The Ford Barn

Skeezixx · 05-28-2011, 02:48 PM

I can't seem to remove the retaining pin which holds the brake/clutch pedal shaft to the bell housing.

Can I grind the head off the pin then push it through?

Is this a job which requires the bell housing be on a bench or is there some easy way to do it?

Tom Endy · 05-28-2011, 04:49 PM

It is best to have the bell housing on a work bench when trying to replace a pedal shaft. You can easily get yourself painted into a corner. With the bell housing on a work bench you can do a complete job by also repacing the clutch release shaft and the two housing bushings. The optimum time to do this is when you have pulled the trans to replace a clutch.

However, if you are brave enough to attempt it in the car, you can knock the dome head off the pedal shaft pin with a chisel and drive it in with a hammer and punch and try to fish it out with a magnet. If the pin is the later tapered type, you will have to drill it out.

I doubt you will be able to pull the pedal shaft out inless it is very loose. You can saw it off and drive it in and again fish the piece out with a magnet.

Installing the new pedal shaft will be difficult. You must accurately line up the two pin holes and drive the new shaft in. Do not hammer on the end of the shaft as you will mushroom it and you won't be able to get he pedals on. Use a block of wood and a hefty hammer. Some go in so tight you have to use a shop press. If you miss the alignment of the pin holes you will have to saw off the new shaft, drive it in, and start over.

I have rebuilt countless bell housings, all on the work bench, some were so difficult I can't imagine trying to accomplish it in the car. However, I am sure people have done it.

Tom Endy

Skeezixx · 05-29-2011, 07:33 AM

Thanks Tom. I was afraid that was the case.

I think I'll just replace the pedal bushings and keep the old shaft. I'm not inclined to pull the tranny just to remove a bit of wobble in the pedals.

If the transmission has to come out in the future for a new clutch or something, then I'll replace the shaft.

Bob-A · 05-29-2011, 08:16 AM

Skeezixx,

I am (or was...) in the same predicament as you pertaining to the pedal shaft on my '31 roadster. You can see where the head of the retaining pin has been mushroomed a little from some one beating on it. I tried to
pry it out with the claws from, first a hammer and then a small crowbar:
no go. Part of the head on the pin started to break away

, so I said that's it no more. The wobble on the shaft just ain't that bad..........

Tom,

Thanks for the info on your experience dealing with this matter.

Bob-A

Rowdy · 05-29-2011, 08:35 AM

I have done it once. Must have gotten lucky. drilled and tapped the pin for a #6 screw, then pryed it out. Like I said, I got lucky. Rod

rollingsculpture · 05-29-2011, 08:40 AM

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what about just welding the missing worn part of the shaft and reshaping it round again?? i have the same problem on the AA but have not gotten to that detail yet and thought maybe this could work , any thoughts?

Rowdy · 05-29-2011, 09:42 AM

If I were to weld one up and try to get it back close to the size I would use a file. Alot slower, but I tend to get carried away with a grinder. Also I could check things often enough with a mic to try and keep it as round as possible. Grinder may be good to take off the first of the really high spots. Rod

Skeezixx · 05-29-2011, 08:12 PM

My neighbor is a machinist. He says it'd be simple to put it on the lathe. I had to remind him that if I could get it off I would just replace it with the new shaft I already have.

I guess I'll just have wobbly pedals till the clutch goes out.

05-28-2011, 02:48 PM	#1
Skeezixx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 426	How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car I can't seem to remove the retaining pin which holds the brake/clutch pedal shaft to the bell housing. Can I grind the head off the pin then push it through? Is this a job which requires the bell housing be on a bench or is there some easy way to do it?

05-28-2011, 04:49 PM	#2
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,139	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car It is best to have the bell housing on a work bench when trying to replace a pedal shaft. You can easily get yourself painted into a corner. With the bell housing on a work bench you can do a complete job by also repacing the clutch release shaft and the two housing bushings. The optimum time to do this is when you have pulled the trans to replace a clutch. However, if you are brave enough to attempt it in the car, you can knock the dome head off the pedal shaft pin with a chisel and drive it in with a hammer and punch and try to fish it out with a magnet. If the pin is the later tapered type, you will have to drill it out. I doubt you will be able to pull the pedal shaft out inless it is very loose. You can saw it off and drive it in and again fish the piece out with a magnet. Installing the new pedal shaft will be difficult. You must accurately line up the two pin holes and drive the new shaft in. Do not hammer on the end of the shaft as you will mushroom it and you won't be able to get he pedals on. Use a block of wood and a hefty hammer. Some go in so tight you have to use a shop press. If you miss the alignment of the pin holes you will have to saw off the new shaft, drive it in, and start over. I have rebuilt countless bell housings, all on the work bench, some were so difficult I can't imagine trying to accomplish it in the car. However, I am sure people have done it. Tom Endy

05-29-2011, 07:33 AM	#3
Skeezixx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 426	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car Thanks Tom. I was afraid that was the case. I think I'll just replace the pedal bushings and keep the old shaft. I'm not inclined to pull the tranny just to remove a bit of wobble in the pedals. If the transmission has to come out in the future for a new clutch or something, then I'll replace the shaft.

05-29-2011, 08:16 AM	#4
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,149	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car Skeezixx, I am (or was...) in the same predicament as you pertaining to the pedal shaft on my '31 roadster. You can see where the head of the retaining pin has been mushroomed a little from some one beating on it. I tried to pry it out with the claws from, first a hammer and then a small crowbar: no go. Part of the head on the pin started to break away, so I said that's it no more. The wobble on the shaft just ain't that bad.......... Tom, Thanks for the info on your experience dealing with this matter. Bob-A

05-29-2011, 08:35 AM	#5
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car I have done it once. Must have gotten lucky. drilled and tapped the pin for a #6 screw, then pryed it out. Like I said, I got lucky. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

05-29-2011, 08:40 AM	#6
rollingsculpture Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Takoma park md Posts: 271	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) what about just welding the missing worn part of the shaft and reshaping it round again?? i have the same problem on the AA but have not gotten to that detail yet and thought maybe this could work , any thoughts? __________________ Rust and roll will never die

05-29-2011, 09:42 AM	#7
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car If I were to weld one up and try to get it back close to the size I would use a file. Alot slower, but I tend to get carried away with a grinder. Also I could check things often enough with a mic to try and keep it as round as possible. Grinder may be good to take off the first of the really high spots. Rod __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

05-29-2011, 08:12 PM	#8
Skeezixx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 426	Re: How to remove the pedal shaft pin with the trans still in the car My neighbor is a machinist. He says it'd be simple to put it on the lathe. I had to remind him that if I could get it off I would just replace it with the new shaft I already have. I guess I'll just have wobbly pedals till the clutch goes out.