Pin for the TOB

[UnseenSHO]

Hey all,

Recently got my clutch done took it home and it was making a crazy noise,the car won't go into gear without grinding and it won't disengage when in gear even with my foot off of the clutch.Prior to finishing the mechanic told me he replaced the plastic pin that gets placed on the TOB with a metal pin.

Would this have any effect on the workings of the clutch?

He wants me to be there when he drops the trans to prove to me it was nothing he did wrong.

 

[Ishodu]

That wont make a diff. The pin is only there to hold it in place untill you finish installing the trans.

 

[93rev2sev]

No, but putting the friction disk in backwards will do just what you describe.

 

[sperold]

Wow, what a great "heads-up" on this issue. Can't say I would have thought of that in time to be of benefit.
Once all the writing is removed from the disc by using it, how do you know which side faces the flywheel?
Sorry to hijack, but this is too good to pass up.
I bet there have been a few SHOs sold with this problem. After you get the bill for the clutch change, you are usually too weak to fight on.

 

[zak]

No, but putting the friction disk in backwards will do just what you describe.

BTDT unfortunately. Your disc is in backwards.

 

[TYSHO]

Once all the writing is removed from the disc by using it, how do you know which side faces the flywheel?

You flip it over.

 

[rbruso]

Once all the writing is removed from the disc by using it, how do you know which side faces the flywheel?

I thought "flywheel side" was stamped into the hub? I've done several clutches and it's always been abundantly clear which side is which, but I'm also working on my own so I have a bit more interest in the finished product than the average mechanic.

As for the plastic pin, the only one I had actually break was on a clutch that had already worn 3-4 fingers through. As long as the bearing isn't seizing on the shaft, the plastic is plenty strong to keep the TOB on the fork.

 

[93rev2sev]

The pin is not even there to hold anything together after assembly. The ONLY reason it's there is so the TOB doesn't fall off the quill before or during assembly.

 

[UnseenSHO]

If my disc was backwards would what i described happen immediately?

Or after 10 miles or so?

Thanks for the help guys

 

[93rev2sev]

It should happen immediately. You might not notice any weird clutch pedal feel. Please report on clutch pedal feel with engine off.

Do these tests:
1. Engine off parking brake on or chok wheels. Clutch pedal out. Move through the gears. AOK?

2. NEUTRAL: Start engine. Clutch pedal pressed. Any noise?
2a. Release pedal slowly, still in N. Any noise?
2b. Press clutch, bump up against the first gear lockout with the shifter to attempt to stop trans internals, try to enter reverse. Grind? Keep pressing clutch, wait 10 seconds...try reverse again. Grind? Yes? Clutch not disengaging. This would support the "disk is backwards" arguement.

If you are in gear and the car is stopped but the clutch is in, there should be very little sound other than engine and exhaust. Normal sounds include a slight TOB sound (maybe described as a low pressure hiss)

ABNORMAL sounds would be a dragging metallic sound. This would be the clutch disk hub rubbing against the inside edge of the flywheel friction surface. This sound might go away after a while...that would be bad. That would indicate that the parts that are interfering have ground themselves up enough to create a little clearance.

I might think of more, but if you see this right away, let us know hat you find.

 

[UnseenSHO]

Well i can't really do all of those cause the car has been at the mechanic for a few days now.

But when i had it i did try a few of these things and seen the mechanic himself trying to go into reverse.

2.Last time i checked it switched gears fine with the car off BUT..if you crank with it in gear the car will leap foward even with your foot on the clutch.

2a.I can't test,don't have the car but when my father went to start it with it in 1st he said there was a metal on metal sound.

2b.I seen the mechanic try this,he put it in reverse it grinded..waited about 30seconds and tried again and it still grinded.

I'll be there when he drops the trans.

Appreciate all the input

 

[93rev2sev]

Definitely backwards disk.

 

[UnseenSHO]

The weird thing is that i made it home 5miles and drove it around the block a few times before i started experiencing major issues.

But right out of the shop i was having trouble getting it into gear.

Appreciate it once again guys.

 

[Ishodu]

I will see if I remember today to take a pic of my valeo disk I have on the floor in the garage. It is still stamped engine side at the hub. One side sits up farther than the other so you can identify it even if the sticker or writing is gone on yours.

 

[Ishodu]

The side that sticks up goes toward the tranny. You can see it in these pics.

 

[gmorrell]

Either the disc is backwards, or the mechanic didn't torque the clutch cover bolts properly, and they have backed out - this is a common failure mode, it usually happens very quickly and has the symptoms you describe.

I think I've typed this a million times, but I'll do it again.
1. Use a flywheel holding tool when torquing the clutch cover bolts, your hand/arm is not a rigid flywheel holding tool, and doing so virtually guarantees the cover bolts will be under-torqued.
2. The six cover bolts are cross-torqued in 2 stages, first to 18 ft-lbs, then to 24 ft-lbs. Use the proper torque wrench; your 1/2" drive 250 ft-lb wrench doesn't go this low.

 

[UnseenSHO]

Just dropped the transmission,

It turns out the last mechanic who did the clutch job over tightend the flywheel bolts and the head of one of the bolts broke off and became lose making all that noise etc.

I'll be seeing him in court if he doesn't give me my money back lol

Appreciate all the input.


Bryan

 

[Racer X]

Bry, where did you take the car? Let me know if you need me to weigh in against this guy.

I have a litany of spare bolts, let me know if you need one. I'll be home tonight dealing with the aftermath of a flood in my basement.

 

[UnseenSHO]

I brought it to some "Speciality Shop" In brooklyn,he put the motor in my Trans Am and did a decent-good job so i trusted him with the SHO,guess i was wrong lol.

I took pictures of the stuck bolt inside of the motor and have the broken bolt and all the overtightend bolts as evidence you can clearly tell they were overtightend.

But i'll let you know Hamal appreciate it.

How did you do with the flood?

 

[Racer X]

Well, the basement is dry.

I had to do some repair work in my grandfather's bathroom, mainly replacing some concrete, tiles and grout work on his tub, and sealing a couple of small cracks I found.

The basement is going to need a lot of sheet rock work, and now that the ceiling is open, I'm looking for other leaks and things that need repair before I close it back up.