Wow! That's way dumber than anything I've ever done (to a car). It makes
me feel so much better!
Thanks.
Jay Donoghue
In a message dated 3/7/2005 2:30:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
doddk@mossmotors.com writes:
Now the stupid mechanic trick admittance.
1966 Land Rover, had rebuilt the engine and taken a couple of months to
install it onto the gearbox. Rebuilt hydraulics, but the clutch
wouldn't disengage. Figured the disc had rusted during the long
installation process.
Jacked up all four wheels, and revved the engine up to about 3500 rpm.
All four oversize wheels are booming and roiling. Header uncapped, and
DGV Weber snorting, within the confines of the garage, the noise is
deafening. Slammed down on the clutch and brake pedals, with an
incredible screetching of metal on metal the truck's wheels came to a
stop and the engine died. There was the smell of burning metal, hot oil
and the ticking sound of metal cooling.
Checking, I found that the slave cylinder pushrod was bent almost
double, which was the first indication of a problem. After pulling the
transmission backwards (no mean feat on a Landie), I found the center of
the clutch disc had welded itself to the center of the pressure plate.
Checking carefully, it turns out I had put a clutch disc in that was
slightly too large for the clutch cover. It looked fine till the
assembly was tightened, pinching the disc. That's when I figured out
that a 1/4" larger Austin-Healey disc wasn't the best way to save a
couple of bucks.
Broke the weld with a hammer, bought the correct disc. Straightened the
pushrod, and the Rover lived happily ever after.
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