OK. Everything seems to be bolted up and now I am ready to put the tranny back in. What is the correct way to get the input shaft through the throwout bearing? Should the bearing be in the fork or on the input shaft. Just eyeballing it, the throwout does not align with the pressure plate, clutch, pilot bearing path. I figure I could depress the clutch pedal in order to move the fork so that the bearing lines up and the tranny shaft has a straight run right to the pilot. Is this the way to do it? Or do I put the bearing on the shaft and move the fork until it seats the throwout bearing? Thanks for the help.

Kevin

 

You put the bearing on the fork, with all of the layers of the fork inside the groove of the throwout bearing. The whole fork/bearing assembly can wander around as much as it wants, it will align itself. If you have the disc properly aligned, the trans should more or less just slide in through there and plug into all the parts as it slides. DO NOT let the clutch disc support the weight of the trans, i.e. don't quit holding it up until the clutch gear bearing retainer is into the bell housing; DO NOT try to get it partway in and use the bolts to pull it in the rest of the way, you will surely trash something if you do this, either punch the center of the clutch out, destroy the pilot bearing, break an ear off the trans case, etc. To help with lineup, once you get the trans most of the way in, you can have somebody get in the car and push the clutch; this will allow the disc to move around freely, and may make it easier to get the trans to go in the last ½" or so.

Most of the "mystery" new clutch complaints you will see on this board are the direct result of making one or more of common mistakes: failing to replace the pilot bearing or get the flywheel resurfaced, putting the throwout on the fork incorrectly, or damaging something by installing it too forcefully.

 

Thanks RB. You said the fork/throwout can wander where it wants, does that mean it can move horizontally as well as vertically? I'm sure this will all be clear next time I get under the car, but the fork seems to be "short", or to the left of the path to the pilot (when looking straight on (like sighting a rifle)). Are you saying that the fork has enough float to move that inch or so to make all the holes (presure plate, clutch, pilot bushing) line up? Thanks again.

Kevin