TKO 600 & Spacer Sleeve

MCOULTER · #1 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 12:27 PM

I am running a 427 FE with the McLeod hydraulic throwout bearing, #8607 adapter plate bolted onto a Lakewood 15210 bell housing. With the spacer sleeve recommended by McLeod my clearance is dead on; however when I install the transmission the throwout bearing housing interferes with a lip on the adapter plat so I do not get engagement.

The installation instructions for the thowout bearing indicates that a spacer may not be required. I'm thinking about trying it without the spacer sleeve.

Is anyone running this setup? Did you use the spacer sleeve or no?

MCOULTER · #2 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 04:32 PM

Pulled the spacer out and re-installed the throwout bearing - same problem not getting full engagement. The throwout bearing hits the lip on the adapter plate. Pulled the throwout bearing off alltogether and fitted it up and engagement is good (trans housing sits tight against adapter plate).

So it appears the broblem is the lip in the adapter plate. Will call McLeod in the morning to see if I have a mis-fabed part or wrong part.

MCOULTER · #3 (**permalink**) 09-02-2006, 10:07 PM

Okay, spoke to McLeod and they were as surprised as I was. Their normal package does not include the Lakewood thus the reason for the problem. Thi fix is to simply put the throwout bearing on prior to the spacer plate. Now you are not going to be able to bolt the spacer plate to the bell housing prior to bolting up the transmission. I went ahead and put the screws in and cut the heads off so that they act as a guide for the spacer plate. Be sure to put loc tite on these so they don't unscrew and fall down into the housing later. Then just bolt the entire assembly together. Since the Lakewood housing has tapped holes I drilled out the holes in the spacer plate that match up with the transmission. If you don't do this there is a good chance that you will strip the bolt/holes.

What'saCobra? · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006, 09:13 AM

Doesn't sound like McLeod has thought out this assembly very well. It isn't like this is very unusual stuff, though.

A Lakewood isn't that new a part, but good old stuff that's still the best. While the 600 is new, the Tremec structure isn't. Nor is the FE.

Perhaps the annular hydraulic throwout bearing system isn't worth the agro?