The Ford Barn

SoCalCoupe · 11-01-2021, 12:17 PM

Read all the slipping clutch threads going back 3 years or so; now it's my turn.

Took my '41 coupe for the first drive more than a few blocks this weekend and discovered that clutch is slipping, a lot. It's especially bad when I accelerate right after shifting and the the rpm's are low. Thought is would be easy to simply adjust. No dice. It already has 1-1/2" of free play in the pedal.

I'm pretty sure the car hasn't been driven more than a few miles in the past year. Hopefully it's just some surface rust on the flywheel that will work itself out. REALLY don't want to disconnect the rear end and pull the transmission out through the passenger compartment. But hope is seldom the solution.

Saw one attempted solution about cleaning the disc through the inspection hole with brake cleaner. Might de-lubricate the throwout bearing too. Saw another about doing it with gasoline (???????) Yet another about bracing the car on a tree and letting the clutch out to slip and burn off whatever might be on the surfaces. Not going to try any of these.

Hoping (there's that word again) there's some better ideas before disconnecting the rear end and pulling up the floor boards.

There are several indicators that it only has about 4500 miles on it. Owned lots of cars with manual transmissions and never wore out a clutch, even with greater than 100,000 miles. Didn't see this clutch issue coming at all. Hopefully the rear main seal is ok. There's very little observable oil leakage, right in line with the tightest of every other old car I've owned. Another internet search turned up quite a few complaints about cheap Chinese clutches. Hope it's that simple, wish it it was even simpler. Very tempted to find a competent garage and pay to have this done.

Saw a lot of recommendations here on the Ford Barn for Fort Wayne Clutch. Very disappointed to learn on the H.A.M.B. this morning that they're now sourcing their parts from China.

Phil Gillespie · 11-01-2021, 12:36 PM

Just a long shot but this happened to a guy I know. He was troubled with a slipping clutch 39 Coupe for some time!! Turned out he was running sump oil level too high! Leakage at rear seal. Once he sorted correct oil level slipping clutch was overcome.
Worth a try to ensure you are not overfilling sump.
Phil NZ.

richard crow · 11-01-2021, 12:36 PM

send it to fort wayne & tell them to add stiffer springs .bob.s your uncle

SoCalCoupe · 11-01-2021, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Gillespie

Just a long shot but this happened to a guy I know. He was troubled with a slipping clutch 39 Coupe for some time!! Turned out he was running sump oil level too high! Leakage at rear seal. Once he sorted correct oil level slipping clutch was overcome.
Worth a try to ensure you are not overfilling sump.
Phil NZ.

Hmmm.... my sump level was about a quart too high. Believe it was gasoline contamination from a flooding issue I've now resolved. Changed the oil this weekend and now have the correct sump level. With a little luck this issue will resolve itself.

Tim Ayers · 11-01-2021, 12:46 PM

Nothing a few burnouts shouldn't fix! LOL!

Mart · 11-01-2021, 02:46 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

While you have some free play, is the linkage freely moving and not binding? If it is binding it will have a similar effect to holding your foot on the pedal.

My experience with a contaminated clutch was that it grabbed instead of slipped. That was contaminated with gearbox oil rather than engine oil, though.

It might be worth inspecting the clutch through the access hole. If it is oily it ought to be visible.

Spraying with brake cleaner might help, hold the clutch open so it can run away. Avoid the release bearing, obviously.

Avoid low revs. Change down. Let the centrifugal weights do their thing.

You never know it might recover.

Mart.

SoCalCoupe · 11-01-2021, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mart

While you have some free play, is the linkage freely moving and not binding? If it is binding it will have a similar effect to holding your foot on the pedal.

My experience with a contaminated clutch was that it grabbed instead of slipped. That was contaminated with gearbox oil rather than engine oil, though.

It might be worth inspecting the clutch through the access hole. If it is oily it ought to be visible.

Spraying with brake cleaner might help, hold the clutch open so it can run away. Avoid the release bearing, obviously.

Avoid low revs. Change down. Let the centrifugal weights do their thing.

You never know it might recover.

Mart.

Sounds like great advice. I'll do those things next. Even if it doesn't work I should learn how to inspect the clutch through the access hole and exactly how the linkage operates.

tubman · 11-01-2021, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard crow

send it to fort wayne & tell them to add stiffer springs .bob.s your uncle

Things have changed. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...lutch.1242719/.

shookie · 11-01-2021, 03:41 PM

I would try the Brake Cleaner solution first, NO gasoline !!!

Ford Freak · 11-01-2021, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Things have changed. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...lutch.1242719/.

I guess they have! Great. Now what do we do when we need a good clutch?
How about Mac VanPelt? I know that they only carry quality parts.

rich b · 11-02-2021, 10:19 AM

Long ago my buddy had a little English Ford Escort wagon; little 4 banger leaked on the clutch. Every so often had to put it up against a telephone pole and tune up the clutch. Probably not the best; but it worked, just saying.

Tim Ayers · 11-02-2021, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich b

Long ago my buddy had a little English Ford Escort wagon; little 4 banger leaked on the clutch. Every so often had to put it up against a telephone pole and tune up the clutch. Probably not the best; but it worked, just saying.

Love it!

richard crow · 11-02-2021, 11:19 AM

i have delt with fort wayne for over 29 years. they have made coustum disk for us when people wanted a different transmission. i have never had a problem with them it.s only place a can get a ford clutch that don.t chatter. i always send the assembly i removed & have the rebuild it.if you are getting a clutch i would tell them you don,t want china stuff. if they say that,s all they have shop some ware else.

11-01-2021, 12:17 PM	#1
SoCalCoupe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Point Loma, San Diego, CA Posts: 424	Another slipping clutch... Read all the slipping clutch threads going back 3 years or so; now it's my turn. Took my '41 coupe for the first drive more than a few blocks this weekend and discovered that clutch is slipping, a lot. It's especially bad when I accelerate right after shifting and the the rpm's are low. Thought is would be easy to simply adjust. No dice. It already has 1-1/2" of free play in the pedal. I'm pretty sure the car hasn't been driven more than a few miles in the past year. Hopefully it's just some surface rust on the flywheel that will work itself out. REALLY don't want to disconnect the rear end and pull the transmission out through the passenger compartment. But hope is seldom the solution. Saw one attempted solution about cleaning the disc through the inspection hole with brake cleaner. Might de-lubricate the throwout bearing too. Saw another about doing it with gasoline (???????) Yet another about bracing the car on a tree and letting the clutch out to slip and burn off whatever might be on the surfaces. Not going to try any of these. Hoping (there's that word again) there's some better ideas before disconnecting the rear end and pulling up the floor boards. There are several indicators that it only has about 4500 miles on it. Owned lots of cars with manual transmissions and never wore out a clutch, even with greater than 100,000 miles. Didn't see this clutch issue coming at all. Hopefully the rear main seal is ok. There's very little observable oil leakage, right in line with the tightest of every other old car I've owned. Another internet search turned up quite a few complaints about cheap Chinese clutches. Hope it's that simple, wish it it was even simpler. Very tempted to find a competent garage and pay to have this done. Saw a lot of recommendations here on the Ford Barn for Fort Wayne Clutch. Very disappointed to learn on the H.A.M.B. this morning that they're now sourcing their parts from China.

11-01-2021, 12:36 PM	#2
Phil Gillespie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Christchurch New Zealand Posts: 1,611	Re: Another slipping clutch... Just a long shot but this happened to a guy I know. He was troubled with a slipping clutch 39 Coupe for some time!! Turned out he was running sump oil level too high! Leakage at rear seal. Once he sorted correct oil level slipping clutch was overcome. Worth a try to ensure you are not overfilling sump. Phil NZ.

11-01-2021, 12:36 PM	#3
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,770	Re: Another slipping clutch... send it to fort wayne & tell them to add stiffer springs .bob.s your uncle

11-01-2021, 12:46 PM	#5
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,178	Re: Another slipping clutch... Nothing a few burnouts shouldn't fix! LOL!

11-01-2021, 02:46 PM	#6
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,749	Re: Another slipping clutch... Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) While you have some free play, is the linkage freely moving and not binding? If it is binding it will have a similar effect to holding your foot on the pedal. My experience with a contaminated clutch was that it grabbed instead of slipped. That was contaminated with gearbox oil rather than engine oil, though. It might be worth inspecting the clutch through the access hole. If it is oily it ought to be visible. Spraying with brake cleaner might help, hold the clutch open so it can run away. Avoid the release bearing, obviously. Avoid low revs. Change down. Let the centrifugal weights do their thing. You never know it might recover. Mart.

11-01-2021, 03:41 PM	#9
shookie Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Addison,Il. Posts: 33	Re: Another slipping clutch... I would try the Brake Cleaner solution first, NO gasoline !!!

11-02-2021, 10:19 AM	#11
rich b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,825	Re: Another slipping clutch... Long ago my buddy had a little English Ford Escort wagon; little 4 banger leaked on the clutch. Every so often had to put it up against a telephone pole and tune up the clutch. Probably not the best; but it worked, just saying.

11-02-2021, 11:19 AM	#13
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,770	Re: Another slipping clutch... i have delt with fort wayne for over 29 years. they have made coustum disk for us when people wanted a different transmission. i have never had a problem with them it.s only place a can get a ford clutch that don.t chatter. i always send the assembly i removed & have the rebuild it.if you are getting a clutch i would tell them you don,t want china stuff. if they say that,s all they have shop some ware else.