Greetings!

I have been under my pickup for the last half hour trying to figure out where the other end of my retracting spring is supposed to go. I get how the clutch lever/release rod/spring end go together. The original retracting spring broke last week and I got the part today. Everything else looks fine with the clutch pedal and assembly.

I have the Chilton book but it only shows the placement for the '78-80 and I have run my fingers over every surface and chassis area withing a reasonable spring-reaching range. I've also googled every combination I can think of to get a better diagram for this thing. HELP! Where the *bleep* does the end of the spring go?!! :-)

Thanks so much!
--erica--

 

There should be a mounting bracket connected to your frame (near the brake proportioning valve) which the opposite end of the spring attaches to.

 

Here are some pics of where the clutch spring hooks to on the frame. Mine is a '76 F150 but should be the same i think.







Hope those help

 

Holy crap--those are great photos. Thanks so much you two. I'm wondering if that L bracket actually came unbolted or fell off or something. I was roaming around shining my flashlight up and couldn't find it. The retracting spring actually seemed to break just after I parked in my driveway (small blessings) because I found the old part and subsequently the release rod extension under the truck. Can't find that L bracket on the ground, though. Mystery? I'll start fresh with the sunshine tomorrow, especially now that I have those pics.

Thanks again!

 

There's a good chance it got "ejected" when/if it gave way, if so, i'm sure you'll find it near by tomorrow when you can see, good luck.

 

No prob erica, good luck . right after i read your post i ran out and snapped some pics because in that situation i figured its easier to show where it goes versus describing it lol.

 

So, I found a medium sized hole in the chassis (and a pin hole in my oil pan, actually, which explains how filthy the undercarriage is *sad face*) where I imagine that L bracket might be but the spring now looks 1/8-ish" too long for it to actually go there but the new spring matches the old spring size so I'm sure my part is correct. I still can't find any L Bracket under the truck/in-the-driveway that may have come off, nor does it seem like there's a place where an L bracket might have been, really.

When I drew my fingers around that medium sized hole, I found neither bolt nor screw laying on the other side to indicate one half may have fallen off. Further, the hole is just as oily and greasy as everything else which would indicate to me that nothing has occupied that hole for quite some time, if ever. This clutch spring only broke a week and a half ago.

Thanks again for all your help. I may need someone who actually knows what they're doing to come find this freakin' hole/L bracket for me. I mean, I'm no mechanic but you'd think I could put a spring back on... geez.

 

Erica, First off welcome to the FTE!!!! If you'll tell us where you are may be anouther member is close by and can help you....

 

Look in the area around the frame mounted clutch equalizer (Z) bar pivot. That's where the parts catalog shows where the bracket is.

2WD is different than 4WD, and there's no part number for either, cuz the parts catalog says "improvise."

 

Yeah, i looked in my chilton book too and it shows both types of linkages, im sure its the same in your chilton. It shows the spring attaching to either the L bracket like on mine or looks like it could go on a piece that looks like its part of the frame.



Hope that helps in some way.

 

It does help cuz it's the same pic as shown in the '73/79 Ford truck parts catalog, but...minus the Ford basic part numbers.

 

If you can find the bolt hole making a new bracket would be a breeze. couple holes in a piece of flat steel bend it 90deg and bolt in place. You can get idea of dimensions by hte photos

 

Wow, after the post you rasn out and took photos for her, what a nice guy! Erica, he went back in time for you. His camera date said 2005. LOL Just messing with you. The funny thing is on my 78 I have the same problem and this tread will help me to resolve the issue.

 

Of course Burburan, i would do anything for a fellow Ford lover even if that includes going back in time to answer their questions!

Lol but no, i go through a lot of batteries with the dang camera so that i dont keep batteries in it anymore, i just put them in when i need to use it and i dont set the time and date anymore lol. But im glad to hear you were able to get some use out of this thread too .

 

Going back in time is nothing! Looks like you did it on new years day too, performing basic tasks with a monumental hangover is more of a feat than time travel lol