Just picked up a new 84' and have a question

[archie]

Here's a link on with me searching at "clutch adjustment", hope that helps. I think you can fiddle around with an adjustment because they will readjust it again anyway when they put it a new clutch. Somebody correct me if I am wrong. https://forum.ih8mud.com/search.php?searchid=150229

 

[gifu]

on an FJ60, the only adjustment is at the pedal... up under the dash. the rod connecting the pedal to the master cylinder is threaded. loosen the locknut (12MM), adjust, and take it for a spin. you can reach down and adjust it at stop lights. once you find the right pedal feel (i lik about 1" of free travel before resistance), then tighten the locknut.

BigSur, I would suggest taking the dust cover off the botom of the bellhousing... it's a thin metal cover between the oil pan and the transmission. held in with 6 or 8 bolts (prolly 10MM). I'm not sure how much you know about clutches, so forgive me if i spell it out here:

first off, was the dust-cover oily on the inside?

With the engine off, look up there with a flashlight. Is it clean and dry? Or wet and oily? If it is really oily, chances are very good that the front input seal of the transmission is leaking oil onto the clutch, and has ruined the clutch. causing slipage. (note: a leaky, rear main seal on the engine, would not cause a ruined/oily clutch... the flywheel is protecting it).

if it is dry up there, it might really be a worn cltuch. there is a large bearing (the throwout bearing) that is clearly visible. This bearing is pushed forward against the cltuch fingers when someone pushes on the pedal. At rest, you should be able to reach up there, and spin the face of the bearing. It should not be touching the fingers of the clutch.

Can you move the bearing backwards with your hand? Should take very little pressure to move it (don't use a prybar or screwdriver or any tools).

If the clutch is truly worn out: the bearing will have contact on the clutch fingers, and will have no more room to move backwards (it will already be against the face of the transmission).

Either way, you need a new clutch. I highly doubt it is just an adjustment, but you should check that first. If you do the clutch, have the rear main and the tranny input seals replaced. only takes a few minutes. and have a competant shop do it... no "Clutch Mart" or Ammco's. Take it to a Cruiser shop. if anything, it will be cheaper cause they know what they are doing.

 

[archie]

nice info Gifu! keep us up-to-date BigSur on what you find.

 

[Lzwo]

Excuse me for the newbie question, but why is the clutch on a cruiser such a huge deal? I don't think I've ever owned a car or truck where I haven't changed the clutch, and while it is not my favorite job, I've never found it to be the worst, either. If this is a REALLY stupid question, feel free to flame away.

 

[BigSur]

on an FJ60, the only adjustment is at the pedal... up under the dash. the rod connecting the pedal to the master cylinder is threaded. loosen the locknut (12MM), adjust, and take it for a spin. you can reach down and adjust it at stop lights. once you find the right pedal feel (i lik about 1" of free travel before resistance), then tighten the locknut.

BigSur, I would suggest taking the dust cover off the botom of the bellhousing... it's a thin metal cover between the oil pan and the transmission. held in with 6 or 8 bolts (prolly 10MM). I'm not sure how much you know about clutches, so forgive me if i spell it out here:

first off, was the dust-cover oily on the inside?

With the engine off, look up there with a flashlight. Is it clean and dry? Or wet and oily? If it is really oily, chances are very good that the front input seal of the transmission is leaking oil onto the clutch, and has ruined the clutch. causing slipage. (note: a leaky, rear main seal on the engine, would not cause a ruined/oily clutch... the flywheel is protecting it).

if it is dry up there, it might really be a worn cltuch. there is a large bearing (the throwout bearing) that is clearly visible. This bearing is pushed forward against the cltuch fingers when someone pushes on the pedal. At rest, you should be able to reach up there, and spin the face of the bearing. It should not be touching the fingers of the clutch.

Can you move the bearing backwards with your hand? Should take very little pressure to move it (don't use a prybar or screwdriver or any tools).

If the clutch is truly worn out: the bearing will have contact on the clutch fingers, and will have no more room to move backwards (it will already be against the face of the transmission).

Either way, you need a new clutch. I highly doubt it is just an adjustment, but you should check that first. If you do the clutch, have the rear main and the tranny input seals replaced. only takes a few minutes. and have a competant shop do it... no "Clutch Mart" or Ammco's. Take it to a Cruiser shop. if anything, it will be cheaper cause they know what they are doing.

AAHH most excellant info...i will crawl under there first thing in the morning tomorrow.

 

[gifu]

The clutch is not a big deal at all. It is a bit of a hassle, the tranny/tranfer is big and heavy(really big and heavy). It's not a job you want to do twice.

 

[Skilter]

INSTALL A 5 SPEED WHEN YOU DO THE CLUTCH!!!!

You WILL eventually want a 5 speed if you keep this vehicle for any lenght of time. I have an 84 FJ60 and REALLY wish I had done it when I had my clutch done. The clutch is right there if you install a 5 speed and you save a ton in labor cost. IF you do it together, you save almost all the labor cost of the clutch job as opposed to doing it separately.

TRUST ME... take out a loan to do it if you have to do so. BUT DO IT!!!

 

[swank60]

Surprised no one has mentioned it: how is your oil consumption? If the rear main is leaking, it'll spray oil onto the clutch disk and cause some slipping.

Where have you been, BigSur?

 

[BigSur]

Hey Swank...man i have been around but just not on the forum much. But this new 84' is giving me a reason to get back on here. Man where in Ft. Worth are you located? We need to set up a clutch wrench day. I even have a tranny jack to help things along. Didn't you say you have a daughter"? How old? i have a three year old and while we wrench they can play. Kill two birds with one stone...give the wife some free time and wrench...gotta love it. Shoot me a PM and let me know.

Hey guys i am getting underneath today and checking it out .....

 

[swank60]

I'll PM you, but I'm not crawling under that rig of yours until the wind isn't gusting at 30mph and it gets above 60 degrees. Too fat and old for a young man's bravado.

Thing with the slipage, if the clutch was done recently, I'd be more concerned with the rear main. If they didn't put it in right, if it was done at the same time, that could be the source of your problem. Doc had a dealership do his clutch and rear main and it started leaking right away.

When I first bought my truck, the slipping started right away (of course it didn't happen during the test drive) The slippage was caused by the oil, of course, from the rear main (which leaks at the tremendous rate of 1 quart per tank of gas) - changing my driving habits has made a real difference, and it quit slipping up until recently, when I towed that Blazer. It has pretty much cleared up now though. I shift at 2000 RPM, don't lug the engine, etc.

And the thing is, with my clutch the story is, according to the PO, it's the one that came with the truck from the factory. I'm the thrid owner, he said that his PO hadn't changed it, he'd never done it, etc...so, with 207k miles, I'd say a one or two year old clutch doesn't seem like it would be the main problem. Unless whomever was driving the truck before you was a terrible, abusive driver.

I'll PM you soon.

 

[archie]

Hey Swank 60, gifu stated that
With the engine off, look up there with a flashlight. Is it clean and dry? Or wet and oily? If it is really oily, chances are very good that the front input seal of the transmission is leaking oil onto the clutch, and has ruined the clutch. causing slipage. (note: a leaky, rear main seal on the engine, would not cause a ruined/oily clutch... the flywheel is protecting it).
Does the flywheel protect the clutch from a rear main seal leak?Can somebody clarify?

 

[BigSur]

Ok folks...i took the dust cover off....the rear main seal is fine and is not leaking any oil into the clutch area. Now the front output seal on the tranny is a different story. Very oily in that one area. So it looks like i need a new clutch assembly. Freaking stinks the big one. When i test drove the truck it didn't have any shifting issues. But i didn't take it on the hwy. Serves me right. Luckily i have a complete kit in my garage i can put on...along with a NEW tranny output seal (well i need to get one)...Swank...up for a lil' wrench fest????

 

[gifu]

Does the flywheel protect the clutch from a rear main seal leak?Can somebody clarify?

the rear main would have to be gushing to effect the clutch. it would have to leak enough, to coat the flywheel, spray up against the bellhousing... then when the engine is stopped... drip down on the clutch. Very, very unlikely. The input seal, on the other hand... will drop oil into the _middle_ of the cltuch, where centripital force (not really a force, i know) causes the oil to soak the entire cltuch. total bummer.