clutch problem 51 ford

[trainguy]

I drove the 51 yesterday the clutch worked great,trans shifted great. this morning it grinds putting it in gear and seems like the cluch is not releasing properly.I put the car on the lift and examined the linkage,looks ok.I took up on the cluch adjustment and the clutch is releasing and it goes into gear without grinding.The clutch pedel no requires much more effort to opperate.My guess is something happened to the pressure plate or thro out bearing.I am wondering what could cause this problem to happen all of a sudden.I am going to order a new clutch and thro out brg assy from Fort Wayne Clutch on Mon.

[trainguy]

Just talked to FWC.I discribed my problem and the said that it is most likly a linkage problem.My clutch adj. is just about all the way in allthe piviots that I can see are OK.The thro out brg was quiet and seems to be sliding freely on the trans snout.Could it be a bent T.O. arm ore a worn fulcrum?I guess I will have to pull the trans. and find out.Damb!!!!!Phil

[jdl]

Although I don't know what the problem might be, I do know there are 3 different lengths of the clutch pedal rods shown in the parts book. it has to do with the equlizer bar that the rear of the rod hooks to ( three different equlizer bars also ) I will try to take a picture of my 51 & post it soon.

8A7521B 49 and early 50 11-1/4" long

OA 7521 late 50 12.80" long

1A 7521 11" long

[jdl]

Well I think the book is wrong...my 51 coupe was built in late Oct. 1950
and my 51 Vic was built in July 1951

the rod on both cars is about 12-7/8" (roughly)
here are the pics see if yours looks like this. please excuse the poor pic

[Bullerman]

Originally Posted by jdl

Well I think the book is wrong...my 51 coupe was built in late Oct. 1950
and my 51 Vic was built in July 1951

the rod on both cars is about 12-7/8" (roughly)
here are the pics see if yours looks like this. please excuse the poor pic

No mine doesn't look like that. Doesn't have that little tab off the back of the back of the release equalizer bar. I could see the way yours is made the rod would be longer. I am thinking I have the longer rod on mine. Still don't know that that would make any difference though. I think I have the correct one coming.

[Bullerman]

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Originally Posted by trainguy

Just talked to FWC.I discribed my problem and the said that it is most likly a linkage problem.My clutch adj. is just about all the way in allthe piviots that I can see are OK.The thro out brg was quiet and seems to be sliding freely on the trans snout.Could it be a bent T.O. arm ore a worn fulcrum?I guess I will have to pull the trans.
and find out.Damb!!!!!Phil

Just wondering if you got your problem fixed. I have a 51 with clutch problems also. Mine shudder bad on clutch release. Had a new clutch, pressure plate, clutch disk and pilot bearing put it. Still does the same thing.
My linkage has a lot of wear on it also. I wonder if that could be my problem. I have a lot of up and down play in the throwout bearing arm also. It is almost like it's not connected to anything inside the bell housing except the throw out bearing. It has to be connected to some kind of pivot point for the arm.
Still trying to figure it out. Cars good except for this problem.
I forgot it does shudder on downshift from 3rd to 2nd.

[Bullerman]

Can you see what the arm pivots on in the bell housing. I can't find any information on this.

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by Bullerman

Can you see what the arm pivots on in the bell housing. I can't find any information on this.

Getting ready to install flywheel, clutch, bellhousing and trans on my 51. Hope this view helps.

[Bullerman]

Yes this does help. This sure wasn't one of Fords better ideas. So basically the bell housing has to be off to install the arm and throwout bearing. I got a new clip in today. The guy at Shoe Box Central said one for a mid sixties Mustang will work. Thanks for the photos.

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by Bullerman

Can you see what the arm pivots on in the bell housing. I can't find any information on this.

I believe the clutch release arm pivots on a flat "fin" of steel bolted to the bellhousing. The fin sits in a groove in the arm and the arm is kept in place on this fin by a small wire clip that's a bitch to install properly. If the wire clip is bent or missing it'll never keep the arm in place.

This MAY be part of your adjustment trouble, but as for the chatter....that's another thing. LOTS of available clutches are crap and will chatter in these cars even if everything is set up properly. Just bad parts. What seems to always work is to shell out the bucks for a flywheel and complete diaphragm clutch assembly from Centerforce.

[trainguy]

The clutch worked great and suddenly went out of adjustment and needed greatly inceased effort to work the peddle.The linkage from the peddle to the TO arm seems to be OK.Appears the somthing happened to the pres plt.I am planning to take it appart tom.DRATS!!!!!!!Phil

[George/Maine]

Did the end of the clutch shaft brake off if it was welded,

[trainguy]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

Did the end of the clutch shaft brake off if it was welded,

Explain please,I don,t understand. Phil

[George/Maine]

In post #4 Pic upper left corner were it fits into the L shaped leakage.
The end of pedal shaft end,

[trainguy]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

In post #4 Pic upper left corner were it fits into the L shaped leakage.
The end of pedal shaft end,

See what you are talking about,no the linkage appears to be OK.Tom morning I am goig to send my wife alloft on the lift and have her work the ckutch and watch the action of the linkage before I take out the trans.Thank god it isn't the 41.Removing the trans on the 41 was a "B---ch. Phil

[joe 1950]

i have a 1950 ford custom have pulled the trans three different times for what ever reason chatter, poor plate , if it worked good for how long and suddenly has a problem you know what you have to do, its not to much fun even worse if you have carpet but if all your linkage is ok, very poss. you have a pressure plate problem, has the car been stored a while??

[Karl Wolf]

I put a roll pin in to hold the arm on the throw out shaft... The pin gradually disintegrated, I made several adjustments before figuring it out... Must use a solid pin in that place.
Karl

[trainguy]

Originally Posted by Karl Wolf

I put a roll pin in to hold the arm on the throw out shaft... The pin gradually disintegrated, I made several adjustments before figuring it out... Must use a solid pin in that place.
Karl

The 51 has a different set up than the 48 on back.If I understand your suggestion correctly. Phil

[trainguy]

OK.Took the trans out this morning,found the problem.The clutch fork had jumped out of its pivot and was bottoming out when applied.I the retention spring on the TO brg was damaged allowing the fork to shift.I ordered a nos TO brg hub and fork from Shoebox Ford in Ok.and a rebuilt clutch kit from Fort Wayne Clutch.What a job removing the trans.Being a convert with Overdrive and with its x member made the removal very difficult,I had to remove both the OD governor and the sol.I plan to grind some clearence in the X member for the tail shaft to make the installation easier.Phil

[Bullerman]

Have a 50 model. How do I rod which I am supposed to have. I have all the adjustment out of the rod and still have to much pedal play.