Need help with a multi disc clutch

Not sure how you define expert, but I have had a few apart, and still have some clutch packs, and I have the special tool to assemble the clutch pack.
Stating what help you need will make things easier.
 
The toughest part of the multidisc is to find a flywheel that isn't too badly notched, so the discs seperate nicely when the clutch pedal is pushed in.
 
I do have a disc clutch flywheel that is in "like new" condition if anyone needs one. Also a real good clutch assembly. Came off a coupe with very low mileage in the early fifties.
 
I went through 9 clutch assemblies to find enough usable lined discs for a real nice clutch. I had many parts left over at that point. I could have had many of the discs relined and rebuilt 4 more. I bought 5 new throwout bearings from a place in Australia for $5 each, after shipping they were close to $25 each. I had 3 flywheels and only one of them was usable. The info on Jim's site is great. Also good info in the Service Bulletins. Be sure to read both. Rod
 
You guys rock. Thanks for all the responses. The clutch I'm working on is not in a model A, it's in a 1923 REO so I was going to continue the discussion in PM's since it's off topic; Unless ya'll want me to keep it here.
I have pics of the disassembly and I'm wondering about everything as I put it back together.
Alan
 
On the multidisc Model A clutch pack one of the discs has a small V notch in one of the teeth. This disc has teeth a hair wider than the other discs and should be placed to the rear of the pack. That is, when installed on the car, this disc will be the rear most of the discs. The rear most disc moves the least during clutch release and the wider teeth help to remove back and forth (rotational) play.
 
dry.
here's a pic from yesterday when I took it off the flywheel.
The sprocket in the lower right of the pic is for the starter chain.
 

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AlanD said:
dry.
here's a pic from yesterday when I took it off the flywheel.
The sprocket in the lower right of the pic is for the starter chain.
Click to expand...

One of my customers has a 23 REO firetruck, and he gave me a copy of the manual. If you need a manual, I can copy what I have.
 
I have a REO transmission that has a simular looking sprocket hub on it for the clutch. It had not dawmwed on me until I seen your pic that it was for the clutch. Will post pic's later when I am on the computer instead of posting from my I-phone. Rod
 
OK, here's my question. When I took the clutch assembly out of the flywheel, all the plates came out together since there's a retainer ring at the back of the stack. See the first pic.

Well there was an extra disc still down in the clutch cavity in the flywheel, separate from the clutch assembly. See second pic. My first thought was that someone made a mistake when they put it back together. I have since learned that this correct. But why is it this way?

I wanted to make sure before I put it back together. The friction plates were kinda greasy, which I've read is not a good thing so I've been cleaning then so they will be dry and grease-free. Also the metal plates are a bit pitted so I'm thinking of bead blasting them. Does this sound like a good plan?

Thanks for all your help and for tolerating an off-topic vehicle question.
Alan
 

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Alan D:

Go to the Orange County Model A Ford Club (Southern California) web site at www.ocmafc.com. On the left menu scroll to "tech articles" and click. It will bring up a new menu. At the top is my name, click on it and it will bring up a menu of technical articles. Scroll down to "multi-disk clutch" and click. It will bring up a lengthy article with photos that may be of help to you.

The article is an adobe file, You can down load it and print it out and are free to use it.

To answer you last question, there should not be a single disk floating in the flywheel. The whole disk pack should come out as a unit. There is, however, one disk that is different from the rest if the pack was put together correctly. It will have a notch on one tooth. There is a photo of it in the article.

Good luck with your project.
Tom Endy
 
Tom, Thanks for the link. I had stumbled across your article in a google search a few days ago and it helps a lot; but I didn't know about your other articles so I'm glad to have seen the menu of the other articles.
Lots of good reading there!

btw, your article is where I got the idea of bead blasting the plates.
 
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Alan D:

One of your photos at the top of the string show a multi-disk clutch and an engine block that does not look like a Model A. Are you sure the clutch your working on is from a Model A?

Tom Endy
 
My opologies, I didn't fully read all the posts in the string or I would have known the subject was a Reo multi-disk clutch.

Tom Endy
 
Is this the same transmission as yours? I was told it was a REO, but I am not sure of the year. Rod
 

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It might be but its hard to see with all the grass.
I will get a pic of my REO's transmission and post it tomorrow.
 
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