Clutch Pedal Free Play Adjustment Part 2

[TonyM]

I recently installed a new clutch on my 1937 Ford 85hp.

Before I reinstalled the floor, I thought I would adjust the clutch free play. Worked with it until I got it to 1.25 inches of free play.

Then I reinstalled the floor. Installing the floor displaced the clutch pedal downward about an inch. When the floor is fully installed, the pedal is about inch forward or down from the position where it would be with no floor installed. The pedal looks right and is about even with the brake pedal. All looked good.

I readjusted the clutch pedal to account for the displacement caused by the floorboard. It is now at 1.25 inches of free play. This car is entirely original. All original Ford parts.

After the readjustment and testing the car, the clutch free play needed to be readjusted. I adjusted the pedal to 1.25 inches and it shifts pretty good. Still, sometimes I get a little crunch going into first after sitting at a light. Tried the Van Pelt clutch test:


Van Pelt Quote: Do the clutch test....engine idling, trans in neutral, clutch pedal up. Push clutch all the way to the floorboard and count to 20 slowly. Then carefully try to shift into first gear. If you get ANY gear crunch, the clutch is not adjusted correctly and is still spinning the trans gears.


How does the displacement of the pedal by installing the floor impact the adjustment? Is this accounted for?

I have it perfect at 1.25 inches (measured both at the pedal and at the floor). I am going to test it out all day today and see where I end up.

Thanks

[19Fordy]

Do you have little rubber bumpers installed on either the inside or outside of you floorboard? They wrap around the brake pedal arm.
These act as a weather seal to keep hot and cold air out?
They might be inhibiting your free play. This is just a guess.
They look like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=1937...hrome&ie=UTF-8

[38bill]

The rubber bumpers under the floor sets the up location of the pedal. The linkage needs to be adjusted after the floor is in place.

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Do you have little rubber bumpers installed on either the inside or outside of you floorboard? They wrap around the brake pedal arm.
These act as a weather seal to keep hot and cold air out?
They might be inhibiting your free play. This is just a guess.
They look like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=1937...hrome&ie=UTF-8

The bumpers are on there. All original parts are in place.


When the floor is installed, the pedal is an inch farther down than when no floor.

The bumpers are not inhibiting the movement at all. The floor displaces the pedal when installed. That is the issue.

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by 38bill

The rubber bumpers under the floor sets the up location of the pedal. The linkage needs to be adjusted after the floor is in place.

Thanks.

Re adjusted twice after the floor re installed.


Seems all good now.

Just wanted to know about how the floor install impacts the pedal adjustment and if it is accounted for.

Thanks friend.

[TonyM]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Went on an hour test drive. Seems ok. No real problems.

Thanks to all who have helped me. FordBarn is the place.

At the Griffith, Indiana, car show 09-02-22.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by TonyM

Went on an hour test drive. Seems ok. No real problems.

Thanks to all who have helped me. FordBarn is the place.

At the Griffith, Indiana, car show 09-02-22.

[Terry,OH]

I would think your on the edge of proper clutch operation. I adjust to 3/4" of free play. You may rethink the adjustment if it goes south quickly.

[Ricosan]

With everything back together, press the clutch down with your hand until you feel the throw out bearing engage. Measure that distance. This should be around 1.5”.
Richard

[aussie merc]

that little crunch you get is wind down im guessing that you have satat the lights with the trans in neutral and you foot off the clutch. when you do this you are still spinning the clutch, gearbox input shaft and the gearbox counter or layshaft so you still have about 10lbs spinning at eng rpm and NO SYNCRO on 1st . it takes time to slow down and stop ; a simple trick to stop this to select 2nd as you depress the clutch and then straight away slip it into 1st the synchro on 2nd will act like a brake and stop the shafts spinning this is a common thing og heavy vehicles that they actually have what is called a clutch brake

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by aussie merc

that little crunch you get is wind down im guessing that you have satat the lights with the trans in neutral and you foot off the clutch. when you do this you are still spinning the clutch, gearbox input shaft and the gearbox counter or layshaft so you still have about 10lbs spinning at eng rpm and NO SYNCRO on 1st . it takes time to slow down and stop ; a simple trick to stop this to select 2nd as you depress the clutch and then straight away slip it into 1st the synchro on 2nd will act like a brake and stop the shafts spinning this is a common thing og heavy vehicles that they actually have what is called a clutch brake

Thanks.

A little better technique goes a long way.