New South Bend Clutch going in.

[rashwor]

transmission started dragging going into 1st or Reverse last week sometimes. Getting a lot more regular over the weekend. I just got off the phone with Peter at South Bend where I bought the Con-O clutch kit. I cannot complain about the OEM which I have gotten 211,000 miles out of. Peter made me a great deal on the Con-O where it was cheaper than the OEM from any dealer I could find. Thanks Peter!



Should show up by the end of the week and should get it installed next week. Oo.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Are you running stock power? If so then I suspect you'd be happier with a stock style clutch.

EDIT; just saw the 6 shooter. The ConOfe is about the best choice out there for those kind of power levels - enjoy!

 

[rashwor]

I am running stock power. I don't plan on increasing power.

 

[mattk50]

Had my stock clutch replaced after 210,000 with a South Bend 1947-O(think its the same one you got). Like you,I got it pretty much cheaper than a stock one. First impression,I was ready to take it back-very grabby and driveability was horrible. After a couple weeks and a good 2400 mile pull(Livermore Ca. to Billings Mt, 18 foot alum gooseneck and 2 horses)Shifts smooth but doesnt like low rpm's.

 

[rashwor]

mattk50,



That is the one I am getting. I appreciate your feedback. It lets me know what to expect. I have never had anything but stock clutches and this is the first replacement I have done on any of my 3 dodge Cummins, so I really didn't know what to expect.



Thanks again!

 

[mattk50]

rashwor,

you're welcome. Once it "breaks in" I think you will be very happy. I have a friend that put one in his 01 and wasn't happy at all He called South Bend and talked to a tech and told them he thought their clutches sucked--was chattering really bad. The tech asked hm to describe his driving habits and basically told hum he drove like a pu$$y!He had glazed it over. The tech told hum to do a couple of 3rd gear launches and now he is very happy.

Matt

 

[Prairie Dog]

You don't have to punish that hard. With your foot firmly on the brakes just let the clutch slip fairly hard a couple of times in second gear. Then it will feel like a normal clutch again but unfortunately you have to do this every so often when it gets grabby again.

 

[EDankievitch]

I've noticed that when it's really humid out it gets grabby. Seems like it will get a light coat of rust and you need to slip it a bit to clean things off then all is nice and smooth again... . A lot of people had said that the transmission would be noiser with this single disk Con fe kit I haven't found that to be. Wow I just relised you got over 200,000 miles on the stock unit! I thought I did good at 127,000 miles. My dual mass flywheel was shot the dampener springs were all smashed up. And the self adjuster was out of adjustment. I think you'll like the south bend unit once it breaks in.

 

[rashwor]

I went with South Bend because so many people on here like them. I went with the 1947-O because I am stock power, but I do tow up to 14k fairly often.



I will confess, I am a little nervous about it being grabby, but I think I will be fine with the way I drive. Basically, the clutch is either disengaged or engaged; I am not one to slip or ride a clutch any more than is required to get a reasonable start based on the load size. The only time I slip or ride a clutch to speak of is hooking up one of the trailers. This is how I got 210k miles on the original stock clutch. This is not a isolated incident for me. I had a '92 350 that I bought new that had 240k on the original stock clutch and my '99 that I bought new and sold has 210k on the original stock clutch.



Thanks again for the encouragement with the new clutch. It has been shipped and I will get it installed as soon as I can. Funds may dictate that it will have to wait a week or two. Ranching in Texas is proving to be really tough this year.

 

[Grey Wolf]

Have you folks had any rain or has it just been a heat wave?

 

[rashwor]

Heat wave with a dome of high pressure setting over the entire state of Texas. It has been scattered sprinkles at best; not enough to grow grass or add any amount to ponds. Ponds are drying up with pastures and hay fields dying rapidly. Sale barns are flooded every week with cattle.



We have 4 heards of cattle. Two of them are on light amounts of hay starting a week or two ago, so things are tough but so far we are hanging in. We are very thankful to have had a better year personally last year and that has allowed us to have a good bit of hay to carry over and feed starting early this year. If we had not had the carry over hay, some of those cattle would have already been sold. We are lucky compared to many.



I pray daily. I give thanks first for all my blessings and then ask Him to spare a little rain for those in need.

 

[Grey Wolf]

I hope your prayers come true.



As far as SBC is concerned I've had two one in my '93 and one in my sons '90 both great units you should be pleased just follow their directions. Like the guys say they need to break in so don't be discouraged in the beginning!

 

[macdaddy]

I am running stock power. I don't plan on increasing power.

Stock power here also. No RV anymore. Just a truck for a daily driver. Let us know how the driving characteristics are. Things like "grabby', launch shutter etc.





I still have the stock clutch in mine as well with 105K.



Mac

 

[rashwor]

Clutch kit arrived yesterday! Looks like it may be a couple of weeks before I get it in. I will keep all updated on this thread.

 

[rashwor]

Update.

My clutch is being replaced today with the 1947-O. I can't wait to pick it up tonight and drive it. I may hook up one of the trailers this weekend and just drag it around all weekend for grins.



I will let you all know how it turns out. Oo.

 

[rashwor]

1947-O is in!

The new clutch is in and so far I am very happy with it. The clutch pedal requires less pressure to mash and the engagment is about like the stock clutch. It is not grabby at all.



I am loving it so far! Oo.



The old stock clutch was not in bad shape except for the throwout bearing; it was about to come apart, but I have no complaints as I did get 214k miles out of it. The pressure plate showed very little wear and the clutch disk still had about 1/2 its' life; not bad for the miles.



I will keep everyone posted of any issues that arise.

 

[rashwor]

Update.

I just wanted to update everyone on how the clutch seems to be doing now that it has been in a little over a week and over 700+ miles.



It starts to engage about 2 inches off the floor which is a little lower than the stock clutch. It shifts good as long as you have the clutch is completely on the floor. With my old stock clutch, it was engaging about 3 inches off the floor. The hydraulics upgrade from SBC would have probably been good with this clutch too, but I am glad I waited and did not do it with the clutch. I am getting use to the new clutch and I am liking it more all the time. I still have not had any grabbing issues the first time yet when it comes to hooking up and easing trailers around. From time-to-time, I did have grabbing issues when hooking up trailers with the stock clutch, so if it does happen every once in a while with this one, it won't hurt my feelings because this is a better, heavier clutch.



I have a road trip this weekend and I am looking forward to driving it this weekend.



For anyone buying one of these clutches, I strongly advise that you drive them a week or better and get close to 1000 miles on it before deciding whether or not you like it because the more I drive this one, the more I like it. This is broken into two parts: 1) The clutch breaking in and 2) Me getting use to the difference between the old stock clutch and the new SBC.

 

[rashwor]

Update 2.

I just wanted to let everyone know how the new clutch is doing. I am still loving the clutch. I am used to it now. I still have not had any grabbing issues with it and I could not be happier with it.



I have towed with it several times now and it works really well there too.



I look forward to getting 200k + out of this one like I did the OEM!! Oo.

 

[CToney]

Sounds like the 1947-O doesn't grab it must be the Con O-Fe that grabs and is rated for more power. My brother has a truck with a grabby clutch and it is no fun. I think I might turn down my Smarty and get an Con-O. Is it rated for the same torque as the stocker or a little more. My clutch worked fine until I added the fluid dampr and then she started to slip.