[DeTomaso] Stiff clutch diagnosed - WTF?!

[Joseph F. Byrd, Jr.]

Ron, thanks for the need for a "lube groove".  Any particular location (center, zf or clutch end)
Something I have not been able to pin down, how much clearance between the bore and guide?

Pitching to one side seems like excessive clearance also and could cause binding harder

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf Of Mike & Elizabeth Thomas
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 11:11 AM
To: 'FAITH MCCALL'; detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Stiff clutch diagnosed - WTF?!

Thanks Ron.  I’m going to pull the guide tube and take a closer look at it.  The fact that there was more wear on one ‘ear’ than the other on the throw-out would seem to indicate the bearing assembly was pitching every time it tried to engage.

 

Mike

 

Our email address has changed: Please use  <mailto:mbefthomas2 at gmail.com> mbefthomas2 at gmail.com for all new messages, thanks!

 

From: FAITH MCCALL <rfmccall at comcast.net> 
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 5:07 AM
To: Mike & Elizabeth Thomas <mbefthomas2 at gmail.com>; detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Stiff clutch diagnosed - WTF?!

 

Mike,  

 

Those McLoed release bearings are very nice but have one flaw. There is no grease retention groove inside the  

center bore of the retainer . If you look at the stock version, there is a ,roughly, 1/4" wide groove machined onto 

the bore to retain a small amount of lube . I had a few pf these fail before I noticed the problem. I always chuck 

the new retainer up in the lathe and cut a  groove into it. No issues for multiple years. Without the groove, the retainer  

has a tendency to gall onto the guide tube on the trans and cause exactly the issue that you describe. .  


Ron McCall 

On February 24, 2020 at 12:16 AM Mike & Elizabeth Thomas < mbefthomas2 at gmail.com <mailto:mbefthomas2 at gmail.com> > wrote: 

 

 

At the end of the Panteras Northwest Fall Cruise last September, my clutch 

was becoming stiffer by the day and at the end, It was all I could do to get 

home. 

 

  

 

I pulled the engine and ZF yesterday in prep for a restoration on the car 

and when we pulled the two apart to diagnose the stiff clutch, I found that 

the fingers on the clutch lever arm and the 'ears' on the throw-out bearing 

were both extremely worn (see attached photos). Also, while the face of the 

throw-out does not appear overly worn, the bearing itself is quite loose and 

rattily. The lever arm shaft moves freely enough so I suspect my problem 

was with the lever arm to throw-out friction. 

 

  

 

I'm likely going to have to separate the bell housing from the ZF and send 

out for repairs - I don't want to tackle this one myself. I suspect the 

throw-out actuator will need to be replaced. I put a very light lube on 

things when I put it together but no more/less than the last two times I've 

replaced this bearing (with a stock unit previously) and never seen this 

kind of wear. 

 

  

 

Stay tuned. I sent these pics to Adam at Pantera Performance and we'll see 

what he has to say. I was running one of Quella's throw-out bearings as 

well. Glad I won't be driving it for a while. 

 

  

 

Mike 

 

  

 

Our email address has changed: Please use mbefthomas2 at gmail.com <mailto:mbefthomas2 at gmail.com>  

<mailto: mbefthomas2 at gmail.com <mailto:mbefthomas2 at gmail.com> > for all new messages, thanks! 

 

  

 

At the end of the Panteras Northwest Fall Cruise last September, my 

clutch was becoming stiffer by the day and at the end, It was all I 

could do to get home. 

 

 

I pulled the engine and ZF yesterday in prep for a restoration on the 

car and when we pulled the two apart to diagnose the stiff clutch, I 

found that the fingers on the clutch lever arm and the `ears' on the 

throw-out bearing were both extremely worn (see attached photos). 

Also, while the face of the throw-out does not appear overly worn, the 

bearing itself is quite loose and rattily. The lever arm shaft moves 

freely enough so I suspect my problem was with the lever arm to 

throw-out friction. 

 

 

I'm likely going to have to separate the bell housing from the ZF and 

send out for repairs - I don't want to tackle this one myself. I 

suspect the throw-out actuator will need to be replaced. I put a very 

light lube on things when I put it together but no more/less than the 

last two times I've replaced this bearing (with a stock unit 

previously) and never seen this kind of wear. 

 

 

Stay tuned. I sent these pics to Adam at Pantera Performance and we'll 

see what he has to say. I was running one of Quella's throw-out 

bearings as well. Glad I won't be driving it for a while. 

 

 

Mike 

 

 

Our email address has changed: Please use [1] mbefthomas2 at gmail.com <mailto:mbefthomas2 at gmail.com>  for 

all new messages, thanks! 

 

References 

 

1. mailto: mbefthomas2 at gmail.com <mailto:mbefthomas2 at gmail.com>  

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