Clutch Breaks AGAIN!! Thursday, 01-Feb-01 13:31:46 206.229.152.12 writes: For the second time with my 1700# Kennedy clutch the circular collar that allows use of the clutch with the early stype TOB and tranny has BROKEN!! It did this with the 1641cc motor I had and now with the 2175cc motor. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?! Do I adjust the clutch wrong? Am I using the clutch improperly? Does this problem happen often? The first time it failed the circular ring actually split, this time the ring "spun" on the leaf springs, bending the small teeth on the bottom of the circular ring. The clutch plate is fine however. Any assistance with this is greatly appreciated!! Chris Knight

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Check the release mechanism that holds the throwout bearing for alignment or binding in the housing. What type of throwout bearing, and what sort of clearance adjustment do you run? (n/t) (george brown) (01-Feb-01 13:41:49) Early TOB, with the little wire clips that hold in on the release shaft -- does this help? (n/t) (01-Feb-01 13:55:04) As mentioned in the post below, check for centering on the shaft, also check and make sure the release bearing & yoke plane of contact are perpendicular to the input shaft centerline, and that the shaft can't shift crossways during engagement. (n/t) (george brown) (01-Feb-01 14:10:30) I HAVE SEEN THIS, several times lately, I have been using the F&S German 1700 LB pressure Plates, I found them to work very nice. (n/t) (Art Thraen) (01-Feb-01 15:33:35) Art, Where have you been buying yours? (n/t) (Chris Knight) (01-Feb-01 15:51:05) Re: From a supplier, I stock them. (n/t) (Art Thraen) (01-Feb-01 18:55:06) What's the goin' rate for one them Art? (n/t) (Mike Lawless) (01-Feb-01 22:30:57) Re: What's the goin' rate for one them Art? (Rick) (01-Feb-01 23:36:08) Just got off the phone with Dave @ KEP >>> (Chris Knight) (01-Feb-01 17:29:26) I had the same problem. I found that my throwout bearing and shaft wasn't centered around the input shaft. My cure was to put the old style Kennedy clutch back on. Those new ones fall apart to easy and they hook up way to hard, I had tranny problems from it. (n/t) (Chuck) (01-Feb-01 13:44:31) Where would one get an "early style" Kennedy clutch? How can you identify the two? (n/t) (Chris Knight) (01-Feb-01 13:56:43) You have to buy them used off someone because they don't make them anymore. They have three arms on them that go out to the throwout bearing engagement ring instead of a bunch of little fingers like you have. They are painted green usually and have the pressure rating stamped on the front of the plate. (n/t) (Chuck) (01-Feb-01 14:23:10) I got mine from the Bergs and it was brand new! Not cheap though (surprise)! (n/t) (Don Bulitta) (01-Feb-01 16:22:45) I've had nothing but problems with the new style Kennedy pressure plates>>>>> (Don Bulitta) (01-Feb-01 15:49:16) I have a new style stage 1 Kennedy P/P with 10,000 miles on it that works great. (Matt Harris) (01-Feb-01 19:47:15) Re: Clutch Breaks AGAIN!! (Kevin Shull) (01-Feb-01 20:24:14) Re: Clutch Breaks AGAIN!! (Krautcan) (02-Feb-01 04:50:26)

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Mike,That's the one we used to call Mr.Clutch in our old catalogs. I can more than likely still get one for you if you want to try one out. By the way I need some good photos of your car for my new catalog if you have any. Rick

Rick

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The folks at Kennedy were VERY helpful and up-front with me on this. Dave said that two things may contribute here -- 1) Inadequate or no free play on clutch adjustment, 2) "Early" pad design.

Dave says some modifications have been made to current "pads" that involve adding dimples to them to increase their strength. These pads are Parkerized and Heat Treated to 46-48RW. A few in each lot are check to make sure they meet spec's.

Apparently after changing to the new "Diaphragm" design, KEP had some failures which warranted increasing the strength of these pads.

Dave agreed to send me a couple of these with spirolocs free of charge to get me back on the road. THANKS TO DAVE AT KEP!! Now I guess I'll just make sure to swap the TOB and check the Free Play and DRIVE-ON!

Thanks to all for your help!!

P.S. -- oh yeah priced those F&S 1700# Plates -- $180 OUCH!! Only found one vendor http://www.denuzioracing.com

Chris Knight

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My problem was the the collar you speak of was too soft. We did a rockwell test and it was 17 on the C scale. We checked a F&S and it was 53 ont the C scale or pretty much what we thought it should be. When we sent it back to get it repaired it returned with a collar that checked about 30 on the C scale. I believe that this is still too soft and will wear prematurely. Mine did not break but simply wore out in a few thousand miles. I am currently running a heavy duty F&S German pressure plate. It probably wouldn't be strong enough for a hot engine but seems to work fine with my daily driven 2007. DB

Don Bulitta

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Maybe it's just a matter of time before it goes bad though.

Matt Harris

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You could convert the early TOB to the late style TOB. The late one does not use the collar/face. You can buy an adaptor that goes in place of the tranny seal, so that you can use the more reliable late model TOB. The adaptor sleeve has an inner seal made in it. The TOB shaft will have to be replaced with a 71-72 model shaft.

Kevin Shull

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I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF BREAKING T/O BEARING RING.MY CLUTCH CABLE WAS CUTTING A GROVE AT THE END OF THE CABLE HOUSING.WHEN I WOULD AJUST FOR PROPER INGAUGEMENT,IT WOULD PUSH TOO MUCH AND THE BOTTOM OF THE RING AND SPIRAL RING LOCK WOLD GET F... UP ALOHA HILO,HAWAII

Krautcan