What am I in for? (Muti disc Clutch Woes)

[Bob C]

Page 296 of the Service Bulletins has the list of parts needed
to convert to a single disc clutch.

[psimet]

Originally Posted by Tom Endy

The multiple disk clutch was actually a very good clutch. However, by this time in its history, most are worn out. Especially the clutch housings and flywheels. Unless you are lucky enough to locate a complete assembly somebody took out of a car and stored away, it is best to convert to the single disk, plenty of good usable parts around.

Attached article if you want to take on rebuilding one.

https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...-Clutch_TE.pdf

Tom Endy

Well reading through this it looks like my flywheel is pretty worn out as well.

[Joe K]

I wouldn't necessarily write off this flywheel yet. If you follow with the Des Moines rebuilder, you could ask them about "spacing" the disks to have them hit other than the low spots. Or adding a "spacer" disk before the first active disk.

The problem with the low spots is they collect dust, which goes on to freeze the disks in place. The usual is that the "innermost disk" freezes in, then one by one those in front of it get locked one after another.

If you can "start" the active disk stack a little "out" (or in) of the flywheel, each disk beyond hits the high spot beyond instead of the valley.

Just a suggestion - and I bet the rebuilder will know exactly what you're trying to do if you talk to them.

Joe K

[psimet]

Originally Posted by Joe K

I wouldn't necessarily write off this flywheel yet. If you follow with the Des Moines rebuilder, you could ask them about "spacing" the disks to have them hit other than the low spots. Or adding a "spacer" disk before the first active disk.

The problem with the low spots is they collect dust, which goes on to freeze the disks in place. The usual is that the "innermost disk" freezes in, then one by one those in front of it get locked one after another.

If you can "start" the active disk stack a little "out" (or in) of the flywheel, each disk beyond hits the high spot beyond instead of the valley.

Just a suggestion - and I bet the rebuilder will know exactly what you're trying to do if you talk to them.

Joe K

Makes sense but you lost me at “follow with the Des Moines rebuilder”. I have no knowledge of that reference/person/place.

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by psimet

Makes sense but you lost me at “follow with the Des Moines rebuilder”. I have no knowledge of that reference/person/place.

Senior moment here. I see earlier "Fort Wayne Clutch"

Since I have a clutch stack on the workbench I'll pull them up (Internet is a force.)

https://fortwayneclutch.com/
Fort Wayne Clutch & Driveline
2424 Goshen Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
TF: 800-258-8243
P: 260-484-8505

[email protected]

MANY industrial machines use a "clutch" type arrangement. One thinks of plumbing augers, carnival rides, even bowling ball return machines.

Anywhere a "disconnectable" power supply is required.

Joe K

[Keith True]

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I didn't know Fort Wayne Clutch had started doing the multi discs again.I have used them for 35+ years on farm tractors,cable tool drills,old equipment etc.When I asked them years ago they had no interest in doing the multi disc A.If I gave them a thickness spec,and sent them the discs,they would reline them.That was as far as they would go.They must have come up with some drums somewhere,if they are stocking units.

[rotorwrench]

I checked their web-site and they only feature the single disk for Model A. The year starts at 1929 so there is no info for the multi-disk clutch on there. I've never had them do a flywheel resurface for me since the shipping is bad enough with a clutch cover and disk for Long and Borg & Beck types. I just take them to a local machine shop.

[psimet]

I’m an Indiana boy living outside Chicago so Ft Wayne feels local to me [emoji1787]

I did run this by Ken Ehrenhofer and he strongly advised me to just switch to the single plate. Said he has all the parts on hand and just to give him a call when I’m ready. [emoji2369]

I’m genuinely torn on this one. I think I’d like to stay multi just from the fact that there’s less I’d have to repair or swap at the moment.

Decisions decisions.

[psimet]

Oh - also Ken thinks the metal piece in the bottom of the bell housing right now is probably something off the starter bendix

[rotorwrench]

Someone may have tried to rigg up a larger 5/8" shaft Bendix or they put the wrong bolts on an original Bendix 1/2" shaft drive and they clashed with the flywheel. The evidence of that would be on the flywheel. I've heard folks state that the flywheel can be trimmed a bit on the edge where the bendix will function in order to use the later 5/8" shaft starter assembly.

This thread illustrates an alternative to a replacement flywheel. It would take a good bit of lathe, mill, and shaper work but it can be done.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...+disk+flywheel

This link illustrates the starter situation.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ywheel+starter

[Joe K]

Earlier in this thread I made the comment about a "computer printed" thimble similar to the reference above.

Since then I've thought some on this: why couldn't the "teeth" of the flywheel be machined out leaving a hollow cylinder - and a computer printed "liner" be slipped into the circle?

One imagines that while there is a considerable "force" (torque) transmitted by the clutch disks to the flywheel, when spread out over a multitude of teeth, the force is relatively small? Certainly within the capability of a plastic internal "gear."

I have MANY change gears for a lathe made from plastic/computer printed. I have never seen one break.

Back to the bendix/flywheel. This may be a determining factor on which way to go: to revert to Multi-disk, or go forward to a more conventional later flywheel, starter & bendix, and probably transmission. As mentioned, those early starters are a "hen's teeth" of the hobby.


Psimet may want to do some research.


Joe K

[rackops]

Joe K-

If memory serves me right, I think some of our friends in Australia did exactly what you're thinking of...milling out the teeth and replacing them. They used steel though, but the same idea. I can't remember where I saw the thread...maybe on here?

Dave

[Gene F]

Originally Posted by psimet

Oh - also Ken thinks the metal piece in the bottom of the bell housing right now is probably something off the starter bendix

Like a tab off the bendix bolt that locks them into place.

[Fullraceflathead]

Someone should make a drop in insert once the teether machine away there's quite a few people wanting to use the multi disk if that was available!!!

[rackops]

Originally Posted by Fullraceflathead

Someone should make a drop in insert once the teether machine away there's quite a few people wanting to use the multi disk if that was available!!!

I think this was the thread I was thinking of. Not nearly as exciting as I had remembered...

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326611

I have 15 multidisk clutch packs, and a whopping ONE flywheel.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by rackops

I have 15 multidisk clutch packs, and a whopping ONE flywheel.

You should post a pic of the flywheel just in case somebody has one lying around.