tranny help

[505stang]

I have a 351 cleveland with a tko 600, i am using a centerforce flywheel and a ram clutch,#98794hdt, using a wilwood slave cylinder and master cylinder, problem i have is when i depress clutch there is like a squeel noise, and it only does it when i depress clutch, also i can not get tranny in gear, slave cylinder does move the throwout bearing, but it looks like it does not engage the the fingers on the pressure plate enough. I took the tranny out to inspect everything and the only thing i can see is where the throwout bearing is touching the fingers, this is a new build so car has never been driven, i am also using a mustang clutch fork. How much should the bearing move the fingers on the pressure plate, and any ideas on the noise? Man i am lost on this one. The noise i think is the bearing touching the fingers. There is no evidence of any grinding, or metal shavings from any interferance problems. Also it seems the harder i push on the clutch the louder the noise. Everything is all new and was hoping to finally drive it this weekend but that is not happening Any help i can get i need!

[DanEC]

I think this prior thread by Lippy covered just about every aspect of hydraulic clutch issues you can think of. McLeod told him .35 to .40 inches movement of the throwout bearing at the clutch fingers from memory. But he has a dual disc clutch so that may or may not be representative of what you need. Shouldn't vary much from that however.

Did you force the piston back in the slave cylinder and bottom it out when adusting the linkage to the fork?

[lippy]

Yeah, I had just about every imaginable clutch problem. First you need to make sure you don't have any interference either from the trans bearing retainer to the clutch, or from the input shaft to the pilot bushing. Then make sure you bleed your slave well. I measured slave travel at the fork using a dial gauge and then divided by the fork ratio to see what the travel was at the bearing. For example, if you are getting 0.85" at the slave and the fork ratio is 1.7, that means you get 0.5" at the bearing if my math is right. Then call the clutch manufacturer to see what travel you need at the clutch fingers. Pm me if you want a better explanation.

[505stang]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I think this prior thread by Lippy covered just about every aspect of hydraulic clutch issues you can think of. McLeod told him .35 to .40 inches movement of the throwout bearing at the clutch fingers from memory. But he has a dual disc clutch so that may or may not be representative of what you need. Shouldn't vary much from that however.

Did you force the piston back in the slave cylinder and bottom it out when adusting the linkage to the fork?

did not force piston back in, i am thinking the fork is not engaging bearing enough on pressure plate, iam trying everything i can think of, thanks for the help. Dan

[lippy]

You need to know for sure. Start by measuring travel where the slave cylinder piston meets the fork. You should be getting in the ballpark of 0.8" travel or more. If you are not, then bleed it again until you do.

Here is my post on the problems I had: Clutch fork travel

[505stang]

i just read your post on clutch problems, it sounded like a nightmare, i am living your nightmare now, just put the tranny back in and am still having same problem, this is just a shot in the dark but i read on earlier post that the pivot on the passenger side (which mine is)is normally for mechanical opperation instead of hydraulic? I will read you post again and hopefully find what is causing the problem, this really sucks!

[505stang]

Thanks to Lippy for putting up past post on his tranny problems,squeal was high spot on spacer plate coming in contact with flywheel, and the bearing retainer needed to be machined down. I am now getting clutch release. I am getting close to finally getting to drive this car!

[PLDRIVE]

I have had my share of clutch problems. glad u got it fixed

[505stang]

Originally Posted by PLDRIVE

I have had my share of clutch problems. glad u got it fixed

Almost fixed, tranny out 2 times flywheel and clutch off and a 95 degree day in the garage yesterday just about took me out! I think i will take sunday off and bbq and drink beer

[505stang]

Update on tranny problem, tranny works now bearing retainer was to long and a high spot on spacer plate caused the squeal. Thanks for all the help from the cobra community, hopefully i can drive it tomorrow and have photos taken of the finished build!

[Ron61]

Congratulations on finding your cllutch problem and the others that had gone through that really were a help. Now you can start to drive the Cobra and enjoy it.

Ron