While having a friend pick me up with my pickup after moving equipment last night the clutch went out on him. He claims that he did not abuse the truck and that he pushed the clutch in to slow for an upcoming stop sign and it went out. Once stopped at the stop sign he tried to start out again and nothing would go besides reverse. So he backed off the road the clutch housing developed a tinkering sound. What I don't understand is provided his story is true, is that the clutch can just go out like that? Its a hydraulic clutch and I know you don't have the responsiveness when it starts to go out but still. I drove the truck that morning and the clutch felt fine. So now I'm debating if I should just go out and buy a newer truck or sock close to 700$ in this old girl. Has anyone had this similiar situation of the clutch just going out while pressing it going down a hill?

 

If it still pulls in reverse I have trouble beleiving it's the clutch. Are you sure it's going into the forward gears? Does it slip in reverse if mash the accelerator?

Pat

 

no, its dosen't go in reverse anymore... I guess it was only doing that brief time he backed to the side of the road.

 

Well, it would be nice to know the year, truck, and transmission you have. I have to guess an 80s F-150 5 speed? But, I am going to assume you have an unsynco granny first for this reason:

> he pushed the clutch in to slow for an upcoming stop sign and it went out.

How did he know this particular fact? Explaining that one statement would be interesting. How does pushing in a clutch too slowly cause it to go out? How about not pushing in the clutch while shifting gears?

Sounds like he shifted without the clutch or downshifted from high RPMs and jammed it into a lower gear, a granny first gear, or most likely reverse by accident while trying to use the transmission for braking.

I know from racing my Ranger 4.0/5 spd downshifting from high RPMs (4k +) to a much lower gear you can clash gears.

> nothing would go besides reverse. So he backed off the road the clutch housing developed a tinkering sound.

Either gears were broken or most likely a shaft.

If you have a hydraulic clutch, checking the operation is pretty easy. Make sure it has fluid, remove the flywheel cover, and have someone press on the pedal. You can see when pressure is being applied.

With the engine off, you should be able to put it in 2nd gear, start the truck, and drive away, as long as it is not on a steep incline.

If the hydraulic clutch went, you would not be able to get it into any gear without shutting the engine off because even at idle the grinding would be horrible so I do not see how he backed it up.

How is the fluid level? I would drain it and see how many pieces of metal came out.

Maybe it was a total freak mechanical failure on a truck with 300k miles?

 

Sorry I forgot to mention to specs on the truck. Its a 90' F150 302 with a 4-speed trannsmission. I'm not sure of the exact model of trans (thinking T-18) but it is cast iron. And yes, my first is not sncyhronized, you have to be stopped to slip it in first and reverse. I really don't know how he backed it off into the shoulder of the road. It is a hydraulic clutch and you can put it into every gear when the engine is running and not running. Before that was impossible, especially 2nd and 3rd since my snych are not the the best but you can still slam em into gear without any problem. I checked the fluid level and it was ok... I did not drain it though. The truck has 151,000 miles on it. I have always babied the truck since I have owned it. However, I do pull a gooseneck trailer with it, and when loaded it weighs roughly around 18k but never had any problems before. I'm seriously started to doubt my friends story. Maybe he did try to down shift to early. I talked to the mechanic at the company I worked for and he said that normally clutches just dont' go out by depressing them for stopping. He is claiming that my friend tried to do a hole shot and the tires didn't give and the end result was tearing the clutch out. My friend swears that he wasn't beating on it... but you would admit to blowing out a clutch? I just find it very hard to believe that it went out while pushing the clutch in while coasting to a stop sign. I'm in college... I don't need to the extra worry of paying for a clutch... especially when I didn't do it myself. I understand that it does happen but I don't think the stories are matching up here...

 

It sounds like you had existing problems bad syncros and slamming the gears.
I guess it all boils down to how much do you value and trust your friend.
Remember this, we are talking about a mechanical thing and all things mechanical are subject to fail at any moment in time. These things can be repaired or replaced.
Friends on the other hand are not replacable.

Pat

 

Yeah, I told him not to worry about it and that it happens. The snychs aren't bad back you can't slam them hard into the gears like you can with a sports car. It just went out. It happens. Thanks for the help.