New clutch

[BrianH]

So, I put in a new V-8 clutch in my car and the clutch does not engage until the pedal is all the way out. Do I need to adjust the pedal or do I need to adjust the forks on the pressure plate? I did not change when I put it in.
Thank you in advance for your ideas.

[CWPASADENA]

Adjust the pedal. Lengthen the link between the pedal and the clutch release shaft arm.

Chris W.

[JohninKuranda]

Concur with Chris. Earlier this year I went from multidisc to V8 and thought I had really screwed things up until I tinkered with the link length adjustments. Has worked great since them.

[nkaminar]

You need to adjust the clutch but take the cover off the clutch housing first. Check that the forks that move the throwout bearing forward are engaging the bearing housing correctly. Consult the red book, Model A Ford Mechanic's Handbook, Volume 1.

[Mulletwagon]

Need to adjust the link to get about an inch of free travel on the pedal before the throw out bearing touches the clutch fingers. Sounds like your throw out bearing is now in constant contact with the fingers which results in constant throw out bearing rotation and early bearing failure. As the clutch disk wears the pedal free travel reduces and requires occassional adjustment.

[Patrick L.]

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How much free-play do you have right now ? Adjust for 1.0-1.5".

Removing the inspection cover to see what is going on is a good idea.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

How much free-play do you have right now ? Adjust for 1.0-1.5".

Removing the inspection cover to see what is going on is a good idea.

Mine is the opposite of the OP.
That's the amount of free play I have with my V8 clutch but when I press the pedal all the way to the floor, something binds and the clutch drags. All is well if I don't go all the way to the floor. I could lengthen the linkage a little and end up with more than 1 - 1.5" free play or put a spacer under the pedal or modify my driving. The latter is the easiest, IMO.

[BrianH]

So, I adjusted the pedal link two turns out and now have a good one inch free play. I drove the car and clutch engages right in the middle of the pedal travel. Thank you for the advice. Brian

[Mulletwagon]

Thanks for the final report. Nothing better than a success story !!

[Patrick L.]

Good !

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by BrianH

So, I adjusted the pedal link two turns out and now have a good one inch free play. I drove the car and clutch engages right in the middle of the pedal travel. Thank you for the advice. Brian

Hey Ryan, Where's the "Like" button?

[GRutter]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Mine is the opposite of the OP.
That's the amount of free play I have with my V8 clutch but when I press the pedal all the way to the floor, something binds and the clutch drags. All is well if I don't go all the way to the floor. I could lengthen the linkage a little and end up with more than 1 - 1.5" free play or put a spacer under the pedal or modify my driving. The latter is the easiest, IMO.

On the V8 clutch, if the finger height and free play are not set correctly, the clutch fingers can be depressed so far that the fingers hit the spring carriers on the clutch disc. That may have been the binding / clutch drag that you were experiencing.