Adjusting the pressure plate

[Don]

Need to check my PP. Before installing new clutch dicc on my 29 roadster,have read many posts on measurements,BUT HAVE NOT FOUND ONE PICTURE OR EXPLANATION WHERE THESE MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN FROM,LOOKING AT MY MEASURMENTS,THERE ARE NO WAY CLOSE TO
TO THE MEASURMENTS IN POSTS
A PICTURE SURE WOULD HELP THANKS

[Bob/Kansas City]

The procedure is described here on the old Ford Garage website:

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/pressureplates.htm

[Don]

Have read this procedure several times and where there asking for a measurement Of 3/4 inch I have almost 1-1/2, that's why I was questioning the measurement , with the 1-1/2 measurement the fingers are very loose ,could this be the source of my very bad clutch chatter,also had the clutch disc for the large PP hole and I have the small PP hole,some of the rivets were worn down some,Have the correct disc coming but think my chatter was caused by the PP be way out of tolerance YOUR THOUGHTS ,,,,,THANKS

[Gary WA]

Needs to be installed on the block for correct measurement.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here I am adjusting a new pressure plate, with a new disc installed. This new pressure plate was quite a bit off. I use a depth caliper to set the bolt to .010" less than 11/16". I set the fingers to 11/16". Plus or minus 1/16" would still work, but make sure all 6 fingers are adjusted the same. By using a .010" feeler gauge you can adjust each finger for a slight drag, and the clutch should be as smooth as an automatic.

[zzlegend]

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Tom's method and picture works perfect. I just did my clutch about a month ago and used this procedure.

[Don]

Don't understand where the 11/16 BOLT MEASURMENT is taken if I had this ,I think I understand the finger measuring

[machine girl]

from the back of the preasure plate where tom has his fixture resting, we do it the same way but use a dial indicator.

[redmodelt]

and you have to have the clutch disk installed.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Don

Don't understand where the 11/16 BOLT MEASURMENT is taken if I had this ,I think I understand the finger measuring

The bolt is threaded into the aluminum channel and also has a jam nut inside the channel. 11/16" is from the bolt head top surface to the surface of the aluminum channel.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here's the next clutch adjustment tool I made. When the finger pushes the contact to the bolt the buzzer sounds and lets you know you just hit 11/16", or what ever you set the bolt to. This one leaves both hands free to do the adjusting because it sticks in place with two magnets.

[Don]

Great idea.I have a spare FW ON THE BENCH ,anxious to try out the procedure tomorrow,think I have it now" ,,should make the RPU a lot better.

[Bruce in southern OH]

Great information

[Sixseven]

Tom, nice tool. I'm usually in the early ford V8 so I miss your posts. Gonna change that.

[RonC]

Don,

First you need to install the pressure plate with the clutch plate onto the flywheel you will be using.

Next measure from the face of the pressure plate housing down to the clutch fingers. You are measuring to the finger surface that the throw out bearing rides on.

Ford specified that that distance should be 11/16". Any more or less will effect where the clutch will grab when you depress the pedal. So get it as close as you can.

The pressure plate has studs with special coned nuts (which unfortunately I don't think anyone makes either one??) for the adjustment. You will notice that the studs are slotted at the end and the nuts are smashed (staked) into the slot to effectively lock the nut.

To adjust take a cut off wheel or thin hack saw blade and carefully file the nut slots removing the nut material that is bent into the stud slot.

Once, and sometimes if, you can get the nut to turn on the stud you can begin adjustment.

Search here and you will find several types of homemade tools for making the measurements. Make sure all fingers are the same height and as close to 11/16" as you can get. There is a slight tolerance (I think it's 1/8") in the measurement but it will effect at what point your clutch grabs to pedal travel.

[700rpm]

I use a carpenter's tri-square and a piece of flat iron to measure the depth of the fingers. Works for me.

[Bob/Kansas City]

I just noticed in the March/April issue of The Restorer in the Tech Q&A that this procedure is discussed with a couple of good pictures that illustrate the measurement and adjustment.
I just did this on my '31 Roadster on a rebuilt pressure plate from Bratton's and found that it had been pre-adjusted to 3/4". 11/16" to 3/4" is the correct distance. Hope this will help anyone that has to do this.