When I bought my truck, it had clutch chatter. Pulled everything apart, surfaced the flywheel, and put in a new Sachs clutch kit - the "Long" 3 finger type (same as the original I took out). With the new clutch, it had a high frequency chatter, like nothing I've experienced before. Tore it apart again, and found that one of the clutch fingers was loose (when installed), while the other two were tight.

Got another Sachs. Same issue when installed, so didn't bother putting the tranny in. Got another aftermarket - not a Sachs. This one had two loose fingers when installed.

So, I'm looking for suggestions. Should I go with a "performance" brand, like Zoom, or can I upgrade to a diaphragm pressure plate? If so, what brand do you suggest? I don't abuse my clutches, and this ain't no race truck (300 with a 3 speed). I just want something that's going to work smoothly, and I'm anxious to get this thing back on the road!

 

are you sure you put the clutch disk in corectly or?.....ive had similar trouble with my previous f-100 (73 f-100 302 3 on tree)..and i had the clutch disk off center once i got it in line i didnt have any more problems...thats all i know to say about fixing it .......because it sounds like you have had this problem with every brand youve tryed so far, and i never had a problem out of it after i got it centered up..

 

Yes, it's installed correctly. Between my buddy and me, we've done over 100 clutch replacements. First time I've ever experienced anything like this.

 

Just grabbing at straws here, might it not be the clutch but instead maybe the input shaft bearing on the transmission is having issues. I'm sure you've already looked at the pilot bearing.

 

Yes, it's a bushing, and it's new.

The trans input shaft bearing is something we hadn't considered. I'll check it out on Monday. Thanks!

 

im fixing to change mine over to a standard shift i cant stand auto shifts.. and i just thought id mention the posability of a mis aligned clutch disk because they can be a pain as you well know sometimes..lol

 

You're using new clutch kits, not remans right? I have been replacing all of the 3 finger clutches with diaphragm type because they grab more evenly and are less prone to chattering.

Are you torquing the pressure plate down, or just going tight with it?

Try moving the pressure plate around on the flywheel and bolting it down in different locations. See if the loose levers stay in the same position on the flywheel or move with the pressure plate.

Since you installed the second clutch and still had issues with levers before the transmission was installed, I'm wondering if the flywheel is bent or maybe not machined true.

Jason

 

Yes, new.

Torquing.

Tried that. They move with the pressure plate.

Had the flywheel checked again, after the first machining. It's true.

Looks like we're on the same page I'm going to try a Zoom diaphragm. They've always worked for me in the past. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

is there any play from the chank shaft moving back and forth

 

luk clutchs are good, also thats what most factory clutchs are

 

No, none.

I'll check 'em out. Not familiar with Luk.

 

Today's hot tip is... diaphragm pressure plate. Put in a Sachs kit (same as Zoom/Perfection/Brute), and it works like a champ, with a fraction of the pedal pressure that the lever type required. The diaphragm works so much better, I don't know why anyone continues to make the lever type.