Clutch Chatter
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,404
Likes: 1,192
From: Lexington,NC,USA
C1 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Clutch Chatter
I recently had the transmission in my wife’s ’62 rebuilt and I figured that this was a good time to replace the clutch, pressure plate, and pilot bearing. After the work was complete I cranked it up and I am getting a little bit of clutch “chatter” when starting out in first or reverse. There does not seem to be any chatter when up shifting or down shifting through the gears while driving the car. The car has a T-56 6 speed and a hydraulic clutch with an externally mounted slave cylinder . The old clutch was working perfectly. The rebuilt transmission has the original bellhousing and it slipped on with no binding so I am assuming there was no mis-alignment. Any ideas on what might be causing the chatter?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,215
Likes: 447
From: NJ Hockey beer league
Charles,
Did you address the flywheel ? I'm thinking if you did not have this problem before that the old clutch and flywheel wore a pattern together. I'd drive it a bit and see if the problem does not go away on it's own once the new clutch disk wears in a bit. Had this issue with another car and it did resolve on it's own with some miles.
Did you address the flywheel ? I'm thinking if you did not have this problem before that the old clutch and flywheel wore a pattern together. I'd drive it a bit and see if the problem does not go away on it's own once the new clutch disk wears in a bit. Had this issue with another car and it did resolve on it's own with some miles.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,404
Likes: 1,192
From: Lexington,NC,USA
C1 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
I did not have the flywheel surfaced. Thought about it, but the surface looked fine and the old pressure plate was just a few thousands thinner than the new one, even thickness all around. I took the car for another short drive this morning and the chatter seemed to be getting less. I will take it on a longer drive this afternoon and see if it improves some more.
Thanks,
Charles
Thanks,
Charles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 3,091
Likes: 1,131
From: NEW YORK
I recently had the transmission in my wife’s ’62 rebuilt and I figured that this was a good time to replace the clutch, pressure plate, and pilot bearing. After the work was complete I cranked it up and I am getting a little bit of clutch “chatter” when starting out in first or reverse. There does not seem to be any chatter when up shifting or down shifting through the gears while driving the car. The car has a T-56 6 speed and a hydraulic clutch with an externally mounted slave cylinder . The old clutch was working perfectly. The rebuilt transmission has the original bellhousing and it slipped on with no binding so I am assuming there was no mis-alignment. Any ideas on what might be causing the chatter?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,724
Likes: 3,708
From: Central Arkansas
Clutch chatter doesn’t usually get better with time but in the case of slight contamination on the flywheel, clutch plate, or pressure plate, during assembly, it could possibly burn off without creating any harm. A transmission mount that didn’t get tightened down is also another potential clutch chatter possibility.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Definitely look at the flywheel because a few years ago I bought a brand new Big Name ( don't remember ) flywheel for around $300. at Summit and a brand new clutch kit for my 57 and I had severe clutch chatter . Some here probably remember me talking about it . I removed the clutch kit and tried another clutch kit and release bearing. I literally had the transmission out ten times not finding anything that looked wrong until I put gauges on the flywheel to check the runout and I suspected a defect . Before that I thought it couldn't possibly be a defect in a $300. flywheel . I took it to the best machine shop in the area and before he even put it on the machine he laid a straight edge on it with a light behind it and said look at this . There was a big crown in it . He said that was definitely the problem. He turned it again and the problem went away. Never assume that new and expensive parts are good !
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,724
Likes: 3,708
From: Central Arkansas
Yes, I bought a 30 lb, new Hays flywheel for my car 25 years ago and it was significantly warped. Took two machining to flatten it. I’ve learned to test the heck out of all flywheel and clutch parts before I install them.
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