Clutch Pressure Plate Question

[davidk]

I am installing the HDVA conversion. I have never worked on a clutch before, so I'm not sure if I have a problem or not. I'm trying to bolt the pressure plate onto the flywheel. The clutch disc is in place. There's still about an 1/8" to go before the pressure plate is seated on the flywheel, and the fit is already very tight. Is this right? I don't want to damage the clutch disc. I have the alignment tool in place, and it still pulls out easily. The pp and the disc are new and were supplied by HDVA, so I think I've got the right parts.
Thanks for your help!

 

[BobbyD]

David...... I had the same concern and then thought of it this way...... The pressure plate exerts a ton of pressure on the clutch to hold it firmly against the flywheel. If it wasn't super tight, the clutch could slip. When you depress the clutch pedal the T/O bearing pushes in on the PP fingers to release the pressure on the clutch so you can shift. Does that make sense? I too had never done one before so I had to look it over to understand how it all worked together. I hope I understood it correctly but a year later it still shifts smoothly.

 

[71MKIV]

Sounds normal to me. Crank it down, after comfirming the alignment and fit of the locating pins in the flywheel.

 

[Don Elliott]

The clutch lining goes in between the flywheel and the pressure plate. Do you remember if you read the words stamped onto one side of the lining which read, "This side towards the flywheel" ? If you didn't see that, maybe you put the lining in back to front. This could cause the space problem you discribed.

 

[trfourtune]

just in case, you want to torque the bolts evenly in sequence, ie snug each bolt the same amount in a criss cross pattern so each brings the whole pressure plate closer to the flywheel evenly as you do it so that the pressure plate does not get distorted (but you were doing this already i'm sure). Once it hits bottom, you torque up in sequence a bit at a time till at full torque. Don't torque each bolt to full specs from loose. Same as a head gasket. IMHO
R

 

[davidk]

Thanks for the replies. Makes sense now. I did put the clutch disc in the correct direction. Back to work tonight!

 

[kodanja]

just dont let this happen to you!!!

 

[71MKIV]

Oog, BTDT.

Forward movement stopped and crunchy sounds from below. I was not a happy camper.

 

[BobbyD]

just dont let this happen to you!!!

That's what you get for doing the Ford conversion! We need to hook up some nice sunny day and swap cars to compare. Maybe get Al too.

 

[kodanja]

I drove to work today & Im planning on cruisin' this weekend weather permitting

gimme a call

Btw: Al wanted to meet in Middletown @ Lyman Orchards

call Paul & we can golf'