Pressure Plate Adjustment

Cape Codder

Cape Codder

Well-known member
Trying to help a friend install a rebuilt engine and now I feel I have led him astray.

In Les Andrews book, page 1-148, which we are using for measurements, it says and I quote, in part "Readjust the fingers to 5/8" below the top of the pressure plate collar."

In the Model A Ford Construction, Operation, Repair for the Restorer on page 380 says, and I quote, in part "The pressure springs automatically compensate for all wear of the friction facings. Readjustment of the release lever must never be made under any circumstances."

Sooooo the questions that come to mind is:
First - Which book is correct if they are both referring to the same thing ?
Second - Having adjusted them like the Les Andrews book says, will we be able to adjust the clutch at the lever to the recommended 1" free play ?

Any help sure would be appreciated.
 
Usually the adjustment is made at the factory and should not need changing. I think reference to adjustment is for those that have been changed at some time past.
 
You will at least have to check the finger adjustment ,after mounting the pressure plate with the clutch disk to the flywheel, to ensure it is correct. You can use either 5/8" or 11/16" for the adjustment. Both will work, however, make sure all fingers are adjusted to the same depth. This adjustment is critical for both an even release of the pressure plate and to avoid premature failure of the throw out bearing. You will want to check the clutch pedal adjustment after installation of the clutch/pressure plate. You will want about 1/2" to 1" of free play from the top of the pedal. You can also look inside of the inspection plate hole of the clutch housing to be sure the throw out bearing is not riding against the pressure plate fingers and remains idle when the pedal is at the top.
 
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Go to the web site of the Santa Anita A's of Arcadia, California at www.santaanitaas.org. On the home page put your cursor on "Technical Reference"; my name will appear below, click on it. It will bring up a menu of technical articles. Scroll to the one on pressure plate adjustment. You are welcome to download it and print it out.

Tom Endy
 
Many of the pressure plates today are not adjusted correctly and its a good idea to check them before buttoning everything up.

The clutch needs to be assembled/ attached to flywheel for this adjustment.

Most adjust the finger height to 5/8", but, it appears that the correct height is 11/16". But either will work as said. The important thing is that all fingers are set within .002".

I use a piece of round stock turned exactly round to .625" and use it to set the height of each finger by using the same amount of 'drag' on each finger.
 
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First you need to install the pressure plate with the clutch plate onto the flywheel you will be using.

Next measure from the face of the pressure plate housing down to the clutch fingers. You are measuring to the finger surface that the throw out bearing rides on.

Ford specified that that distance should be 11/16". Any more or less will effect where the clutch will grab when you depress the pedal. So get it as close as you can.

The pressure plate has studs with special coned nuts (which unfortunately I don't think anyone makes either one??) for the adjustment. You will notice that the studs are slotted at the end and the nuts are smashed (staked) into the slot to effectively lock the nut.

To adjust take a cut off wheel or thin hack saw blade and carefully file the nut slots removing the nut material that is bent into the stud slot.

Once, and sometimes if, you can get the nut to turn on the stud you can begin adjustment.

Search here and you will find several types of homemade tools for making the measurements. Make sure all fingers are the same height and as close to 11/16" as you can get. There is a slight tolerance (I think it's 1/8") in the measurement but it will effect at what point your clutch grabs to pedal travel.
 
Once the 6 fingers are adjusted to be even and 11/16" (or 5/8" if you prefer) from the pressure plate top edge you shouldn't have to adjust them again. As the disc wears the fingers will move rearward, which removes the freeplay, so you simply turn the linkage on the clutch pedal trunion to add more freeplay.
 
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