NEW CLUTCH, still wont go in gear.

shhak

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Dec 4, 2006

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Jun 23, 2007

#1

• Jun 23, 2007

• #1

OK, my brother has an 87 GT. The clutch started slipping a while back. So the past few days, he pulled the tranny, had the flywheel resurfaced and installed a new clutch and pressure plate. Well, he had it all done and started it up. When he tries to put it in gear, it just grinds. If you put it in gear and start it, it takes off. He tried a new clutch cable and it didn't help at all. I didn't watch him put it in, but from what I can tell, everything seems to be installed correctly. We tried to adjust it at the quadrant, but it's adjusted as far as we can adjust it. HELP!!!

 

Jaswir

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Mar 31, 2005

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Orlando, FL

www.stangnation.com

Jun 23, 2007

#2

• Jun 23, 2007

• #2

seems like it needs to be adjusted more... might need a fire wall adjuster... i had to put a little spacer in to get mine just right at the fire wall to make the cable tighter

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Jun 23, 2007

#3

• Jun 23, 2007

• #3

I agree. See if you have any slack in the cable right now.

Also, we assume it grinds while trying to go into any gear?

Good luck.

 

shhak

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Dec 4, 2006

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Jun 24, 2007

#4

• Jun 24, 2007

• #4

We've got the quadrant adjusted as far as it will go and it's no even close. The clutch won't even come close to disengaging. We tore it back apart and the new clutch looks just like the old one, only new??? So, now where do we go? We even bought a new cable incase the old one might have been stretched or something. I've messed with these cars for years and I'm stumped. Anyone ever had this problem???

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Jun 24, 2007

#5

• Jun 24, 2007

• #5

Again, is there slack in the cable when the clutch pedal is at rest?

 

stangjunkie

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Nov 15, 2004

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Jun 25, 2007

#6

• Jun 25, 2007

• #6

dont eye ball it check for slack at the clutch fork comming out of the bellhousing... You say its adjusted all the way out at the firewall, is your cable adjustable where it meets the clutchfork? mins is long and threaded so you can adjust there too maybe you should look there.

edit to add: while under the car make sure its not gonna move and try to nove the clucth fork by hand. Does it have tension or does it flop around??

 

ShortThrow50

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Oct 22, 2006

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Pa

Jun 25, 2007

#7

• Jun 25, 2007

• #7

I dont think the guy is listening at all about the clutch cable

 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy

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Jul 1, 2005

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Apache Junction, AZ

Jun 25, 2007

#8

• Jun 25, 2007

• #8

If yours is threaded on the end, stangjunkie, you've got an aftermarket adjustable cable, not an OEM non-adjustable piece.

What about the clutch QUADRANT? Is it a stocker, a multi-hook, or a single-hook quad? If it's a single, DESTROY it and get a multi-hook. If it's a single-hook, it's possible that it might NOT be meant for use with a non-adjustable cable (most are usually packaged with adjustable clutch cable/FWA kits). If it's a multi-hook, then you might try cranking the firewall adjuster (FWA) all the way back in, moving the pedal-end forward one notch, and then cranking the FWA back out to take up the remaining slack.

Only other thing I can think of right off hand is that you might possibly have a bent clutch fork...

 

stangjunkie

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Nov 15, 2004

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Jun 25, 2007

#9

• Jun 25, 2007

• #9

your right i guess i've started assuming that everyone has an adjustable one by now the rest of my response should apply and would be good to know to help him solve problems

 

J

joeutc

New Member

Jun 6, 2007

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Jun 27, 2007

#10

• Jun 27, 2007

• #10

6\27\07

i may be trying to oversimplify your problem, but did you try to adjust the clutch by pulling up on the clutch pedal until you here a click?

I put an engine in a 86 GT and had similar problems for about two weeks until I noticed in the haines manual about the clutch adjustment.

Joe

 

shhak

New Member

Dec 4, 2006

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Jun 29, 2007

#11

• Jun 29, 2007

• #11

Sorry about letting you all state your opinions and not replying to anyone. I've been out of town.

Anyway, the quadrant is a stock piece. We pulled up on the pedal until we got a click just like you're supposed to. There is no slack in the cable at the fork. It just seems like it needs to move another 1/8" or so. I will look at the fork and make sure it's not bent. I never thought about that.

I suggested that my brother buy an adjustable quadrant set-up with a new cable. he just hates to spend the money. But we all know if you're gonna have a mustang, you're gonna have to spend the money on some mods once in a while.

Thanks to everyone for the ideas.

 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy

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Jul 1, 2005

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Apache Junction, AZ

Jun 29, 2007

#12

• Jun 29, 2007

• #12

If you have the stock quadrant and the pull-up adjustment trick doesn't work, it's possible that the teeth may be rounded off and/or stripped/broken on the quad or pawl, so it's not racheting up high enough to take up that last 1/8" that you need. A little goes a long way with clutch cables, because they really don't have a very long bit of travel to make at the clutch fork end - probably like 2.5" to 3" total, if even that much.

A non-adjustable cable with a multi-hook aluminum quad and a firewall adjuster will forever make your left foot happy.

 

SMOKEDYA

20+ Year Stangneter

Jul 13, 2003

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Tucson AZ

Jun 30, 2007

#13

• Jun 30, 2007

• #13

You might want to also make shure he installed the clutch the right direction? peace



john

 

R

reddfox

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Jan 1, 2007

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north georgia

Jun 30, 2007

#14

• Jun 30, 2007

• #14

Make sure the throw out bearing is staying on the clutch fork . Did a clutch in my buddies car had the same probem you describe. The ears that hold the bearing in place were bent and the bearing was sliding off during instalation. You may want to jack the rear of the car up crawl under it and see how much the cable is moving.

 

shhak

New Member

Dec 4, 2006

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Jul 10, 2007

#15

• Jul 10, 2007

• #15

Well I finally had to break down and crawl under the car with him and help him out. We pulled the tranny and everything looked ok. Then I was helping him put it back in and he accidently showed me what was wrong.
When he was putting the tranny up against the bellhousing he was ending up with about 3/4 of an inch gap between the two. The input shaft wasn't going up into the clutch plate. He told me that's just how it fits and that last time he bolted it in, he just tightened the bolts and pulled the tranny into the bellhousing. HELLO!!! I had to explain to him that he was pushing the clutch plate into the flywheel by doing that. Finally, I helped him get it slid up into the plate and into the pilot bearing. DAMN, I'M GOOD!!! Actually, he's just a rookie. Just thought i'd let you guys know. Thanks for the help though