New clutch went out.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
New clutch went out.
Decided it was time to take the 85 for a longer ride on Saturday. Move drives have been staying close to home until I feel I have the bugs worked out. After about 20 minutes of driving I noticed smoke coming from underneath and figured my transmission leak was back and headed home. When I stopped to back in the driveway I could not move the shifter. I shut the car off and shifter moves freely. I put the car in reverse and started it back up and the clutch did what it was supposed to do. Once in the driveway I could not take it out of reverse until I shut it off.
I let it sit overnight and tried it again but still can't move the shifter with the car running. If I put it in 1st it will pull off as usual but cant shift with it running. Same with reverse backs up as it should if you put it in reverse before starting.
Any suggestions before pulling the transmission again. I installed a Mcleod clutch kit in it when I installed the engine and it only has about 20-25 miles on it. 1985 4+3 trans.
I checked the clutch fluid level after parking it, it was on the mark but was black and very hot to the touch.
TIA
I let it sit overnight and tried it again but still can't move the shifter with the car running. If I put it in 1st it will pull off as usual but cant shift with it running. Same with reverse backs up as it should if you put it in reverse before starting.
Any suggestions before pulling the transmission again. I installed a Mcleod clutch kit in it when I installed the engine and it only has about 20-25 miles on it. 1985 4+3 trans.
I checked the clutch fluid level after parking it, it was on the mark but was black and very hot to the touch.
TIA
Pro
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 614
Likes: 147
From: OK
Bet your fluid turns black again pretty quick after the flush, it seems to be a "feature" of these things.
The FSM will list the desired stroke of the slave cylinder, my 86 is 0.7something inches, you can measure that fairly easy to see
if yours isn't doing it's thing. If it isn't stroking far enough it can't depress the fingers on the clutch diaphragm and the clutch won't fully
release. Hopefully that's all it is.
The FSM will list the desired stroke of the slave cylinder, my 86 is 0.7something inches, you can measure that fairly easy to see
if yours isn't doing it's thing. If it isn't stroking far enough it can't depress the fingers on the clutch diaphragm and the clutch won't fully
release. Hopefully that's all it is.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
Yea, just funny how it has worked great for the first couple of test drives then out of nowhere starts doing this. And it still works properly taking off. really hope I don't have to pull the transmission again lol. I have to remove the front section of the exhaust to try to locate the leak from the O/D unit.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Pro
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 614
Likes: 147
From: OK
I am literally on the 7th R&R of the trans between clutch and flywheel issues in the last three months(which is since I bought it), and on the 3rd set of new master and slave cylinders.
I hope yours is just hydraulic. The Mcleod street pro or whatever it was clutch worked fine on mine just had balance issues, yours is all neutral balance in 85 so you should be good.
Sometimes mucking around with removing the slave and reinstalling and bleeding can upset them, hope that's it.
I hope yours is just hydraulic. The Mcleod street pro or whatever it was clutch worked fine on mine just had balance issues, yours is all neutral balance in 85 so you should be good.
Sometimes mucking around with removing the slave and reinstalling and bleeding can upset them, hope that's it.
Pro
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 614
Likes: 147
From: OK
Whenever you get it pumping again something you might look at is get someone to press the clutch pedal fully and make sure the piston in the slave isn't fully out and contacting the snap ring that holds it in, and that the release lever isn't touching the bellhousing.
It took a lot taller TO bearing in mine to get things mostly where they should be.
It took a lot taller TO bearing in mine to get things mostly where they should be.
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