Newbe question on clutch pedal travel

[dbdevkc]

'50 Ford - I know the free travel should be set to 1 to 1-1/2 inches, but our clutch doesn't start grabbing until very close to the top of the pedal travel. Like your foot and leg is way up high. Is that because the clutch is worn, or is that just the nature of the beast? It takes a bit of getting used to - not like you can toe/heal rock to start engagement like on other manual tranny cars I've driven.

[Kube]

Could be a nearly worn-out clutch or simply worn-out linkage. A little wear on a clevis pin and / or the clevis adds up exponentially to a lot of pedal travel.

[V8 Bob]

I would measure the actual throw-out bearing-to-pressure plate clearance by removing the starter plate. You only need about .100" clearance, which should result close to 1" pedal free travel, depending on how you measure. Now you can check for worn/damaged linkage/parts and repair/replace/adjust to lessen/correct excess pedal travel.

[1931 Pick-up]

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

I would measure the actual throw-out bearing-to-pressure plate clearance by removing the starter plate. You only need about .100" clearance, which should result close to 1" pedal free travel, depending on how you measure. Now you can check for worn/damaged linkage/parts and repair/replace/adjust to lessen/correct excess pedal travel.

thanks for sharing this info - very helpful!

[Terry,OH]

The 1" of free travel is measured from the foot pedal at rest until when depressing the pedal the throwout bearing touches the pressure plate fingers. Make sure the clutch pedal return spring is in place and the rubber bumper the pedal rest on.

[Bullerman]

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My 50 has or had a lot of ware. Especially in the release lever bar. I bought a new anchor bolt. I put bushings on the bar to take up slack. It tightened it up a good bit. I still have a little slack where the clutch rod goes on the release lever. Hole has ware on it.
Everything I did made it a lot better.
I would like to have a new release lever bar if I could find one.

[Flathead Fever]

I was a phone company fleet mechanic for 30-years. We had about 400 trucks with clutches. If all the linkage is tight and nothing none of it is worn-out, and the pedal doesn't grab until the very top of its travel, with about an inch of free play, it's about time for a new clutch. If you drive it too much longer it will begin to slip. It should grab about the middle of its travel. I must have replaced hundreds of them over 30-years. Those drivers were brutal on those clutches. They finally figured out they weren't saving anything by buying manual transmissions and they switched to automatics.

[Bullerman]

Fooled with mine yesterday. Pressure plate and clutch disk put in about 10 months ago. Car has been driven very little because of shaking when taking off.
New clutch return spring. Clutch released close to the top. Clutch was adjusted to 1 1/4" free pedal. Clutch was releasing close to the top. Car still shaking to take off. I adjusted it to 1/2". Still released close to the top.
Went the other way. Set it to 2" and tried that. Clutch released a couple of inches off the floor.
Still went into gear good and shifted ok.
I have had this shake since I have had the car. I am having new spring bushings in the rear and new motor mounts and transmission mount put in. I am beginning to believe the clutch may not be my problem.

[Bullerman]

Waiting on a friend of mine to put in new motor mounts and transmission mount.
Found that the spring bushings in the rear are wore out especially the front ones on the springs. Have new ones coming. Going to get those replaced.

[Gene1949]

You have a problem with the clutch. Pretty frequent complaint IF you are using a rebuilt or off shore "new" 3 finger PP. Lastly on the list is a fitment issue with the throw-out bearing or crank bushing/bearing