I replaced the clutch in my 66 f100. It was a pretty big undertaking but I did it with a smile on my face. I even had to take everything apart after discovering that the tranny wouldn't slide back in (the clutch plate had slipped out of alignment).

Well this morning I got it all back together. I even installed a new shifter. I was so excited to fire her up and try it all out.

Welp... she wouldn't go into gear at all and when I press on the clutch, I can hear the release bearing rattling around in there.

Now I have to take it all apart and try it again. I think I'm going to cry first for a little while.

 

Does anyone have pics (not diagrams) of the spring on the release lever arm that sits inside the flywheel cover? I think that may be the issue.

 

Before you take it apart, might double check your linkage. Sounds like you're not disengaging the clutch. I can't remember a spring on the release lever inside the bell housing. All I have is a skinny little flimsy wire that I think acts like a retainer.

 

This is my 1966 F250 4x4 - 4 speed. They are all pretty similar.

Here's two different angles. First one shows the clutch fork and how the throw-out bearing attaches to it. You can also see the "spring" wire that acts as the retainer for the fork to bell-housing pivot.




Here in this second shot you can see how the throw-out bearing makes contact with the fingers of the clutch. Here I've used a Luk diaphragm clutch which has far more "fingers" than the originals. The originals had 3 fingers in a triangular arrangement. There's a particular name for that style but it is slipping my mind at the moment.



I hope that helps some.

Chad

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Turns out it was all about the shifter setup and clutch adjustment.

I had managed to align the shifter rods with it in 2nd instead of neutral. Add to that the clutch was adjusted all the way out so it was never engaging. Now i'm just slowly adjusting the clutch till it hits the sweet spot.

I'm adjusting the "crayon" nut a little at a time. Is there anywhere else I should be looking for clutch adjustment?

 

I think the main thing with adjustment is to allow enough play in the release lever so the throw out bearing won't rub the fingers when it's not in use....about an inch of free travel of the release lever should be enough.