The Ford Barn

Dave Beadles · 06-09-2013, 11:23 AM

Went solo 350+ miles in the mountains of Colorado the last 3 days... went over passes & roads that would make Henry proud. Was 5 blocks from home when I tried to shift... clutch pedal felt soft... stuck in 1st gear! 5-6mph the rest of the way home.

Linkage underneath looks OK. Plate on floor board lifted & I peaked inside-fork ok, nothing looked out of place.

Clutch & pressure plate have less than 2k miles!

Suggestions? Like pull the rear end, the tranny & check it out? Who sells best clutches & pressure plates... throw out bearing new last fall, 1600 miles ago at engine swap out & Mitchell OD added.

thanks! Dave :-)

Jim Brierley · 06-09-2013, 11:45 AM

With the inspection cover, and maybe the floorboards, removed, depress the clutch pedal and watch for proper movement. If all is moving normally, it is likely something amiss in the pressure plate, although the disc could be coming apart too? You could have shifted gears without using the clutch by carefully adjusting the engine RPM to match road speed, as is done normally by double-clutching.

Dave Beadles · 06-09-2013, 11:53 AM

Well I'm at the point where I need to repair. Plan is to order clutch & pressure plate, return what I don't need after pulling rear end & tranny for inspection. Trouble is our local 'experts' are all busy for the next 30 days! Prime driving time... I'm not confident in my own abilities or tools to do this. IF (if) I was to look for a local mechanic to (GULP) pay - how would I even look for someone? thanks! Dage :-)

Dave Beadles · 06-09-2013, 11:54 AM

Thanks, Jim... any other suggestions? Dave :-)

Tom Endy · 06-09-2013, 11:56 AM

Look closely for a crack on the arm on the end of the clutch release shaft.

Tom Endy

Benson · 06-09-2013, 02:39 PM

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Dave,

Have helper press the clutch up and down while you look closely at arm under the car, like Tom and Jim mentioned. The crack will sometimes open up enough to see it when you press the pedal and then close up when you release it.

klawockvet · 06-09-2013, 02:58 PM

When I'm on the road I look up a local Snap On dealer. They usually know the better mechanics and might know one that works on vintage Fords. If I were in your area I would call Berts in Denver. That's probably the quickest place to get parts as well.

Joe K · 06-09-2013, 03:15 PM

The replacement lever arms are an UGLY thing but maybe a good thing to keep in your toolbox?

Hard to swing a hammer with the floorboards in place though.

Didn't this used to be offered in a style with the shaft attached?

Joe K

06-09-2013, 11:23 AM	#1
Dave Beadles Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 7	Clutch or ???? Went solo 350+ miles in the mountains of Colorado the last 3 days... went over passes & roads that would make Henry proud. Was 5 blocks from home when I tried to shift... clutch pedal felt soft... stuck in 1st gear! 5-6mph the rest of the way home. Linkage underneath looks OK. Plate on floor board lifted & I peaked inside-fork ok, nothing looked out of place. Clutch & pressure plate have less than 2k miles! Suggestions? Like pull the rear end, the tranny & check it out? Who sells best clutches & pressure plates... throw out bearing new last fall, 1600 miles ago at engine swap out & Mitchell OD added. thanks! Dave :-)

06-09-2013, 11:45 AM	#2
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,088	Re: Clutch or ???? With the inspection cover, and maybe the floorboards, removed, depress the clutch pedal and watch for proper movement. If all is moving normally, it is likely something amiss in the pressure plate, although the disc could be coming apart too? You could have shifted gears without using the clutch by carefully adjusting the engine RPM to match road speed, as is done normally by double-clutching.

06-09-2013, 11:53 AM	#3
Dave Beadles Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 7	Re: Clutch or ???? Well I'm at the point where I need to repair. Plan is to order clutch & pressure plate, return what I don't need after pulling rear end & tranny for inspection. Trouble is our local 'experts' are all busy for the next 30 days! Prime driving time... I'm not confident in my own abilities or tools to do this. IF (if) I was to look for a local mechanic to (GULP) pay - how would I even look for someone? thanks! Dage :-)

06-09-2013, 11:54 AM	#4
Dave Beadles Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 7	Re: Clutch or ???? Thanks, Jim... any other suggestions? Dave :-)

06-09-2013, 11:56 AM	#5
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Clutch or ???? Look closely for a crack on the arm on the end of the clutch release shaft. Tom Endy

06-09-2013, 02:39 PM	#6
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,597	Re: Clutch or ???? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Dave, Have helper press the clutch up and down while you look closely at arm under the car, like Tom and Jim mentioned. The crack will sometimes open up enough to see it when you press the pedal and then close up when you release it.

06-09-2013, 02:58 PM	#7
klawockvet Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Klawock, AK/Kanab, UT Posts: 301	Re: Clutch or ???? When I'm on the road I look up a local Snap On dealer. They usually know the better mechanics and might know one that works on vintage Fords. If I were in your area I would call Berts in Denver. That's probably the quickest place to get parts as well.

06-09-2013, 03:15 PM	#8
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Clutch or ???? The replacement lever arms are an UGLY thing but maybe a good thing to keep in your toolbox? Hard to swing a hammer with the floorboards in place though. Didn't this used to be offered in a style with the shaft attached? Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.