MTX won't mate properly, need suggestions

[Zap]

After struggling with the MTX for way too long last night, and wanting to make a SHO bonfire madflame I now am ready to fight with the beast again.. However, I want to know what I can do to ensure that things go smoothly and that I can accomplish attaching the tranny before I have to leave for school again for the week. I managed to get as far as getting the MTX input shaft to mate with the clutch disc, but it will not completely go in all the way. The alignment dowels are very close to the holes on the engine. I am guessing my disc is not properly lined up, because after fighting with it forever, it didn't do a thing. Hopefully I will be able to end this clutch fiasco sometime soon!

 

[autobahnsho]

Try turning the input shaft just a little bit, then wiggling it around as you push it on.

Mine went on fairly easy w/ someone helping- but we had the car lifted so we were standing. The tranny's weight was supported by a stand, and we were able to give it a little 'coaxing' to go on..

Did you make sure the disc is centered?? I know mine wasn't perfect, but if it's way off you might have issues..

 

[Zap]

The disc was, as far as I could see looking straight at it, centered. I'm sure it isn't perfect, but it certainly wasn't way off either. What bothers me is that it was basically in with maybe an inch to go further, and I tried pressing on the back of the tranny, to get it to mate fully..

 

[masho95]

I know how frustrating getting a tranny to mate up can be, especially by yourself on your back. I think basically you got it pretty close and just needed to get the splines on the input shaft to line up with the clutch disc. Next time when you get that far, try rotating the tranny back and forth as if the center of it was the axis. You should be able to get the splines to line up eventually. Good luck, and those alignment dowels are probably the best way to see how straight you are lined up.

 

[shoplus1991]

The shonutperformance clutch replacement video has some good footage on getting the transmission back up and aligned. I had to drop and slightly tilt the engine on the home made wooden frame I had built in order to clear the frame on the driver's side. With a heavy duty floor jack (not a tranny jack) and a patient neighbor, we managed to work it into position where it eventually "locked"...Patience and about an hour of lifting and rocking, etc. finally got it done. Make sure the engine is solid and will not fall when you doing this on your back. Next time,, I plan on finding someone with a lift and a tranny jack...Good luck, it is worth it when the job is done and you're shifting smoothly again!

P.S. I am teaching my 17 year old daughter how to drive a clutch car. May be doing the job again sooner than I had hoped!

 

[Zap]

Yep... trying to lift the tranny by myself wasn't much fun. I removed it, and took a look to see what is happening. It appears that the clutch disc isn't completely centered as I had thought, but slightly off to the side. Is there anywhere I can get one of those goofy centering tools? I don't want to play around with the alignment, just get it centered and get the tranny up and on. Thanks for all of the help! Hopefully in a few weekends (my only time to wrench) she'll be running again!

 

[twr]

Zap:
Yep... trying to lift the tranny by myself wasn't much fun. I removed it, and took a look to see what is happening. It appears that the clutch disc isn't completely centered as I had thought, but slightly off to the side. Is there anywhere I can get one of those goofy centering tools? I don't want to play around with the alignment, just get it centered and get the tranny up and on. Thanks for all of the help! Hopefully in a few weekends (my only time to wrench) she'll be running again!

Napa or Pep Boys sell the alignment tool. I know I have 2 or 3 of them in my box, along with several other makes and models.

 

[Zap]

Thanks for the info. I took a look at NAPA's website, and they sell a "universal" clutch tool kit for $25. Do they actually have specific tools for less? I just want a SHO alignment tool, if I can find one.

 

[SHO--ripper]

You SHOuld be able to find a wooden dowel the same size as the imput shaft, and use that to line it up. burnout

 

[rangerj]

ZAP,

Did you use an alignment tool to center the clutch disc? You sometimes have to turn the shaft to align the splines, or turn the trans slightly as you move it into position.

Are the alignment dowels clean? Are the holes they go into clean? I like to coat them with a light coating of anti-sieze compound, or grease, to make it easier for them to go into the holes.

Stick with it! rangerj

 

[Zap]

Thanks for the additional information! I did not use a tool, as I don't have one, so I centered it as best as I could. The dowels and holes were clean as well. Hopefully I will be able to realign the disc and try and put the tranny back up again this weekend (car is actually in Columbus, at home). It would be awefully nice if I can get the SHO back together. Any MTX fluid suggestions? I need to buy some yet....

<small>[ February 17, 2004, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Zap ]</small>

 

[Guy Newton]

Take the alignment dowels out....I helped gosho89, Kerry T., install his tranny and we fought it for quite a while, then we removed the dowels and it slid right in!!!