Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Adjusting Clutch Fingers 1935

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion << previous || next >>

Posted By Discussion Topic: Adjusting Clutch Fingers 1935 -- page: 1 2     35ragtop 03-13-2011 @ 12:49 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 57 Joined: Aug 2010 Hi I am trying to adjust the 3 fingers on my 35 clutch and am wondering if Henry used a special crancked open ended spanner. The bolts are extremely tight and a straight spanner slips off easily.The bolts I am talking about are the ones that adjust the gap to the throw out bearing. Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks kubes40 03-13-2011 @ 1:35 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3370 Joined: Oct 2009 As I recall those three screws are cinched once the original adjustment is made. I have welded these up (the heads)and ground them back to the correct specification. I give you credit in checking this critical area. MANY rebuilt pressure plates and some new (import junk)over look this specification. To find this out once the assembly is installed is sad to say the least. 35ragtop 03-13-2011 @ 4:13 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 57 Joined: Aug 2010 mmmm thanks kubes40. yes sadly I suspected that it may mean pulling the gearbox again. I wish I had given the engine and running gear a drive around the block before putting the body on! To check the measurement with the gearbox off do I measure from the face of the flywheel? I am assuming that this adjustment will get rid of the clutch shudder. 37RAGTOPMAN 03-13-2011 @ 4:34 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1941 Joined: Oct 2009 I was wondering why you are try ajusting the pressure plate,? clutch slipping ?, grinding into gear,? the pressure plate were set up outside of the car on a work bench with special tools, I think what you are trying to do is a hit and miss, if someone installed the clutch wrong and warped the PRESSURE Plate, you will never get it right, also if the face of the flywheel was resurfaced, the outside edge where you tighten down the flywheel should have been machined also, what you take of the flywheel you have to take the exact same amout of the leading edge also,this depth has be maintained, this measurement is critical, if you neen clutch parts try JOB LOT in NY, They advertise that they have clutch kits, and sell them in a set or seperate, hope this helps 37RGTOPMAN please post any updates so we know how you made out, 35ragtop 03-13-2011 @ 6:32 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 57 Joined: Aug 2010 I read somewhere recently that if the throwout bearing did not engage all three fingers at the same time, this could cause clutch shudder. So what I noticed when peering into the inspection hole, that one finger was engaging before the other two, hence my decision to try and adjust the threaded bolt on the tip of the finger. I can remember my teacher back in the 60s saying a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! kubes40 03-14-2011 @ 7:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3370 Joined: Oct 2009 It's true the height of these fingers must be adjusted with the pressure plate in it's free (relaxed) state. The were SUPPOSED to have been set up but as I stated earlier that is often NOT the reality. Import poop and poor rebuilds... just doesn't always happen. It's easy enough to adjust when you have it on your bench. You will need an accurate way to measure the height. A calibrated height stand does the trick. Know anyone that is in quality control? As much as I like Joblot, I'd NOT buy one of their clutches. I simply wouldn't risk it to save a few bucks. Surge Clutch in Illinois makes NEW ones that are reasonably priced and beautiful. As you are finding out, this job stinks when you have to do it twice. I, like you, found this out the same way you are now doing. If those fingers don't come in contact with the bearing at the same time, the bearing will prematurely fail. supereal 03-14-2011 @ 8:53 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 It is virtually impossible to adjust the pressure plate fingers without the jig used at assembly. Once you move any of them, the pressure plate will not function properly. The usual reason for one or more fingers not contacting the release bearing is due to a broken or misplaced spring in the pressure plate. When installing the plate, it is necessary to start all the bolts attaching it to the flywheel, then draw them down a few turns at a time as you go around the flywheel. Otherwise, it is likely you will warp the case enough to produce your problem. 35ragtop 03-14-2011 @ 2:35 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 57 Joined: Aug 2010 Well thank you guys once again for your help. When I installed the plate set I did the gentle tighten down routine and everything looked fine at the time. I must admit that I failed to check the contact with the fingers once I had the gbox in place.Only found the problem when I tried to go for a run. Does anyone have a comment on Fort Wayne reconditioned systems ? Dave h 39 Ken 03-15-2011 @ 4:31 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 380 Joined: Oct 2009 Ft. Wayne Clutch has a good reputation. I haven't used them, but I plan to on my next rebuild. Friends that have used them indicate that they do good work. Ken kubes40 03-15-2011 @ 6:38 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3370 Joined: Oct 2009 Ft. Wayne Clutch is in fact another good place. A bit more costly than Surge but good nonetheless. The fingers can be adjusted without a fixture. There is a specification from the face of the pressure plate to each finger (free state). I have found remanufactured clutches rarely address this specification and as the fingers wear from usage, this dimension goes outside the necessary specs. Unfortunately another example of the seemingly lost art of true quailty workmanship...

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

EFV-8 Club Forum Home | Back to Home Page | Contact the Webmaster

Copyright © 2009 - EFV-8.org
Powered by < CF FORUM > v.2.1