Bad Clutch?

Your first post stated that when you fully pushed the clutch pedal that the release bearing didn't come close to touching the pressure plate fingers.. Was that correct ?? If so, thats your problem.. The release bearing has to contact the fingers and push those fingers in enough to allow the disk to release from the flywheel and pressure plate face..
 
jkeesey said:
Remove your inspection cover and look inside. With the no pressure on the clutch pedal the throwout bearing should not be contacting the pressure plate. It should have at least a quarter of an inch to be safe . The 1-2" that everyone is refering to is at the foot pedal end I hope. Putting the car on jacks like you described works great I just did it to a car this morning.
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I'll have to measure the the space between the throwout bearing and the plate but I recall there being a pretty good gap between the two with no pressure on the pedal. I'll verify tonight.

Also I noticed on the pressure plate that one of the fingers looked like it was pulled out more towards the rear end in comparison to the other fingers. Something to be concerned about?
 
Patrick L. said:
Your first post stated that when you fully pushed the clutch pedal that the release bearing didn't come close to touching the pressure plate fingers.. Was that correct ?? If so, thats your problem.. The release bearing has to contact the fingers and push those fingers in enough to allow the disk to release from the flywheel and pressure plate face..
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Correct. The throwout bearing didn't make any contact with the pressure plate fingers. Bigger problem or is there an adjustment for that?
 
I would go back and adjust your free play (This is the amount of travel the clutch pedal makes BEFORE the arm on the side of the transmission starts to move the t/out bearing towards the pressure plate fingers) as it sounds like your definition of it and what is correct are not the same. JMO
Paul in CT
 
1931 flamingo said:
I would go back and adjust your free play (This is the amount of travel the clutch pedal makes BEFORE the arm on the side of the transmission starts to move the t/out bearing towards the pressure plate fingers) as it sounds like your definition of it and what is correct are not the same. JMO
Paul in CT
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Hmmm...I would define it as "This is the amount of travel the clutch pedal makes before the throwout bearing contacts the pressure plate fingers."

Free play includes the pedal travel required to move the bearing against the fingers.

Joe
 
Actually FREEPLAY is the distance the clutch pedal moves before the T/O bearing contacts the 6 fingers, as Joe said, and that's where you want to start. As mentioned, it's best felt with your hand and is easy to adjust at the trunion nut and link. Get that to about 3/4" then see if the clutch releaes OK. While you are under the car adjusting the link, be sure to check the release arm on the end of the shaft for cracks. You might need someone to push the clutch in while you look at the arm movement.

Yes, if one of the 6 fingers is sticking out more than the others, that is something to be concerned about. It might be an adjustment issure, or a piece of clutch lining might be torn off and caught under the disc, making it thicker in one spot.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Actually FREEPLAY is the distance the clutch pedal moves before the T/O bearing contacts the 6 fingers, as Joe said, and that's where you want to start. As mentioned, it's best felt with your hand and is easy to adjust at the trunion nut and link. Get that to about 3/4" then see if the clutch releaes OK. While you are under the car adjusting the link, be sure to check the release arm on the end of the shaft for cracks. You might need someone to push the clutch in while you look at the arm movement.

Yes, if one of the 6 fingers is sticking out more than the others, that is something to be concerned about. It might be an adjustment issure, or a piece of clutch lining might be torn off and caught under the disc, making it thicker in one spot.
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Would clutch chatter be caused from one of the fingers not being adjusted properly? I had chatter last fall when I would put it into gear and release the clutch.
 
I had to cut my answer a bit short,, now I'm back.. As mentioned, free play is the amount that you can push the clutch pedal with your fingers to move the release bearing into contact with the pressure plate fingers.. 3/4" to 1 1/2" should work fine.. Also as mentioned every once in awhile a clutch arm has been known to crack which can be seen if someone operates the pedal for you.. Also another possibility could be that the fingers have been forced over center and are stuck in while the disk is also frozen, but, thats pretty far fetched..
 
Update....

So I put the rear up on jack stands, started the car in first gear and pushed the clutch in, gave it gas, let the clutch out (i did this a few times). I didn't hear or feel anything let loose but it must have because while the rear was up on jack stands I could shift into all the gears just fine.

Now here's where it gets interesting. I removed the stands from the rear end and started the car. I go to put it in gear and it grinds. If I push the clutch in and wait about 5 seconds I can then put it into gear. I can't just push the clutch in and put it into gear without waiting. So why was I able to go through all the gears with the rear end on blocks? Makes no sense.

The clutch link is turned in almost all the way so there's no more thread left to turn in. I removed the inspection plate and pushed the clutch pedal with my hand while watching the T/O bearing. I have at least 2" of free play before the T/O bearing touches the fingers. Again the clutch link is almost turned in all the way. If I turn it back out then I would have more free play.

Any suggestions or can someone tell me what I might be doing wrong?

I appreciate everyone's help! I'm always learning something new on the Ford Barn.
 
If everything your saying is true it sounds like your clutch is shot. if your completely out of adjustment on your clutch trunion there's really nothing else you can adjust. And the jack stand test is with the car raised up you start it in 3rd gear push in the clutch and tap your brakes.
 
The 6 fingers might be way out of adjustment. They should be about 5/8" to 3/4" down from the clutch cover (pressure plate) when bolted to the flywheel with a good disc installed. As the disc wears the freeplay becomes less.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
The 6 fingers might be way out of adjustment. They should be about 5/8" to 3/4" down from the clutch cover (pressure plate) when bolted to the flywheel with a good disc installed. As the disc wears the freeplay becomes less.
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Thanks Tom.

Is there a way to adjust the fingers or is it basically just time for a new clutch?
 
Either I'm missing something or there is a communication problem here. You need to lengthen the clutch pedal adjusting shaft and trunion to get less free play, not shorten it. This may be your biggest problem. The reason it grinds until you wait a bit is the transmission is still spinning after the clutch is disengageed. This could be not fully disengaging the clutch(too much free play) or too thin of transmission grease.
 
I'm not sure I really see a problem now.. Having to wait a couple seconds before tugging on the shift lever I think is kinda normal.. Remember, these transmitters are not circumcised [ as Norm Crosby would say].. Does it make any difference to try and stick into 2nd or 3rd before going to 1st ?? 2" of freeplay is getting on the outer limits but still should be OK,, I prefer more than not enough..
 
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