Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-20-2020, 07:16 PM   #1
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Pressure plate adjustment

Looking for a little advice on how to adjust the fingers of the pressure plate in the car. Clutch and pressure plate are new. Well almost new. I thought I adjusted the pp fingers when I installed it but apparently I didn't. Instead of the proper 5/8" per Les Andrew's mine are around 3/8". Obviously they need to be adjusted . Just not sure how to do it.
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2020, 07:26 PM   #2
ryanheacox
Senior Member
 
ryanheacox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northwest CT
Posts: 1,092
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

I made that mistake as well. Not horrible to adjust in the car just slow going. I made up a tool to gauge and set the finger depth to 11/16". I managed to get each finger adjusted to +/-0.004" which is probably as good as can be with the transmission installed. In my case it did solve my clutch chatter.



I'll try to grab a picture of my tool tomorrow. It's very ugly but functional.
ryanheacox is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-20-2020, 07:28 PM   #3
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanheacox View Post
I made that mistake as well. Not horrible to adjust in the car just slow going. I made up a tool to gauge and set the finger depth to 11/16". I managed to get each finger adjusted to +/-0.004" which is probably as good as can be with the transmission installed. In my case it did solve my clutch chatter.



I'll try to grab a picture of my tool tomorrow. It's very ugly but functional.
Thanks I appreciate it
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2020, 07:49 PM   #4
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Is there a problem ?
Can the free-play be set ?
Where does the clutch engage ?
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2020, 09:00 PM   #5
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Patrick L there is a problem or I wouldn't be asking for help. I cannot get the clutch to engage at the 1 inch spec. My inquiry is for help with adjusting the pressure plate fingers with it installed in the car
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2020, 09:35 PM   #6
Tom Endy
Senior Member
 
Tom Endy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,122
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Attached article is how it can be done. I prefer to make the adjustment with the flywheel laying on a work bench. A second choice is with the flywheel attached to the engine and with the transmission removed. A friend has successfully made the adjustment through the bell housing window with the transmission attached, but I would never attempt it.

Tom Endy
Attached Files
File Type: pdf clutch adj article.pdf (86.9 KB, 119 views)
Tom Endy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2020, 05:27 AM   #7
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

The pedal free-play should be about 1.5", but, that is not where the clutch should engage/disengage. That should happen when the pedal is about 3-5" from the floorboard. [ about half way from floor and end of free-play position, middle of pedal movement under pressure plate spring tension]

Changing the height of the pressure plate fingers is best done on the work bench.

Getting all the fingers to touch at the same time while the clutch is in the vehicle isn't too hard, but, changing the setting of all the finger heights is. To do that I take it out and set it on the bench.

Last edited by Patrick L.; 07-21-2020 at 05:33 AM.
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2020, 05:55 PM   #8
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick L. View Post
The pedal free-play should be about 1.5", but, that is not where the clutch should engage/disengage. That should happen when the pedal is about 3-5" from the floorboard. [ about half way from floor and end of free-play position, middle of pedal movement under pressure plate spring tension]

Changing the height of the pressure plate fingers is best done on the work bench.

Getting all the fingers to touch at the same time while the clutch is in the vehicle isn't too hard, but, changing the setting of all the finger heights is. To do that I take it out and set it on the bench.
Got it....finally managed to adjust it like you say. Thanks
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2020, 08:34 AM   #9
ryanheacox
Senior Member
 
ryanheacox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northwest CT
Posts: 1,092
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Seems I'm a bit late but this is the tool I made up to adjust the fingers through the inspection cover. My fingers were all too high like yours and they were all varied +/-1/16". The surface with the writing on it goes against the pressure plate and the finger contacts the pressure plate finger. I adjusted each so that a .002 feeler gauge would just drag. Smoothed my clutch right out. I would have made the part that goes against the pressure plate longer but that was the length that would fit through the inspection cover.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_8797.jpg (30.1 KB, 95 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_8798.jpg (31.3 KB, 92 views)
ryanheacox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2020, 09:42 AM   #10
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,004
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Ryan, how about some measurements of your gauge?
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2020, 11:01 AM   #11
ryanheacox
Senior Member
 
ryanheacox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northwest CT
Posts: 1,092
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Sure thing, I can get some measurements this afternoon.
ryanheacox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 11:14 AM   #12
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanheacox View Post
Sure thing, I can get some measurements this afternoon.
If the clutch fingers aer too close what happens? Thanks for sharing your gage Ryan. Interesting
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 01:18 PM   #13
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Quote:
Originally Posted by stewgee View Post
If the clutch fingers aer too close what happens? Thanks for sharing your gage Ryan. Interesting




The height of the fingers determines where engagement/disengagement takes place.
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2020, 08:56 PM   #14
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick L. View Post
The height of the fingers determines where engagement/disengagement takes place.
Bear with me here Patrick. I'm a newbie on the A. I've adjusted the linkage to where the clutch engages at about half way. Trans shifts fine. However the fingers are still at about 3/8 inch gap from the disc not 5/8 as recommended. Guess I'm trying to tie the 2 together to make sense
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2020, 05:39 AM   #15
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

How much free-play do you have ?
How much travel in the pedal before the clutch engages ?

If you have about 1.5" free-play, and, the clutch engages about 3-5" from the floorboard, and, the transmitter shifts good, then you're good.
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2020, 05:07 PM   #16
stewgee
Member
 
stewgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Locust Grove, OK
Posts: 84
Default Re: Pressure plate adjustment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick L. View Post
How much free-play do you have ?
How much travel in the pedal before the clutch engages ?

If you have about 1.5" free-play, and, the clutch engages about 3-5" from the floorboard, and, the transmitter shifts good, then you're good.
Got it and thanks for the help
stewgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:00 AM.