Clutch that tightens up on its own

Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 2:31:47 PM

Jake, awhile back I asked you about making adjustments on my truck clutch. I mentioned that the clutch had been tightening up on it own and in return you commented that, that concerned you. Well, it concerns me as well and it is still doing it. For the life of me, I can not understand how it could do this. I have given it immense thought and can not see anyway a clutch could tighten itself up. Do you have any thoughts on the subject because I am at a loss. Eaton/Fuller 9 speed-1985 White, day cab-315 Cummins.

RE: Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 9:34:07 AM

Rich,
Are you positive the keeper is installed on the adjstment plate? The other option is your linkage is changing. Do you have mechanical or hydraulic linkage? One more question to try to narrow this down. Does the clutch brake work properly?

RE: Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 10:37:12 AM

Yes the clutch does work properly. However, it does make allot of noise some of the time but not during operation, only when I am holding the peddle to the floor and the truck is stopped. I can't tell you if the keeper is in place or not but I have resolved the problem three times now by readjusting the linkage. It doesn't make any sense tome that the linkage could become out of adjustment but I have to admit that this is what it seems to be doing. Someone I know told me that if I keep adjusting the linkage to solve the problem, that something down there would come apart and this has me very concerned. I'm still at a loss here. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

RE: Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 8:18:28 AM

Rich,
Your friend is correct. You are correcting the problem but not curing it. It really sounds like the throw out bearing is going or your internal adjustment keeper is out. Do you know what one is or where to look? It could be your adjustment shaft on the clutch itself is stripped but, that is rare.

RE: Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 8:05:12 AM

I'm afraid that I do not know what the keeper plates is. Sounds like its time for a new clutch, huh? I was also able to adjust it out one from underneath the truck by turning the adjustments but it was a long tedious process since there isn't any place to hook up the adjustment tool that I bought. I had to use a screw driver and a hammer but it did turn without much resistance so I don't think I was abusing anything very much. Well, thanks anyhow Jake. I'll start getting my money together.
One last question though. Ive changed numerous auto cluthes. If I bought the book from my local Volvo dealer, do you think I could change this clutch on my own? Is it very different that an auto clutch or is it just allot bigger? Thanks again Jake.

RE: Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 4:59:29 PM

Rich,
The keeper or lock I am talking about is a V shaped tab with a bolt on it on the outside perimeter of the clutch underneath where you adjusted the clutch itself. If you did not remove it to adjust the clutch or just adjusted it without removing it. I bet that is your problem. There is no keeper or lock holding your clutch adjusted. A clutch in a big truck is the same as a car only bigger. The only difference is how the clutches adjust and the bigger truck has a clutch brake. When you install the clutch. Adjust the clutch itself then the clutch brake. Let me know on that keeper. Good Luck!

RE: Clutch that tightens up on its own
Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 5:36:29 PM

OK thanks Jake. This is good news to me. There is/was no lock plate on the clutch adjustment. Sounds like an easy problem to handle from here on out then. I wonder if I can buy one of those separate from the kit? Never the less, I'm glad to hear that it is only an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe. YooHoo!