So the wife wrecked the focus last week and instead of taking on another payment i decided to give her my '03 F150 4x4 and I bought an '89 F150 2wd 4.9 with a 5 speed. I've already replaced the brakes, tightened the oil pan to spec (was only finger tight with a new blue gasket), and fixed a PS leak.

On the test drive I noted that the cruise control did not work. This is a problem, I drive 40 miles one way to work and cruise is a must have. So I'm tracing down the vacuum lines from the CC actuator and follow one through the firewall to someplace above the steering wheel. While following that particular hose something fell and hit me on the face. Come to find out it was the push rod that connects to the clutch and pushes the slave cylinder. Here is where the near disaster comes in. [IMG]<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/poTSRw8VOe7yTgKocGKSzQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tjcJmCn8hms/TORbDr2y4TI/AAAAAAAAAVk/qAr5CgvNHow/s144/clutch%20pushrod.jpg" height="144" width="108" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/115360751782428834999/1989F150?feat=embedwebsite">1989 F150</a></td></tr></table>[/IMG]
My question is, what sort of retainer holds the rod onto the clutch pedal stud. Also, it looks like there is supposed to be some kind of cover over the switch surrounding the pushrod. If someone can upload a pic of how this is supposed to look that would help a lot.

I hate POs

 

Did you find the spring pin(kinda like a cotter pin but you don't bend) laying on the floor? Most likely it was removed by the PO as they just don't fall out. I have a 90 F150 I can look at when its daylight. A good thing is you can put it back in place and use a regular cotter pin to hold it together. I used a solid copper wire on my truck whe I lost that spring pin!

 

The cruise control might not be working because of the recall. It could be unplugged at the master cylinder. If it is, get the free fuseable link pigtail.

 

With the cruise control, I pulled the (not sure what it's called) actuator off and checked the operation. I think the diaphragm is ruptured. I pulled the unit off and actuated the lever attached to the cable that goes to the TB. Covering both vacuum ports there was still movement. I tried to pull a vacuum on it but the vacuum would not hold. I am not sure exactly how the unit is supposed to work. I assume there is an electrical switch in there of some kind and that may have to be energized before the diaphragm will hold maintain a vacuum. I've checked the fuse and it is ok. All of the vacuum hoses look good and i've not found any cracks. Does anyone know if there is a way to definitively verify or rule out the diaphragm? If there is some sort of electrical switch inside of the unit how can I test it?

thanks
sshamuss

 

I did not find a spring of any kind. The stud off of the clutch is very worn on side facing the firewall. The pushrod end that connects to that stud is also worn a bit. It looks like it has been like that for a while. I am going to try and find some sort of teflon bushing and then drill a small hole in the stud to install a cotter pin.