clutch problems - SOLVED, grabby and notchy Options

[mzalanka]

I'm reposting my question from yesterday, which was poorly received. In hindsight I should have just asked the question and skipped the degree of detail and lame attempts at humor. Wish delete was an option.

Two clutch-related problems: clutch pedal feel that gets "notchy" or, for lack of a better term, "not smooth" as the engine warms, and also judder or grabbing from take-off in first (also gets worse as engine warms).

I do not know my way around a clutch or a transmission. The one installed was put in by the engine rebuilder and sat for 5 years.

Vehicle has new pressure plate, friction disk, TOB, Gemo cable, rebuilt pedal cluster. Just fixed an input shaft leak, drove about 100 miles on it. Seems like that could explain the grabbing but not the worsening notchiness, which is still present even when engine is off, warm, and has been present since Mile 0.

I've ordered a clutch kit from PP and will probably just replace the whole thing, but what specifically should I be looking for in terms of faults?

Thanks. Long time lurker but rare poster. Greatly appreciate the World.

[Dave_Darling]

Who rebuilt the pedal cluster? Any idea what kind of roll pin was used in the cluster? The roll pin that is commonly available in the bronze bushing kits is not really up to the job. A spiral pin, or at the very least a full-circle pin, should be used. The weaker one can fail and allow the pedal to move on the shaft, resulting in all kinds of misbehavior.

The shudder in 1st gear is likely a clutch/flywheel/pressure plate problem. If you don't know what you're looking at, take the bits to a good machine shop and ask if they're overheated or otherwise trashed.

Was your flywheel cut before you installed it? If so, it could be that only the friction surface was cut and now there isn't enough clamping force for initial acceleration. Generally, all three surfaces of the flywheel should be cut by the same amount (friction surface, pressure plate mounting surface, flywheel bolt clamping surface) to maintain proper geometry so you get good clamping and don't have the clutch disk hitting the flywheel mounting bolt heads.

Disconnect the clutch cable from both ends. Does it move smoothly? If not, there is probably something wrong with the cable, the pulley on the trans, or the clutch tube in the center tunnel.

--DD