clutch shutter

N

newmodelaguy

Junior Member
1930 tudor when letting clutch out in 1st or or reverse i get alot of shutter i guess you would call it .. shaking any suggestions on why and what to do to fix this problem
 
I'm having the same problem on a car I just bought. I've had this problem before on different model a's but can't remember what I done to over come it. May have changed the clutch plate.
 
My 29 Tudor will shutter only in first gear, I have also read that I should check the motor mounts.Having said that I will listen to the experts here in the barn. I can't see any oil or grease on the clutch. Thanks in advance
 
It can be motor mounts, especially floaters.
Also, oil or grease on disk/flywheel
But, usually it is warped flywheel [.002"] and/or misadjusted pressure plate fingers [.002"] and/or clutch cover/bellhousing alignment[.007"].
 
When I got my A last year the clutch was slipping. After replacing the fiber disk it chattered pretty bad. Within a couple of months I realized my main bearings were shot. Repaired them and cleaned the flywheel/pressure plate but reused my new disk. Still chattered but the bearing repair stopped my oil leaks. It's such a job to change the clutch I just lived with it. I drive my A about 75 miles a week around town with lots of stop and go. This last month I realized the chatter is virtually gone. It was so gradual i didn't notice. Not slipping either as I installed a Mitchell OD and can maintain 50 in OD with no problems. In my experience mechanical things don't repair themselves but this time, thankfully, they did.
Hugh
 
Look for looseness / wear on the transmission input shaft, pilot bushing and nose on the front of the shaft. Also the trans bearing at the rear of the input shaft. Sometimes the spring shackles and/or bushings at the rear spring. Don't forget to check the bolts all around on the differential housing, front and both sides for tightness.
 
I had chatter on my tudor, with float-o-motors. Changed back to stock mounts, still had chatter. Put in a V8 clutch w/ lightened flywheel. Still had chatter. Had the lightened flywheel drilled for a diaphragm clutch. I think the clutch is one for a late-model Mustang, it is a 9" unit. That eliminated all of the chatter.
 
I have been using the Mustang also. I did find I had to shim it out for the A plate. But it worked great on F150 4 speed clutch plate. The ones I checked the A plate was thicker than the Mustang plate.
 
I have no problem with my flywheel/clutch/pressure plate:
 

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I had an issue with a clutch chatter in forward and reverse on a 30 P/U. Think it was oil contamination due to a previous leak, I removed the inspection cover and with the clutch depressed I hosed it down with brake clean. This reduced it quite a bit. Shortly after, the truck was tasked with a towing job. It must have burned the rest of it off as it never chattered after that job.
 
Clutch chatter is quite common in Model A's.
Minerva chattered, but didn't on a second gear take off. I took off ONLY in second, for a Month & the chatter went away TOTALLY!!
Bill Smooth
 
Carl, what pressure plate is that in your picture, and did it make the pedal much easier to push?

My 29 Tudor felt like a paint shaker when starting from a dead stop. I installed a good used Model A pressure plate from a swap meet, a new disc from a swap meet, and I used my 1/4 sheet palm sander to lightly sand the flywheel friction surface. I also dialed in the flywheel cover, and now the car is as smooth as an automatic.

The disc and pressure plate that I removed both looked like new and didn't have any oil on them, so I'm not sure which of the 4 things I did fixed the chatter, but I didn't want to do the job twice, so I covered all bases.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Carl, what pressure plate is that in your picture, and did it make the pedal much easier to push? ...
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It's a Sachs BBC1904 pressure plate (hover over the thumbnail and it reveals.)

The pedal does seem easier to push, but then again, with my old arthretic knees that keep getting progressively worse -- ??? there may be an automatic in my future.
 
newmodelaguy said:
sounds like im not the only one with the problem so i say LET IT SHUTTER
Click to expand...

Clutch chatter can lead to cracks in fenders and frames, and it sure can't be good for the engine bearings. I tried several methods to get around it, but it's so nice now to drive with smooth engagement after fixing the problem.:)
 
My buddies 36 Ford had clutch chatter from the time he installed the clutch 5 yrs ago then it suddenly stopped chattering (see picture) The new one I put in it is as smooth as glass, used the same flywheel just took some emery cloth to it, new pressure plate, disc, pilot and throw out bearing
 

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My clutch chatter was the result of a pressure plate being .045 out of flatness. New (old) pressure plate was flat, checked the flywheel, and had some throughout bearing issues (new off shore), so we did find a like new USA bearing.

Now.....the clutch is so smooth.

Take your time, check everything carefully.

Good Luck;
 
I think we all have had it at one time . oil is a big problem , warpage is another . if you take it apart make sure all is flat & new disc & t/o bearing ........ steve
 
I have a V8 clutch in my 190A and it chatters a bit. I suspect that the pressure plate fingers are not adjusted correctly. However, the chatter is overcome if I slip the clutch a bit more than usual.

I am going to reevaluate the situation after there are a few thousand miles on the clutch. Hopefully, the chatter will go away as the clutch wears a bit.
 
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