SoCalCoupe
Well-known member
Read all the slipping clutch threads going back 3 years or so; now it's my turn.
Took my '41 coupe for the first drive more than a few blocks this weekend and discovered that clutch is slipping, a lot. It's especially bad when I accelerate right after shifting and the the rpm's are low. Thought is would be easy to simply adjust. No dice. It already has 1-1/2" of free play in the pedal.
I'm pretty sure the car hasn't been driven more than a few miles in the past year. Hopefully it's just some surface rust on the flywheel that will work itself out. REALLY don't want to disconnect the rear end and pull the transmission out through the passenger compartment. But hope is seldom the solution.
Saw one attempted solution about cleaning the disc through the inspection hole with brake cleaner. Might de-lubricate the throwout bearing too. Saw another about doing it with gasoline (???????) Yet another about bracing the car on a tree and letting the clutch out to slip and burn off whatever might be on the surfaces. Not going to try any of these.
Hoping (there's that word again) there's some better ideas before disconnecting the rear end and pulling up the floor boards.
There are several indicators that it only has about 4500 miles on it. Owned lots of cars with manual transmissions and never wore out a clutch, even with greater than 100,000 miles. Didn't see this clutch issue coming at all. Hopefully the rear main seal is ok. There's very little observable oil leakage, right in line with the tightest of every other old car I've owned. Another internet search turned up quite a few complaints about cheap Chinese clutches. Hope it's that simple, wish it it was even simpler. Very tempted to find a competent garage and pay to have this done.
Saw a lot of recommendations here on the Ford Barn for Fort Wayne Clutch. Very disappointed to learn on the H.A.M.B. this morning that they're now sourcing their parts from China.
Took my '41 coupe for the first drive more than a few blocks this weekend and discovered that clutch is slipping, a lot. It's especially bad when I accelerate right after shifting and the the rpm's are low. Thought is would be easy to simply adjust. No dice. It already has 1-1/2" of free play in the pedal.
I'm pretty sure the car hasn't been driven more than a few miles in the past year. Hopefully it's just some surface rust on the flywheel that will work itself out. REALLY don't want to disconnect the rear end and pull the transmission out through the passenger compartment. But hope is seldom the solution.
Saw one attempted solution about cleaning the disc through the inspection hole with brake cleaner. Might de-lubricate the throwout bearing too. Saw another about doing it with gasoline (???????) Yet another about bracing the car on a tree and letting the clutch out to slip and burn off whatever might be on the surfaces. Not going to try any of these.
Hoping (there's that word again) there's some better ideas before disconnecting the rear end and pulling up the floor boards.
There are several indicators that it only has about 4500 miles on it. Owned lots of cars with manual transmissions and never wore out a clutch, even with greater than 100,000 miles. Didn't see this clutch issue coming at all. Hopefully the rear main seal is ok. There's very little observable oil leakage, right in line with the tightest of every other old car I've owned. Another internet search turned up quite a few complaints about cheap Chinese clutches. Hope it's that simple, wish it it was even simpler. Very tempted to find a competent garage and pay to have this done.
Saw a lot of recommendations here on the Ford Barn for Fort Wayne Clutch. Very disappointed to learn on the H.A.M.B. this morning that they're now sourcing their parts from China.
