8ba clutch

Fibber Mcgee

Fibber Mcgee

Well-known member
Ok i'm still fighting with this clutch issue,I changed the clutch pressure plate and throwout bearing and now I have way to much travel,its not in the linkage I'm sure of that.If you look in the inspection cover on top of the trans you can see the bearing has to travel almost an inch before the bearing touches the fingers on the pressure plate.I cant figure out why this has happened on two different plates and clutches one new one new and one off a used trans both time with the same result,this is on a 50 8ba with a 3 speed on the floor in a 49 F1.Can anyone help this is driving me crazy.
 
If your clutch is adjusted correct there should be just enought clearance as to not hit the throw out bearing.
See if the clutch releases.When it hits the throw out bearing the lever should be about straight up.
 
It sounds like you might have the wrong pressure plate, as 1" T/O bearing travel is excessive. A good clutch shop will match a replacement pressure plate to an original, as they come in several sizes and finger heights.
Final adjustment should have about 1/8" max clearance between the T/O bearing and clutch fingers, or about 1 1/2" max pedal free travel. (Normally the overall ratio is about 12 to 1 from the pedal to the T/O bearing)
 
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The clutch and pressure plate came from Napa,Our big clutch shop in jacksonville just went out of business so it was my only quick choice.Is there any different throwout bearing that will fit because the one I put in was a good one out of a 4 speed.Also I didnt know there would be different fingers on the plate that might be something to consider.Would it hurt to adjust the linkage all the way out with maybe a longer rod,I have it out to the point it is almost to loose but with a longer rod maybe !/2 inch I think it would work because rigt now it just grinds a little in first when its warmed up its finewhen its cold.I actually drive it every day and dont want to tear it up but dont really have the time or money to keep trying different clutches. Again thanks for the input.
 
Engine is passenger car and would likely have been equipped with a 9 1/2" pressure plate with fingers entirely wrong for F1 trans; what flywheel and plate do you have? There is no direct fit plate for 9 1/2 wheel that will work, it requires a special rebuild with different fingers OR redrilling to take 9-10-11" pressure plates with the early Ford type throwout.
If your flywheel is truck/commercial, I think versions of those took 10" and 11" plates with early Ford finger configuration that should work fine. If you are using 1950 passenger parts, there's your trouble, if using truck parts we still have a mystery.

Early Ford/F1/'49-50 Merc all used variants of the early Ford transmissions that reguired a BIG throwout due to large shaft size and matching fingers on their plates.
On the F1, 3 and 4 speed used same throwout stuff, 10 and 11"
Ford passenger after 1948 used a trans with small shaft and small throwout and longer fingers to meet that...this stuff is entirely incompatible with the F1, and if you get the linkage working it will all bind up when you step on the pedal!
 
The spare was from a F1 also,they all 3 say 10" on the pressure plate and they all seem to bolt up fine and the linkage works fine too.It just seems the throwout has to travel way to far to make contact.I can see about 1/2 inch of the splines when looking thru the inspection cover is this normal or should the disc cover all the splines.
 
Is the part that the t/out brg mounts on and slides forward the correct one.Are cars and trucks different? Bruce lancaster can you jump in here? Recently there was a discussion on the "A" forum about this, difference between A and AA t/out brg sliders, I believe it's the AA used on the f-150 trans swaps (thinner). Hope this helps.
Paul in CT
 
The throw out bearing hub for most of the 1 3/8" 10 spline input type Ford transmissions is the same P/N 48-7561. This came into use in the 1935 model year and was used clear up into the early 50s on Mercurys & many truck types. The hub moves a total of about 1 1/2" on the input sleeve. If it is moving an inch before making contact, either the clutch pressure plate is the whrong one or the hub in in backwards. If it has any other throw out hub other than the 48-7561 then it is the wrong one and may be too small in diameter to even hit the fingers on the pressure plate. The outer diameter for the actual throw out bearing in 3 5/16" or there abouts.

If there were pictures of the components, several folks on here could most likely identify them. Without, we are shooting in the dark.

Kerby
 
I will get some pics,I know this sounds bad but I have them on my phone but dont know how to get them to the computer.Ill get my son to use his camera and we can get them on here,maybe this weekend,again I appreciate all the help.
 
I guess you can drive it.If not if the floor is up put a pipe or wrench on lever and see if it slipes the clutch.If it does adjust the clutch linkage to not hit throw out bearing.It should be about and inch from top play on pedal up.
 
travel of your pedal could be an adjustment only...I have found that pressure plates made in taiwan had created some problems for me....fist of all u have to have the correct shoulder bolts to hold the pressure plate to the flywheel...then the correct thor- out bearing.....Was the truck originally a 6 cly.....clutch equalizer is different
 
Here is a picture of my 8BA flywheel redrilled for the 9" clutch, the other holes were for the 9 1/4" clutch the pressure plate won't work with the top load early transmission throw out. The yellow P/P is the 9 1/4" 8BA passenger, the fingers are longer. Zeke
 

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Zeke,Just looking at the pics it looks to me like the fingers on mine are closer to the clutch disc than yours it almosts seems like the disc might be to thick on mine,it seems like a small change in thickness might make a bigger change in how fat the fingers stick out.
 
I have a stack of pressure plates at my shop in Callahan. Call me at 879 1803 monday , maybe one of them will be helpful. Merry Christmas, John
 
Wow, I have a stock 53 merc. 9 1/2" with a 39 Trans. I called FortWane Clutch & Driveline 800-258-8243 and they sent the correct pressure plate, disk, throwout bearing, pilot bearing and line up tool. They are very knowledgeable, friendly and reasonable. Jim.T.
 
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