Clutch chatter on 51 ford

R

Rollingmenace

Member
Have a 51 ford with a 3 speed manual... It seems in first gear only when leaving from a stand still I get a little chatter and shake from the clutch.. I notice nothing in the other two gears when rolling and riding... Reverse doesn't seem to have any issues either... My brother seems to remember dad having a little noise from the throw out berring before he parked the car ...I haven't noticed any noise... What do I guys think is it time for a new clutch .. Is a little chatter normal on these cars.. I would think not but I'm still learning
 
My '50 takes off smooth. I know this isn't any help to you but unfortunately you probably have to pull the trans., bell housing and clutch to see whats up. You must have and issue with the clutch-to -pressure plate surfaces.
Have you checked your motor and trans. mounts? You could try setting the emergency brake ,as long as it works good and gently let out the clutch in 1st and reverse while someone stands BESIDE the open hood to see if the motor lifts to check for a broken motor or trans mount.
 
It saw use sporadically from 2002 on it sat for about a year before I drove it in last July and sat from July to jan of this year... I've been going through the systems on the car and driving it easy venturing out a little farther from home every time ... Were gonna run it out about 30 miles one way on valentines day....
I'll check out the car for motor movement like stated above .. If I had to guess its a clutch issue the motor and trans mounts should've been replaced in 02 or so but I'll dig further into it here next few days....
 
check the rear suspension bushings on the rear end, and the bushings in the springs, any play there will let the rear end move and cause chatter that feels like its in the clutch
 
Years ago, I had quite a bit of clutch chatter in a '58 Ford. Had a garage
put in a New clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. Still had the
chatter, so they took it apart, and replaced the worn pilot bearing, that
they overlooked before, that did it, No more clutch chatter. ;)










.
 
If the pressure plate is tweeked, it is possible to get chatter when taking off... when pressure plate is installed needs to be tightened a bit at a time rotating from bolt to bolt. How do I know happened to me years ago before I knew anything.
 
Had the same problem on a 48 Ford bus Coupe. Made an anti chatter device but still had the problem. The 48 and back models were less forgiving because of the closed drive shaft. Ultimately had to replace the clutch and pressure plate. Be sure to get a new pressure plate not a rebuilt. I went that way first without success and had to do it all over. It also helps to have the flywheel, pressure plate assembly dynamically balanced. The vender I purchased the pressure plate from is no longer in business but I'm sure Early Ford V8 Sales in Piedmont, SC can help you out. Their number is 864-845-7878.
Don in SC
 
Here are a couple of very thorough and informative discussion on the EFV8 site about clutch chatter:

http://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=18&Topic=6453&keywords=clutch chatter

http://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=18&Topic=6353&keywords=clutch chatter

My take on all of it is that the very clutch chatter that you describe was and is a very common problem with the old flathead vehicles that many, including Ford, have tried many things to fix, some with success and most without. My brand new clutch and turned flywheel chattered from the git-go in spite of new motor and trans mounts (which many blame). I dumped fuller's earth in there as some suggested without benefit. I've just had to learn a whole new and unique way to engage the clutch in first to reduce and sometimes avoid it.
 
The clutch disk had two separate sides riveted together. In between is a metal disc which is slightly wavy and creates a space between the two sides. This helps to prevent chatter. Your disc may be causing the problem if there is no longer any space between the two sides.
 
I just went through this with my `51 F1. Only it was much worse than yours. I had just rebuilt everything with new foreign parts. It chattered from the get-go. So I took it all apart again and installed a rebuilt original Ford clutch and pressure plate. End of clutch chatter. There was a lesson learned...
 
I had a 49 Ford Sedan that Chattered,A 41 Lincoln Continental sedan converted to a Flathead V8 it Chattered, a 40 Ford Pick up it Chattered & my 36 Cabriolet Chatters taking off in 1st,--so its either Me or its Ford common.
 
not wantiong to be a know it all, but the wavey metal plate between the two clutch faces is called a marcel, its intended to warp the clutch disk a little so there are high spots for the clutch to slip and prevent chatter, heavy trucks dont have the marcel, nor do truck clutches have the springs where the main shaft goes thru the disk, some times this clutch is used on passenger cars and it will cause chatter
 
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