Before I pull my recently installed transmission... any ideas?, SOLVED! You guys are the best. Options

[jaredmcginness]

Hey guys,

I posted this in my build thread, but I figured I might get some info here.

This is what is happening:
Car shifts into (I believe) every gear while the car is off. Clutch feels like it is engaging fine.
When I turn the car on, the clutch has no affect. Pretty gnarly grind sound if you move towards a gear.

The set up:
-Motor recently installed, fresh rebuild. I used my old trans, old clutch and old flywheel.
All matched originally.
-Fly wheel is true and the clutch has a lot of meat, (9.2mm, iirc)
-Clutch was never separated from the pressure plate.
-Fresh flush and trans fluid

What I've done so far:
-Read the Haynes set up, followed suit.

Chapter 5 faults calls this "Clutch Spring or Drag"
1.Too much pedal freeplay (several adjustments)
2. Splines on main shaft rusty (they are not)
3. Friction plate broken (it is not)
4. Pilot bearing worn maybe

-Adjusted cable end play. (3/4" EP, then more until it was a stiff feel.
-All new shift bushings
-Re aligned shifter. To what i THINK is in each gear. Following Dr. evils specs.


I have never driven a tail shift trans yet, so I am not used to the feel.


Any tips on anything else to check before I pull the trans and check things out inside. It was clean though, and I am pretty sure everything was aligned well and in the splines. It slid right onto the main shaft like butter.

If my throw-out bearing was too worn, I am pretty sure it would be telling me loud and clear.


Thanks! Happy Friday!




(I hope to receive the 2020 Most Questions Asked award this year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif))

[sixnotfour]

Did the clutch arm hit the trans case ?? May be a pivot stud length issue, Was the flywheel resurfaced ?

[jaredmcginness]

Did the clutch arm hit the trans case ?? May be a pivot stud length issue, Was the flywheel resurfaced ?

I don't think it is hitting the case, I'll have the old lady clutch in, while I take a peek under.

I do have a new cable I could try, if this is a stretching issue on the cable.
The fly wheel was not resurfaced, my machine had the pair (clutch and wheel) and said they are a match, and in great shape, so there is not a need to resurface.

The clutch could be stuck to the pressure plate and not allowing disengagement. I've had this happen before when I did the same thing you did, reinstall without taking everything apart. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Do you have a driveway long enough to try breaking it free with starter and brakes?

Try to cut one corner and get shafted, ha.

My driveway would probably be long enough, I've barely really rolled it yet. This is a good idea. How would you recommend this, put it in first, start the car, let her fly and try to break it free?

[mjrrti]

Did the clutch arm hit the trans case ?? May be a pivot stud length issue, Was the flywheel resurfaced ?

I don't think it is hitting the case, I'll have the old lady clutch in, while I take a peek under.

I do have a new cable I could try, if this is a stretching issue on the cable.
The fly wheel was not resurfaced, my machine had the pair (clutch and wheel) and said they are a match, and in great shape, so there is not a need to resurface.

The clutch could be stuck to the pressure plate and not allowing disengagement. I've had this happen before when I did the same thing you did, reinstall without taking everything apart. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Do you have a driveway long enough to try breaking it free with starter and brakes?

Try to cut one corner and get shafted, ha.

My driveway would probably be long enough, I've barely really rolled it yet. This is a good idea. How would you recommend this, put it in first, start the car, let her fly and try to break it free?

I have heard that some aftermarket cables are up to an inch too long. If your cable is too long and you are out of threads to adjust you may need some spacers like a stack of flat washers or a short piece of steel tubing between the clutch arm and adjust nut to gain a little more adjustment. In your video it is hard to tell but I think you have a little more room for fork travel before it hits the tranny case. If you still have more threads tighten it up a little, jack up the right rear tire and have someone push the pedal to the floor while in gear and see if you can spin the wheel. You could always use the axle nut and a socket and big breaker bar with a length of pipe for extra leverage and apply a lot of torque to it to see if the clutch is stuck. My guess is you just need more adjustment.