Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Clutch problems AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cowboy Medic]

Okay, anyone who has seen my posts over the last two years will know that thanks to a combination of bad luck and some shoddy work I have gone through 4 transmissions and 5 clutches. Well today I moved back to the black hills, and just like the last time I had a trailer with all my possessions in it. The clutch stops diengaging. I had driven about 700 miles in the last two days and had zero problems. then I got off the interstate to get fuel and stopped at the top of the off ramp and clutch worked fine. pulled into the gas station and I couldn't get the clutch to disengage. So there I am in Chamberlain. with about 250 miles to go. I decided to go ahead and limp it home.



SO I put it in first and push in the clutch pedal and start the engine. of course it jumps the truck a bit but it gets running and I am able to get it moving and at that point I could shift without the clutch. Climbing some of the hills I could definitely feel it slipping and when I did have to stop it was definitely making the truck jump.



Now I get back to Rapid City and My mom's house is up a windy steep hill but I am able to get it up surprisingly easy. with about ten things on my mind I get pulled up and stop, shift into reverse, back the trailer in. ... ... ... wait a minute now it is working again? sure enough. Clutch engages and disengages cleanly and I had not noticed it slipping on the steepest hill I had climbed.



SO I am a little perplexed to say the least. The clutch I have is the South Bend Rally clutch rated for 350 hp. I have never dynoed, and am running DD III's and a comp. The Comp has been off for the last week because I have been pulling trailers, but I never had this clutch slip. I have been planning to upgrade to the 13" fe or ofe just because I figure I will probably go further someday, but was hoping to wait till next summer. Obviously I have a problem and can't risk waiting till then so I will be calling Peter at South Bend on Monday. First to find out why this might have happened and to look at getting a better clutch.



I Guess I am just concerned with all the transmission and clutch problems I have had. I have even gone so far as to have several people ride with me and just watch how I drive to see if it is me that may be causing the problems somehow but haven't found anything there that leads me to believe that is a cause. I had the transfer case rebuilt last summer and the transmission is new after having three of them last summer due to not being properly rebuilt, then I had all the drive shafts pulled and rebalanced along with new u joints. I have an oil leak on the engine, but it is from the power steering pump

(which will be getting fixed this next week as well). I have crawled around and done my best to check and I do not think I have a rear main seal out because it is all dry back in that area and back a few years ago when I did have a rear main seal leak that had gotten on to the clutch, which is what started all the problems since. I could smell the oil burn on the clutch. and I do not have that problem this time.



SO I am simply at a loss as to anything that can be tying the repetitious problems together. Unless you just say I am unlucky. In which case I may be SOL, but I love this truck and just want it to run well. Any ideas you guys can offer would be appreciated.



Thanks for listening.



Jon

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Well, I called and talked to Peter at South Bend. Once again I have to give him some recognition for taking the time to talk to me about the problem and to discuss what my options were for repairing it. He will be shipping me a new 13" OFE with a flywheel that will have a heavy duty pilot bearing already installed for me, as well as sending out an input shaft kit that I can return if I wind up not needing it. Also he sold this to me at a significant discount despite the fact that it is almost two years ago that this clutch was put in. I honestly felt that was above and beyond and am exceptionally grateful for his help. He said that after the description of what happened he felt likely the ilot bearing had failed. I would not be surprised especially since last summer when I went through three transmission swaps trying to get a properly built transmission in, there is always the potential to cause problems when you are pulling that shaft in and out of there so many times.



Here's to praying I finally get it right this time.





AND again a big thank you to Peter at South Bend for your time and your generosity.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Sorry to read about your clutch again, and I'm not surprised at Peter's great service. I think you'll like that OFE, I sure do like mine. Did he have an installer for you to go to up in that area? If not, limp that thing down to Greeley, CO and have TDR member LaserBob put it in for you. You can't ask for a better combo with SBC and LaserBob of PDT for the install.

 

[darkhorse]

Jon, I appreciate the update note. Reports like yours give me confidence in my decision to go with an SB clutch upgrade.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

My brother has a good friend that is a diesel mechanic and it sounds like he will be helping us. So between him and my brother and I, I think we will just do it ourselves. After having been through this so many times and watching it being done and my own experience I feel confident in us doing the work. The clutch should show up on friday and I am hoping we will get it in over the weekend.



Jon