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Clutch Install Mishap

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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 02:23 PM
  #1  
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Default Clutch Install Mishap

I couldn't get the torque tube stabbed through the McLeod twin disc I tried to install this weekend. The spline shaft would go through both discs as they were lined up straight, but would stop short about 3/8inch from the torque tube meeting up with the bellhousing. The torque tube bolts were just a hair from threading at this point and I can't get it closer.

I felt under the bellhousing and I could feel the clutch fingers touching the slave cylinder so I'm pretty sure the front of the shaft was in the pilot bearing but I can't be sure.

I'm completely lost and about to take it to a shop to have them finish it up. Any suggestions?
Help!
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 03:03 PM
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Sure sounds like you don't have the torque shaft inserted in the pilot bearing fully...if that's just a few degrees off, it won't go in. Maybe Connecticut or others that have done this before can chime in.
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Old Oct 30, 2006 | 03:09 PM
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Sounds very similar to the problem I had. I found that the slave cylinder spring was keeping everything apart. I had to use the bolts to pull everything together.

Everything is in and running great.

Best of luck,
J.R.
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Old Oct 31, 2006 | 03:39 PM
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I took it to a local shop to finish the install because I had to start my work week. Really sucks that I couldn't figure that out....I just didn't feel comfortable pulling them together like that. Guy whose done this plenty of times and worked for a popular texas vendor told me he usually uses channel locks to pull the pieces together. I didn't mess anything up which is good. Rather I sorta pussed out on forcing parts together which was actually necessary this time around.

Hopefully someone in this same situation will find this thread and save themselves some time and money.

For me, after trying EVERYTHING except forcing them together, taking it to a shop at this point was the obvious decision. I even had the re-install the clutch to their specs for longevity.
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Old Oct 31, 2006 | 05:17 PM
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I had the same problem also. Just got the torque tube close enough to where the bolts would catch the bellhousing and pulled it together very slowly. Worked like a charm.
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Old Oct 31, 2006 | 05:45 PM
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So is the bottom line if you can catch the bolts you are in the pilot bearing?
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Old Oct 31, 2006 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
So is the bottom line if you can catch the bolts you are in the pilot bearing?
Yes.
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Old Oct 31, 2006 | 06:05 PM
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The trick that always works for me is only try to stab the torque tube, I leave the tranny and diff aside and then install them after the torque tube is in and bolted to the bellhousing.

Once the torque tube is in as far as it you can get it (about 1/4 - 1/2 inch away from fully seating) grab the back of the tube and shake it around while pushing forward, it'll slide right in place.
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Old Oct 31, 2006 | 08:20 PM
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The first time a buddy and I did this it slid right in. The second time in another C5 we couldn't get it to slide in for almost an hour. We finally got it but didn't realize until later that we had trapped the wire harness above the torque tube between the tube and frame and it was holding the tube from moving foward without forcing it. Lesson learned - make sure the harness is clear and secured in the brackets above the tube before moving it in for the final stab.
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