[Shotimes] Clutch seems to drag after warm-up ('95 MTX)

[Leigh Smith]

Phil; Sounds exactly like what mine did.
It was the disc draging on the flywheel.

First:
Double check the installation bill or even call up the mechanic and make
absolutely sure they cut the flywheel. I can't imagine that shop would reuse
the flywheel, but anything is possible.
If it wasn't, just do it.
My flywheel measured pretty flat with a machists straightedge and a feeler
guage, but it was still enough to have the disc drag some and not release
cleanly. There is just no other adjusting and no room for error.

Second:
The clutch engagement point sounds a little low. Your "automatic adjuster"
may need some help.
You can adjust it manually. Experiment with the catch height off the floor a
little bit. Maybe you just need a little bit more pedal throw to release
cleanly.I'd try to get the clutch to "catch" exactly 1/2 way or even 2/3 the
way off the floor.

Adjust it manually like this. Lay under the dash and look for the blue
adjuster tab. Put your thumb on it. It will be too hard to just push. But if
you stroke the clutch pedal a few inches with your other hand you will feel
it move up. Now try and hold it up there with your thumb while you also
quickly pull the pedal back up. It's stiff but you will hear a load click or
two when it adjusts and it works. Then the pedal will catch a little higher.
 I tried as many as 6-8 clicks and the pedal caught 2-3 inches higher off
the floor.
If it is too high, to undo it lift up on the pedal with your toe and it will
reset lower again.
You are just adding a little extra pre-load to the cable. Mine needed it to
get all the "slop" out at rest. It won't hurt anything cause the bearing is
constantly spinning anyway.
I confirmed for myself that I had mechanical issues inside the clutch this
way. I had my pedal adjusted so the clutch grabbed almost at the top. That
gave me twice as much release travel as normal and it still wouldn't release
cleanly cause the flywheel hadn't been cut.
Good Luck
Lee
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Piotrowski" <philpio@pjpai.com>
To: "'Leigh Smith'" <leighsm@comcast.net>; <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 5:22 PM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Clutch seems to drag after warm-up ('95 MTX)


Clutch seems to catch between 1/3 and 1/2 the way up.

1st question: I had the clutch installed by Performance Plus (Madison WI), I
believe they put a cut flywheel in.

Philip J. Piotrowski
847-895-7932
philpio@pjpai.com
www.pjpai.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Leigh Smith [mailto:leighsm@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 9:44 AM
To: Phil Piotrowski; shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Clutch seems to drag after warm-up ('95 MTX)


2nd question:
How far from the floor does the clutch grab?
1/3 up?
1/2 ?
2/3 ?
Lee
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Piotrowski" <philpio@pjpai.com>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 10:25 AM
Subject: [Shotimes] Clutch seems to drag after warm-up ('95 MTX)


> A few months ago, I had my clutch replaced with a Center Force clutch,
> Grizzly Paw TOB. (The Center Force I bought from a private party, but
> it was in original packaging, never used, probably a few years old.
> I also had the tranny fluid changed to Redline D4 (Had been running
Redline
> MTL).
> Shortly there after, the clutch seemed to be dragging, such that it
> was difficult to get the Car into 1st gear, and impossible sometimes
> for reverse (resorted to
turning
> the car off, put it in reverse,and the restarting...)
> Anyway, I had the clutch cable replaced (the mechanic said it was at
> the
end
> of the ratchet adjustment)
> But that did not help, and the old cable did not seem stretched. I had
> some plastic/rubber grommet (looks like from the firewall) replaced,
> still not help.
>
> The curious part is that the dragging only starts after the
> car/clutch/tranny is warmed up. Just out of the garage, the car shifts
> fine. After 1/2 hour of stop and go , or an hour on the highway,
> suddenly,
getting
> into first gets difficult.
> I can pull up on the clutch pedal, and sometimes get a 'click', and
> sometimes this helps (but not always). I have also found that, even if
> I am having the shifting problem, When I come home, and go to back
> into the driveway, if I come to a quick stop, and then shift to
> reverse quickly (like while
the
> car is just rocking backwards from the stopping), that the shift to
reverse
> is smooth !
>
> I have switched back to Redline MTL (At least I sucked out and
> replaced 3 quarts of the D4).
>
> The weather is getting warmer (Chicago), and it takes less time for
> things to heat-up and start causing problems.
>
> Any Ideas what this might be ?
> And possible solutions ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Philip J. Piotrowski
> philpio@pjpai.com
> '95 MTX - 168K
> UDP, PP Y-pipe, dynomax
> Pro-m MAF, springs, Koni...
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes