Pilot Bearing questions.....

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Nov 9, 2010
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San Tan Valley Arizona
I have a 74 fj40 and am putting a 71 2F in it matched with a 73 transmission. I am replacing the clutch and can't get the tranny close enough to the bellhousing to bolt it down. My question is the pilot bearing just seems to sit on the lip of the rear of the motor. There is a small lip about a half an inch in that seems to pilot bearing should fit into. The pilot bearing I have just barely sits on the lip and doesn't seat. Is this normal for the FJ's and are there different pilot bearings for different years. The pilot bearing I replaced was seized and came out in pieces so I don't have the old one to reference... Thanks... I have had the clutch out 3 times trying to figure it out so any help would be appreciated...
 
picture

here's the picture
pilot bearing.jpg
 
Hi,

Based on my experience of doing my rig once, the pilot bearing should seat fully within the rear of the crank shaft. When I did mine, I started by making sure the surface was clean and then added a bit of oil to the sides. I then took a socket that was the same diameter as the seal to tap it into place. I recall I tapped it until it fully seated into the hole. I don't recall it being overly tight. My flywheel was off at the time, which may have given a big more access. I can look for some pics if you need them.

Brian
 
Pics would be great.. So if I understand it right I should tap the pilot bearing in until it hits the rear lip? It makes sense just want to double check
 
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I see you have a made in China bearing. Maybe the tolerances are off.

I have just replaced my pilot bearing. Suggest you use an OEM bearing or even better put in a Pilot Bushing instead.

I had to replace my pilot bearing after only one year of use. Turned out I bashed the Pilot Bearing during the transmission matting process and the bearing eventually disintegrated. A Bushing would not have been damaged. There are no moving parts in the pilot bushing unlike a delicate pilot bearing.

.
 
It is a Duralast clutch kit.... Couldn't find any reviews on them so I thought I would give it a try... Hopefully it holds up
 
How hard is it to get the tranny to mate with the engine. I can't get it to go together no matter what I try. It appears the throwout bearing is pushing against the clutch fingers not allowing to be get it back together. I have wrestled with it for 2 days and am getting frustrated... Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have about an inch left and can't get it to go the rest of the way...
 
Did you dry-fit the pilot bearing onto the input shaft of the tranny before you installed it? Most of the time the tip of the input shaft will have to be trimmed with a piece emery cloth. My suggestion would be to remove the pilot bearing and see if it slides easily onto the tip of the input shaft.
 
x2 on prefitting the pilot bearing to the input shaft before installation. Mine had to be sanded down a bit with emery cloth before it fit. In terms of installing your tranny, here are a few thoughts based on my experience.

- Make sure your clutch plate is centered with the pilot bearing using your clutch alignment tool. After each failed attempt, recheck alignment.

- Make sure you're tranny is lined up. Take the time up front to make sure you're tranny is level (perpendicular) to the flywheel when suspended prior to installation. As to push the tranny forward, pay attention to whether you are changing the angle.

- Make sure your splines are lined up as you push the tranny forward. With the tranny in neutral, rotate the shaft a few degrees left and right until you feel it line up.

- Once you slide into the spines, you should be able to tell when your input shaft is touching the pilot bearing and from there just work the angle and until it slides into place.

That's about it if I can recall. From there it just takes some patience. It took me a couple tries to get the angle correct using my straps.

Good luck.
 
Get a Timken or Koyo bearing. Though they are the same company now. Dry fit it on the shaft as stated. The bearing needs to sit flush in the crank. In that pic it's not in enough.
 
Also dry fit the friction disc on the input shaft. I've seen cheap clutch discs where the splines aren't well machined and the shaft won't slide into the disc.
 
Folks were talking about using a load leveler to get their tranny oriented to install it. Do you have one? When I did mine 30 years ago I struggled for 3 weeks trying to get it back in. Of course, there was no MUD and I had the thing hanging by ropes but man, I was at my wits end. It finally went in.....
 
How hard is it to get the tranny to mate with the engine. I can't get it to go together no matter what I try. It appears the throwout bearing is pushing against the clutch fingers not allowing to be get it back together. I have wrestled with it for 2 days and am getting frustrated... Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have about an inch left and can't get it to go the rest of the way...

Have you adjusted the clutch slave pin? If you say the throwout bearing is pressed in then I would assume the clutch plate is not against the flywheel and maybe your splines are not centered to the pilot bearing. Maybe buy the plastic clutch alignment tool, cheap cost. Also make sure the throwout bearing is not engaged. That way once the clutch disk is aligned to the pilot bearing the force of the clutch cover will keep the clutch disk in the right spot. Then the tranny input shaft will line up and slide all the way in.

The tranny will not come together all the way against the bell housing without some force. I got mine started then used the tranny to bell housing bolts to pull them full together by torquing them all down in a sequence. Just did each bolt a bit at a time.
 
Folks were talking about using a load leveler to get their tranny oriented to install it. Do you have one? When I did mine 30 years ago I struggled for 3 weeks trying to get it back in. Of course, there was no MUD and I had the thing hanging by ropes but man, I was at my wits end. It finally went in.....

I used a transmission jack from Harbor Freight. I also used two guide pins (bolts with heads cut off) to align the bottom transmission holes. When you do that, it goes in fairly easy.
 
Been dealing with this exact issue until I realized the pilot bearing for r151 is a lot smaller than an H55!

In my research (before I realized the above!) I have heard of breaking the tranny ears or bellhousing when the 4 bolts are used to pull them together.... I really like the guide pin idea!
 

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