Thick Skinned
No, I don't feel like anyone has taken a shot, I truly enjoy the open communication and jabs, it makes my day sometimes to take a minute and pound the keyboard with the Mid-TN gang. I have had many chances to speak about the Mid-TN gang to my co-workers and customers. Most of them have no idea about the diesel nuts that are out there and the tremendous market that it represents.
One thing that that series of e-mails points out is something that I see on a regular basis, clutches are misunderstood, period.
I don't know how many Clutch 101 Clinics I did last year and the schedule is filling up for this spring already, but for most line techs, a clutch is a "black box", they don't see it work, don't understand what happens when you push the clutch pedal, what is the sequence of events, what parts contribute to the transmission of power (torque) allow for control on demand rather than suprize, what parts keep it quiet, and then lets add some SERIOUS torque, incredible expectations (sled pulling) and drive it to work on monday, so we can play on saturday. No complaints at all, I chose this product line and enjoy it alot. But one closing thought, MANY techs think that modern clutches still have freeplay at the bearing, ain't so. The TOB is in constant contact as soon as the transmission is installed, it NEVER backs off, but techs are still looking for freeplay, or trying to put it in when it is not supposed to be there.
What I can offer is either clutch facts (test data and reports) or my best opinion of what is going on in the bell housing, remember, no one has ever shown me an OBDII scan code for what a clutch is doing or not doing.
FYI, I am going to put together a proposal for a TDR openhouse at Perfection Clutch this spring, my boss gave me a green light, I know it is a long drive for the Mid-TN gang, but we could stand to get something going here is SC, we have some trucks here too.
Best regards to all.