Southbend Clutch Install and Break-in

[BCriste]

I'm trading out the labor to install a 13. 125 con ofe clutch on my truck on Friday. The shop that I'm using has never had any dealings with Southbend. This is a very good shop that has a good rep. I've known the owner for 10+ years and he wouldn't take any advice as criticism. I normally do all the work on my truck myself and am a little nervous about letting someone else work on my truck. Does anyone have any tips, advice, ect... on installing, break-in ect... . on the clutch.



The reason for changing the clutch is kinda strange. About 20k miles ago, while on our way out west towing a trailer we had a clutch go out. At the time and being on the side of the road we thought it might be an input shaft (loud bang when it happened).

Having access to standard transmissions at the time and having 220k miles on the original clutch and trans (replaced 5th gear nut twice) we got a Standard Transmissions rebuilt unit and a Luk Gold Series clutch. The clutch worked well for 5-7k miles and then it started chattering bad. Then about 3k miles after that it started slipping when towing heavy. Then over time it has gotten worse over time. Now the clutch seams to drag slightly all the time as it is hard to get in gear from neutral and it is hard to shift. The peddle does engage at the top of the travel but I'm convinced it is the clutch. I think it just was a bad unit from the beginning.





Thanks Again,

Brian Criste

 

[SMorneau]

Have the guy call Peter and talk to him or you call him and ask.



Break in: Drive it nice for a couple of hundred miles and then beat the hell out of it. Mine was a little grabby at first but if you drive it a little more aggressively and just get it engaged instead of slipping it it is great! Most of my driving is empty so I can't speak about backing up a big fiver.

 

[jmeehan]

Break it in per SBC's instructions, then let 'er have it! I slipped mine three times the first day, then I babied it until I had 200 miles on it. It's been great since, around 10K miles.

 

[RHARVEY]

Peter told me that the best break in is driving in traffic in town... that stop and start stuff. .



Mine has over 36k on it and still looked great when I pulled the transmission to replace what I thought was a pilot bearing. . it turned out to be the input shaft bearing. .



Rick