- Local time
- 11:01 AM
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 17,304
- Reaction score
- 32,588
- Location
- On the Ridge, TN
I very recently just paid a "real mechanic" here locally to finally get rid of the awful RAM "purple" clutch in Fred, replaced
instead with a regular ol' (and I MEAN "ol' " - I bought an old but new organic material "parts store" clutch and B&B
pressure plate from Dan Brewer specifically).
Most importantly, I had the factory heavy-arsed 11" flywheel resurfaced - and polished - to get rid of the heat spots all
over it as inflicted by said RAM clutch....
Dude is a typical early 60's-age 40 year guy and works on mostly heavier equipment and old trucks and stuff - and
unlike every other shop in this area, was not the least bit afraid of the job.
Yeah, I don't want to hear it - it's not a job I like to farm out (what is, really?) but there's no way my rapidly diminishing
physical abilities were going to allow yet another wrasslin' match with an 18-spline under Fred (no lift here - *sigh*).
Mechanic reported that he and the local machine shop worked on the flywheel "for a while" and that it wouldn't survive
another resurfacing in the future - it was that bad (trust me dude...I know it was).
He also claimed some other things were discovered I know to be somewhat suspect, though - said the throwout was
actually riding the fingers (nope, I've checked that more than once and was set per FSM) and that the shifter linkage
was "backwards" (also nope, set up right off Dan's personal pics AND the FSM).
Anyways...
Fred is now back home and I have two observations from the very brief trip so far:
1. The clutch chatter seems totally GONE. Halelluyah!
2. The clutch engages VERY close to the floor - like an inch or two off the carpet.
(Well, at least I guess the throwout bearing ain't riding fingers this time, eh?
)
I haven't had the chance to really drive Fred much at all since I got him home (combination of life, health, weather, all
that usual crap) but that will change here very soon (I hope, God willin').
So, the question begs - of those of you who own "conventional" old school clutches in these things, where
do you prefer the release point/engagement point to be in the swing of the clutch pedal?
I realize you hydraulic guys have different parameters you deal with - and probably even the diaphragm-types do, too -
but where do you guys prefer to have the clutch set at?
(Keep in mind, the minimum air gap betwixt bearing and fingers will be maintained at the least....)
instead with a regular ol' (and I MEAN "ol' " - I bought an old but new organic material "parts store" clutch and B&B
pressure plate from Dan Brewer specifically).
Most importantly, I had the factory heavy-arsed 11" flywheel resurfaced - and polished - to get rid of the heat spots all
over it as inflicted by said RAM clutch....
Dude is a typical early 60's-age 40 year guy and works on mostly heavier equipment and old trucks and stuff - and
unlike every other shop in this area, was not the least bit afraid of the job.
Yeah, I don't want to hear it - it's not a job I like to farm out (what is, really?) but there's no way my rapidly diminishing
physical abilities were going to allow yet another wrasslin' match with an 18-spline under Fred (no lift here - *sigh*).
Mechanic reported that he and the local machine shop worked on the flywheel "for a while" and that it wouldn't survive
another resurfacing in the future - it was that bad (trust me dude...I know it was).
He also claimed some other things were discovered I know to be somewhat suspect, though - said the throwout was
actually riding the fingers (nope, I've checked that more than once and was set per FSM) and that the shifter linkage
was "backwards" (also nope, set up right off Dan's personal pics AND the FSM).
Anyways...
Fred is now back home and I have two observations from the very brief trip so far:
1. The clutch chatter seems totally GONE. Halelluyah!
2. The clutch engages VERY close to the floor - like an inch or two off the carpet.
(Well, at least I guess the throwout bearing ain't riding fingers this time, eh?
)I haven't had the chance to really drive Fred much at all since I got him home (combination of life, health, weather, all
that usual crap) but that will change here very soon (I hope, God willin').
So, the question begs - of those of you who own "conventional" old school clutches in these things, where
do you prefer the release point/engagement point to be in the swing of the clutch pedal?
I realize you hydraulic guys have different parameters you deal with - and probably even the diaphragm-types do, too -
but where do you guys prefer to have the clutch set at?
(Keep in mind, the minimum air gap betwixt bearing and fingers will be maintained at the least....)
