just put in another new clutch now i have a hard time shifting

[PeteyAce]

i have a really hard time to shift now and its impossible for my to get it into reserve without grinding my gears,(i have to post what kind i put in i will once i get back home) maybe my trans is on the way out?

 

[EpiphaRoss]

I just recently installed a King Cobra clutch on my '83. At first, it was really hard to shift, and it would grind going into reverse. The clutch also grabbed right off the floor. I figured that with the stock clutch adjustment, the clutch wasn't fully disengaging, causing binding that led to hard shifting and grinding when going into reverse. My short-term solution: move the floor mat out of the way, so I get an extra 1/4" on the clutch pedal, and make sure that the clutch is *all* the way in when I shift.

Long-term solution: get around to installing the new quadrant, cable, and firewall adjuster to set the friction point higher.

BTW - I'm not sure if the easier shifting and no grinding is a result of a change in my habits or breaking-in of the clutch.

 

[PeteyAce]

what you describe is the exact probelm im having right off the floor and the car is ready to go, its a sachs clutch

 

[HISSIN50]

raise the point of engagement - you dont want it right off the floor if you are having engagement issues.

FWIW, reverse has no synchro or brake, so it can grind. going into a forward gear first slows the cluster down so it meshes smoother in reverse.

good luck.

 

[PeteyAce]

well i usally put it into od then reverse but i cant even get it into 5th

 

[EpiphaRoss]

Yeah, based on my expert opinion and my many -er- hours of experience, I would guess that you're clutch isn't releasing completely.

I will also note that when I initially installed my clutch, it took a few (maybe as many as 10?) pumps of the pedal (engine not running) to adjust the clutch cable before it even gave me tension. I'm not sure how the non-hydraulic, automatically adjusting cables work, exactly, so I don't know if the cable will adjust itself over time. I might suggest that you try it for a few days and see if it corrects itself. On the other hand, shifting with half a clutch may be hard on your tranny...

If you're interested, I bought this cable kit to go with it: http://ddperformance.com/ford clutches.htm (look at C121). I'm hoping that this moves the friction point of closer to the top of the throw -- that is, whenever I get around to installing it.

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

How does the car shift when the engine is off? If it shifts thru the gears smoother than whilke running you have a misadjusted clutch. It may be time for a new cable and/or adjustable quadrent. Try pushing the pedal to the floor, then pulling up on it then back to the floor then pull again. That may help the ratcheting mechanism adjust better than just pushing and releasing.

Nick

 

[EpiphaRoss]

How does the car shift when the engine is off

Heh. Shifts just fine. It doesn't go anywhere, but it will definitely go through through the gears.

To your point, though, I was only working the clutch to try to get tension on it before starting it. If pulling on it helps adjust it, than that's a good thing to note for next time.

 

[PeteyAce]

its shifts alot better when the cars off

 

[v8only]

Listen to Hissin50, all of your clutch adjustments are way too loose. just tighten the adjustment and all your problems will go away. It's not disengaging fully, like all of you mentioned. Pumping the pedal won't do it on a stock mustang, pull up then push down.

 

[Stang8URMPRT]

Yeah, based on my expert opinion and my many -er- hours of experience...

I will also note that when I initially installed my clutch, it took a few (maybe as many as 10?) pumps of the pedal (engine not running) to adjust the clutch cable before it even gave me tension. I'm not sure how the non-hydraulic, automatically adjusting cables work, exactly, so I don't know if the cable will adjust itself over time.

And you're calling yourself an EXPERT!!!!

 

[EpiphaRoss]

Uh, yeah -- that was the joke. Glad you got it.

 

[PeteyAce]

i didnt touch anything parked the car last night, went to my local exhuast shop and the car shifted fine smooth inn every gear even when i went into reverse, i guess time was the solution lol