembly can break as well as there being too much wear on the friction surface of the assembly.

Many of us have our original clutch discs & covers overhauled by Ft Wayne Clutch. They have an excellent turn around time. Some of the new aftermarket replacement clutches are problematic.
 
Someone could have reassembled the clutch throw out arm or fork to the shaft
with a roll pin (hollow center type, allowing collapse).

Karl
 
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