Clutch fork alignment

[Patrick H.]

My friend had the engine rebuilt in his 72 LT-1 and then reinstalled the transmission before dropping both into the car. He admits it was difficult to mate the two, but it finally went in. Tuesday evening I was helping him connect linkage, and the clutch fork is angled too far forward with the end of it relatively close to the bellhousing. As a result there is no was that we can connect the rod from the fork to the clutch cross shaft as the angle betwen them is too much. Peeking behind the fork boot the fork is riding properly on the ball stud but I can't see the throwout bearing. The owner "swears" that he installed the throwout bearing in the correct manner, but....

Does this sound like the throwout bearing is installed incorrectly? Or is there another issue? All of the parts including the clutch are the same ones as when the engine and trans were removed, so no new parts are in the mix.

Any tips you can provide would be helpful, else we already know that the transmission has to come out to diagnose this.

Patrick

[Domenic T.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

I just went thru the same thing and jumped thru hoops making sure that every thing was correct and not modified.
My first guess is the length of the throw out bearing. There were different lengths and we use the shortest. I have sent TO bearings back to the parts house that were to long more than once.
On my 67 I didn't like the angle of the fork either and bought a new one only to find that they were both the same shape. BUT the slot that the arm to the Z bar go's into the fork was slightly off. Very hard to see, so I milled it to match the new one and all was well.

DOM

[Joe L.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

.......The owner "swears" that he installed the throwout bearing in the correct manner, but....

Patrick

Patrick------


...he didn't (assuming he used the correct bearing and other clutch parts).

[Patrick H.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

Patrick------


...he didn't (assuming he used the correct bearing and other clutch parts).

I know - it's the first thing I told him too.
And, when you have to smack the transmission into the bellhousing to get it to go that last 1/4 inch.... you know something in there is really wrong.

Same bearing and clutch as before, and there were no issues then that I know of.

Patrick

[Domenic T.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

How about the disc? could it be in backwards?---I believe it will not meet the flywheel if in backwards and that will put the arm against the bellhousing.

DOM

[Edward J.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

Patrick, I Have done many clutchs over the years, its sound as though he may have slide the T/O brg. over the fork wrong, this will make the situation you are describing. as for having a tough time with the last 1/4 in. sound like the clutch disc was not totally centered correctly. Even with a alignment tool you still need to eye center of the disc after tighting the pressure plate.

[John H.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

Same bearing and clutch as before, and there were no issues then that I know of.

Patrick

Patrick -

If he installed the throwout bearing on the fork incorrectly (which the design allows), it will place the fork almost all the way forward in the opening.

[Edward J.]

Re: Clutch fork alignment

How about the disc? could it be in backwards?---I believe it will not meet the flywheel if in backwards and that will put the arm against the bellhousing.

DOM

Dom, I have seen what happens when a disc is installed backwards, it will make short life if not right away of the disc. but don.t think the disc installed backwards will make the fork sit as Pat is describing, the over all thinkness of the disc doesn't change with the disc being installed backwards.the minute the engine starts and clutch pedal is depressed the flywheel bolts will contact the disc and tear it up right away. I have seen this before at the dealership I was employed, someone tryed to do a clutch job themself and the end result wasn't a happy one.