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How to adjust clutch rod?

crutch

Full Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2015
Messages
249
My clutch rod is too short which I believe is the cause of having to ride the clutch in first gear. I also do not currently have a return spring. I purchased an adjustable rod and return spring that I'm going to install and was doing some research. I found this other thread that has some great info but was wondering if someone could help clarify the lower bullet adjuster. This is all new to me so any newbie advice would be awesome! Thanks as always.

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185954

"If it's not within spec, adjust the lower bullet adjuster until it's within spec"
 

thegreatjustino

Contributor
Red Head Grease Monkey
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
16,008
Loc.
Stockton, CA
There is a rod from your clutch pedal to the clutch linkage and another rod from the clutch linkage to the clutch fork.

The rod from the pedal to the linkage is for the most part not adjustable. It's the rod from the clutch linkage to the clutch fork that you can adjust and change the way your clutch operates and feels.

It's a threaded rod that can be made longer or shorter. Making it shorter engages the clutch sooner - meaning if your foot is on the clutch, you put it in gear, and let your foot off the clutch, the power will transfer through the clutch from the engine to the transmission when your foot is still pretty close to the floor. Making it longer will make the clutch engage later transferring the power through the clutch when the pedal is closer to the dash.

Conversely, pushing in the clutch pedal will stop the transfer of power sooner when the rod is longer and almost at the floor when the rod is shorter.

A word of warning, if the rod is too long, the throwout bearing will constantly slightly ride on the pressure plate causing premature failure.

Adjust the rod to have the clutch engage to your liking.
 
OP
OP
crutch

crutch

Full Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2015
Messages
249
This is great info, thanks for the detailed response! One other thing to note is that when im in first gear the engagement of the clutch releases when the pedal is furthest from the floor causin riding of the clutch. When I'm in reverse however it seems smother and easier engagement. Does this sound like a symptom of possibly a different issue?
 

JAFO

Bronco Guru
Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Messages
1,556
Loc.
Beaverdam
There all kinds of reasons the clutch could be jumpy. I am assuming when you say riding of the clutch you are meaning it shudders. Actually I think 'riding the clutch' really refers to not letting the clutch pedal all the way out, so you are not fully engaging the clutch disc (very bad).
I just went through much bother with my throw out bearing and it is all clear in my head, so I will post some comments.

You want to adjust the clutch so that you have the correct amount of pedal movement and the correct amount of clearance between the throw out bearing and the pressure plate.

1. You must have some clearance between the throw out bearing and the pressure plate fingers. You can verify the clearance by pushing the rubber boot on the bell housing out of the way and looking in past the clutch fork lever. There are several reasons that you must have this clearance.

a) You want to make sure the pressure plate is fully engaging the clutch disc (squeezing it against the flywheel). If the clutch disc is slipping between the pressure plate and flywheel you will quickly burn up the clutch disc and burn your flywheel (ruin it).

b) if the throw out bearing is touching the pressure plate while driving it is constantly spinning. It is not designed for that and will wear out quickly.

c) If the throw out bearing is real tight against the pressure plate it could actually be causing the pressure plate to not be fully releasing and hence will do the clutch disc burn up thing. And wear out the throw out bearing too.

2. Use the clutch adjustment rod to adjust the clutch. See picture. The location of the rod is center of the red circle. Loosen a nut and then screw the adjustment cone nut in or out to obtain the correct clearance for the throw out bearing. You will see that if you screw the cone nut towards the front of the truck you will be increasing the clearance between the throw out bearing and pressure plate.

3. Inside the cab, under the dash, at the top of the clutch pedal (drivers side of the pedal arm) there is a round object (a bumper so to speak) that determines how far up your clutch pedal will rise. It has an off center hole. I found that I needed to loosen the nut and spin this so that the thin section pointed towards my pedal arm, basically allowing the pedal to rise as far as possible. This then moves the throw out bearing farther back from the pressure plate. Ford manual actually has a measurement you are suppose to take from the floor to the pedal. I haven't checked mine yet, but I drove the truck in today and am satisfied with the amount of clutch pedal play I have. I know I have the throw out bearing clearance correct because last night the wife worked the pedal while I did the adjustment.

ClutchAdjuster_zpsylbpypgi.jpg
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
49,465
Pedal height (for a stock "Long" style clutch) should allow 6.25" to 6.75" of travel. Less and you may not disengage the clutch all the way.
With a replacement diaphragm style clutch, I've heard you need slightly more pedal travel, so you may want to make sure you have at least the maximum there. Perhaps 6.75" to 7" or so.

Pedal free-travel should be 1 1/2" to 1 7/16" before you can feel the throwout bearing just start to touch the fingers. This is also the specification for a stock original Long style clutch. Not sure if you would want more or less for a diaphragm, or if it really matters.
In an EB, it might matter only if you do not have enough total pedal travel. The most important thing, as JAFO pointed out, is to keep the throwout bearing from being in contact with the clutch until you're ready.

Thicker floor covering can reduce the pedal travel, so that first pedal height adjustment with the eccentric bumpstop can make a big difference.

Paul
 
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