Adjusting a pre-74 3 Finger Clutch

[Coolerman]

Got my 3 sp flywheel, clutch disk , and pressure plate mounted inside the 4 sp bell houisng this morning and am about to attempt the finger adjustment for the pressure plate. The FSM shows a SST but I'm sure folks have found an ' alternative method' of making this adjustment using common tools.

I am currently looking for a known good straight edge to lay across the bell housing so I can use my dial calipers to take a reading on each finger. Can't seem to find anything accurate enough to do the trick...

Can anyone share their method of doing this job?

Would be much appreciated!

 

[Coolerman]

OK, so I found a pretty good straight edge (a machinist file) and the clutch lever height spec says 2.930" or 74.5mm. All three of mine are 3.830" I take it there is a mounting height difference in the three speed and 4 speed bellhousings?

 

[Degnol]

OK, so I found a pretty good straight edge (a machinist file) and the clutch lever height spec says 2.930" or 74.5mm. All three of mine are 3.830" I take it there is a mounting height difference in the three speed and 4 speed bellhousings?

That would be my guess. If all three fingers are the same, I think you are good.
I'll bet there is a difference in the depth of the bellhousing that matches the input shaft length on the two different trannies. Just a guess......where's Poser when you need him?


Ed

 

[FJ40Jim]

Poser's busy helping other customers.

The BH's are the same depth.

Don't worry about the finger dimension. It's given in the service manual, but there should be no reason to mess w/ it. Make sure the flywheel is machined well and put the clutch in. Make sure the slave freeplay and pedal freeplay are correct when it's all together.

 

[grant5127]

I just lay the flywheel on the work bench and install the clutch assy then find a good happy medium surface on the top side of the disc and measure from there to the top of each adjuster.... My goal is have them all the same to eliminate any uneven contact with the T/O bearing that may cause a pulse, quiver or irritating noise like a squeaking mouse.......

 

[Coolerman]

Poser's busy helping other customers.

The BH's are the same depth.

Don't worry about the finger dimension. It's given in the service manual, but there should be no reason to mess w/ it. Make sure the flywheel is machined well and put the clutch in. Make sure the slave free play and pedal free play are correct when it's all together.

Well that's just it, the fingers show uneven wear and when it belonged to my brother he claimed he could never get the clutch correct and he had messed with the fingers. I'll set them all the same height then see about the clutch free play . Just seems a lot of difference in the factory setting and mine. This .700 inches has to be made up in the pivot arm. Just hope there is enough adjustment there...

Thanks guys, will post the results shortly.

 

[grant5127]

This .700 inches has to be made up in the pivot arm.

more like T/O brg hub and fork........ I've adjust a few after they were installed and being uneven caused problems.... it's a real bitch adjusting them thru the bottom trying to guesstimate........

 

[Coolerman]

Ok just to make sure I'm not missing something in this conversion to a 4 speed. I'm using the 4 speed bell housing, 3 speed flywheel, clutch disk, pressure plate, T/O, clutch release arm and a new CCOT slave with the 3 sp adjuster rod from the old slave cylinder. Hopefully my research is correct? I've got the 4 speed parts if I need them...

 

[grant5127]

Ok just to make sure I'm not missing something in this conversion to a 4 speed. I'm using the 4 speed bell housing, 3 speed flywheel, clutch disk, pressure plate, T/O, clutch release arm and a new CCOT slave with the 3 sp adjuster rod from the old slave cylinder. Hopefully my research is correct? I've got the 4 speed parts if I need them...

All those ingredients = a '74 like mine.....

 

[Coolerman]

AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!





One would think that after reading about the procedure a hundred times,
reading at least 2 write ups,
and reading the FSM section a dozen times,

one would KNOW which way a clutch disk goes? Right?

This was supposed to be a job!!!

Suffice it to say, it's IN. it's DONE, it WORKS and it's Margarita time in Lexington!

Humble member of the, "Yes, I put the Clutch Disk in BACKWARDS" Club

 

[grant5127]

Thats OK Man!.... It's all about Love........

 

[natvet]

AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!





One would think that after reading about the procedure a hundred times,
reading at least 2 write ups,
and reading the FSM section a dozen times,

one would KNOW which way a clutch disk goes? Right?

This was supposed to be a job!!!

Suffice it to say, it's IN. it's DONE, it WORKS and it's Margarita time in Lexington!

Humble member of the, "Yes, I put the Clutch Disk in BACKWARDS" Club

Are you puttin the procedure on your web site with pics so I wont do the same thing when I put my 4 speed in?????

 

[Coolerman]

Are you puttin the procedure on your web site with pics so I wont do the same thing when I put my 4 speed in?????

Yes, though it still may not help you... I had pics too... May be a while before that section gets put on!

 

[FJ40Jim]

Well that's just it, the fingers show uneven wear and when it belonged to my brother he claimed he could never get the clutch correct and he had messed with the fingers. I'll set them all the same height then see about the clutch free play .

Glad to hear you got it worked out.
The reason I suggested not F-ing w/ the fingers is because they are adjusted at the factory. The only reason they would need adjusted would be if some moron PO messed them up...
Oops.

 

[shelfboy1]

over the years ive done maybey 30 3 finger clutches and never had an issue with any of them . some were old and should have been replaced but the customer is always right and none ever chattered.i dont know if a few thousnds matters or not. good luck

 

[grant5127]

over the years ive done maybey 30 3 finger clutches and never had an issue with any of them . some were old and should have been replaced but the customer is always right and none ever chattered.i dont know if a few thousnds matters or not. good luck

Next time I encounter one that has problems I'll take a detailed picture of it and send it to ya and you can put it on your shelf.....

 

[shelfboy1]

Next time I encounter one that has problems I'll take a detailed picture of it and send it to ya and you can put it on your shelf.....

ive had my problems with them just never a finger adjusment issue.ive also replaced wore out fingers .a photo would be cool but probably rare thanks

 

[Coolerman]

Well, just so folks will know what a backwards, 3 speed, 3 finger, clutch disk looks like installed backwards? Here ya go.

The first pic shows the CORRECT position of the disk, and the second shows it installed backwards.

The first clue you will have that you are putting it in backwards will be the fact that the 8mm x 1.25 x 18mm clutch cover bolts appear to be too short and will be hard to get started.

If you don't catch that, then the next clue will be that the fingers are tipping slightly TOWARD the flywheel instead of slightly AWAY from it. This results in the slave not having enough travel to disengage the disk. (That .700 inches I lost.)

Hope this helps someone else avoid the fun of doing the job twice!

 

[65swb45]

One of the reman 3 finger pressure plates I bought from the dealer about 10 years ago turned out not to be adjusted properly. Never suspected a thing! Installed it and gave the rig to the customer. He actually drove it for a few weeks before telling me that it chattered.

Needless to say, I check them now. Just a simple check using an adjustable square to make sure they are basically the same. Never caught another one since. But you know the saying...once bitten...

 

[cuencanolenny]

Saw a similar thread a moment ago and commented that I found a difference between Coolerman's dimension of 2.930 and my FSM of 3.06. However, the FSM also specifies 76.5 , which is actually 3.0118 or 3.012 for practical purposes. Still .049 difference and .130 between the two spreads. I used a square head against the bell housing and pushed the blade into contact with the finger and then checked with a dial caliper. I found one that is .041 high (closer to the bell housing). I do have chatter with this new clutch and since the tranny and transfer case are out awaiting additional new parts to cure leaks (total rebuild with Terrain Tamer kits) I may pull this clutch to verify the flywheel was indeed resurfaced. I have lost confidence in my mechanic. He probably "assumed" the AISAN Pressure Plate (CCOT kit) was set correctly but as Mark pointed out, assuming is a mistake.