The Ford Barn

saintjoelarry · 07-17-2018, 08:26 AM

When driving home from visiting friends last night, pushed the clutch to shift from second to third. Clutch went straight to the floor. Obviously something happened to the clutch pedal linkage. Thankfully we were only a mile from home, so kept it in second gear and just drove more slowly.

When I crawled under the A to take a look. This is what if found - the somewhat substantially piece of cast iron making up the clutch release shaft arm had cracked right down the middle! Thankfully, I have another one on the shelf with some other transmission parts, so an easy fix. Just a bit of a surprise.

1928Mik · 07-17-2018, 08:43 AM

That'll do it for sure! Luckily you were close to home and no damage done....

ryanheacox · 07-17-2018, 08:53 AM

Those cast clutch arms do crack. My grandfather started losing the clutch one day and put the car up on ramps to adjust the linkage. While testing the clutch the arm broke just where yours did with the car in 1st it jumped off the ramps and they punched holes through the fenders... nobody was happy that day.

Glad you fared better!

katy · 07-17-2018, 09:02 AM

Quote:

the somewhat substantially piece of cast iron making up the clutch release shaft arm had cracked right down the middle!

Are you sure that it's cast iron? I would suspect that it's either cast steel or forged, but not cast iron.

saintjoelarry · 07-17-2018, 09:12 AM

Nope, I'm not sure at all that it is cast iron. Perhaps cast steel. Perhaps forged. Nonetheless, it is fairly substantial, yet bridle enough to crack. But, after 87 years of use, I guess I can't complain. Who among us wouldn't be a bit more bridle after 87 years?

Tacoma Bob · 07-17-2018, 09:35 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Mine broke as well. I put the re-pop super duty on and keep an original for those that will eventually need one.

Marshall V. Daut · 07-17-2018, 09:53 AM

After 90 years and tens of thousands of clutch pedal uses - or even hundreds of thousands - we are seeing this problem occurring more these days than ever before. That clutch arm has held up pretty well since 1928, but the metal fatigue issue is finally striking our cars. Think how much pressure is exerted on that arm every time the clutch pedal is pushed in! Eventually something is going to give and it's usually this clutch release arm. Not your fault. It's time had come. Either replace it with an original style (which should last another 90 years) or go with the heavy-duty wider arm, which looks kind of odd, but is stronger. No matter which one you pick, it's unlikely this problem will occur again in your lifetime.
Marshall

JimDin CT · 07-17-2018, 11:07 AM

Kinda off topic, I know, but I've always had a concern about the same happening at the brake rod - pedal connection. That is not a lot of metal surrounding that eyelet, which is all that stops the car. Anyone had that rod assembly let go?

saintjoelarry · 07-17-2018, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimDin CT

Kinda off topic, I know, but I've always had a concern about the same happening at the brake rod - pedal connection. That is not a lot of metal surrounding that eyelet, which is all that stops the car. Anyone had that rod assembly let go?

Wow, good question!

Flathead · 07-17-2018, 01:39 PM

I would say the clutch arm gets more of a workout than the brake.

Synchro909 · 07-17-2018, 05:02 PM

When I’ve fitted a clutch release arm, I use a fabricated one beacause it is not possible to buy a new one that will do the job. I have to cut and weld even the fabricated one to make it work. Never had a failure though. If I were the OP, I’d toss the cast arm and use a fabricated steel one.

Phil Brown · 07-17-2018, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimDin CT

Kinda off topic, I know, but I've always had a concern about the same happening at the brake rod - pedal connection. That is not a lot of metal surrounding that eyelet, which is all that stops the car. Anyone had that rod assembly let go?

Not the arm, BUT had the pin fall out one time. That was a exciting few seconds

Used the E brake to get her stopped. Walked back up the road and found the pin, and a short piece of fence wire. Five min. later we were back on our way

Vic in E-TN · 07-18-2018, 01:38 PM

About 20 years ago I was in a parade in Illinois and the same thing happened to my clutch arm. It was a cast part, probably from India, as the replacement part looked the same and had a "Made in India" tag. I used it for a while until I replaced it with a fabricated steel one. I believe that they were sold by a long defunct but well known supplier at the time.
Vic

07-17-2018, 08:43 AM	#2
1928Mik Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Zanesville Ohio USA Posts: 267	Re: Surprise...no clutch. That'll do it for sure! Luckily you were close to home and no damage done.... __________________ 1928 Niagara Blue Phaeton 1972 Olds 442 Convertible 1979 MGB -Life's Too Short To Drive Boring Cars-

07-17-2018, 08:53 AM	#3
ryanheacox Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northwest CT Posts: 1,092	Re: Surprise...no clutch. Those cast clutch arms do crack. My grandfather started losing the clutch one day and put the car up on ramps to adjust the linkage. While testing the clutch the arm broke just where yours did with the car in 1st it jumped off the ramps and they punched holes through the fenders... nobody was happy that day. Glad you fared better!

07-17-2018, 09:12 AM	#5
saintjoelarry Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 25	Re: Surprise...no clutch. Nope, I'm not sure at all that it is cast iron. Perhaps cast steel. Perhaps forged. Nonetheless, it is fairly substantial, yet bridle enough to crack. But, after 87 years of use, I guess I can't complain. Who among us wouldn't be a bit more bridle after 87 years?

07-17-2018, 09:35 AM	#6
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,025	Re: Surprise...no clutch. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Mine broke as well. I put the re-pop super duty on and keep an original for those that will eventually need one.

07-17-2018, 09:53 AM	#7
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,109	Re: Surprise...no clutch. After 90 years and tens of thousands of clutch pedal uses - or even hundreds of thousands - we are seeing this problem occurring more these days than ever before. That clutch arm has held up pretty well since 1928, but the metal fatigue issue is finally striking our cars. Think how much pressure is exerted on that arm every time the clutch pedal is pushed in! Eventually something is going to give and it's usually this clutch release arm. Not your fault. It's time had come. Either replace it with an original style (which should last another 90 years) or go with the heavy-duty wider arm, which looks kind of odd, but is stronger. No matter which one you pick, it's unlikely this problem will occur again in your lifetime. Marshall

07-17-2018, 11:07 AM	#8
JimDin CT Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 13	Re: Surprise...no clutch. Kinda off topic, I know, but I've always had a concern about the same happening at the brake rod - pedal connection. That is not a lot of metal surrounding that eyelet, which is all that stops the car. Anyone had that rod assembly let go?

07-17-2018, 01:39 PM	#10
Flathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 1,497	Re: Surprise...no clutch. I would say the clutch arm gets more of a workout than the brake.

07-17-2018, 05:02 PM	#11
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Surprise...no clutch. When I’ve fitted a clutch release arm, I use a fabricated one beacause it is not possible to buy a new one that will do the job. I have to cut and weld even the fabricated one to make it work. Never had a failure though. If I were the OP, I’d toss the cast arm and use a fabricated steel one. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

07-18-2018, 01:38 PM	#13
Vic in E-TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 491	Re: Surprise...no clutch. About 20 years ago I was in a parade in Illinois and the same thing happened to my clutch arm. It was a cast part, probably from India, as the replacement part looked the same and had a "Made in India" tag. I used it for a while until I replaced it with a fabricated steel one. I believe that they were sold by a long defunct but well known supplier at the time. Vic