southbend clutch

[JNehl]

I had a southbend dd clutch installed about 6000 miles ago along with a hydraulic assist. The place I had install it is a reputable business that works on all the school buses and cummins diesels around columbus. Immediately after install it didn't seem right because it had difficulty going into gear sometimes. Southbend told me it needs to be broke in? I have yet to tow with it and now my truck won't go in gear as if there is a broken pressure plate. Now I am without a truck for the long weekend as well as having to get a rental for my trip to the SHOT show. I am currently paying to have the clutch removed and I guess pay to send it back to SouthBend?



Has anyone else had this type of issue and what can I expect from Southbend possibly reimbursing me anything for this clutch, shipping, labor? I got the DD because they told me it will feel like the stock clutch. Do any southbend clutches feel like stock because this one wore my leg out shifting.

 

[RobertP]

give peter a call and tell him the problem he will know what to do. are you sure the pressure plate was adjusted correctly?.



Robert

 

[GO 4LO]

Which model SBC did you get? Did you get the upgraded hydraulics?

I'd double-check the master/slave setup before yanking the clutch. It's possible you could have popped one of the fingers on the pp, but unlikely...



Chris

 

[JNehl]

I believe the pressure plate is adjusted at southbend, they are a fairly straightforward install. I did get the upgraded hydraulic clutch as suggested.



I should know more when the shop gets the clutch pulled.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'll mention this only once, and purely to make a point - not to start a war. These sort of threads are NOT as isolated or unusual as some might like to imply...



And my (infuriating to some!) comment is just this, IF this was an issue related to a LUK or other brand clutch, this thread would within HOURS be filled with horselaughs and "you get what you pay for" jabs and ridicule.



You see, what GOES around, COMES around - and it would be sorta nice if the SBC cheering section would keep that in mind next time the subject relates to a non-SBC clutch.



NO clutch is perfect, they can ALL be used in the wrong application, installed poorly, or abused. And yes, the single largest remaining issue is that Peter at SBC *WILL* take care of you - and THAT is what you get for for the several hundred dollars extra you pay to SBC for their stuff...



Flame suit on, roast away - I'll not return to this thread, hopefully my intended point is understood by those more inclined to think than fight...

 

[oneshotkyle]

Southbend told me it needs to be broke in?

first off if you look at any TDR post about south bend, everyone says to talk with PETER. who did you talk with at SBC?

I got the DD because they told me it will feel like the stock clutch. Do any southbend clutches feel like stock because this one wore my leg out shifting.

hello stock clutch is ment like the engagement, not real grabby but smooth. they obviously have more pressure plate therefore they have more peddle pressure. maybe some people need to do more research and/or stay stock.

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

I had exactly the same problem with my 3850 lb DD clutch. It never went into gear right, and after a couple weeks of driving, pulling into the parking lot at work the clutch went out completely. I called up Peter, he overnighted me a new pressure plate as one of the fingers broke, and now it drives like a dream. I wish I didn't have to pull the trans again to change it, but he at least did make it right. By the way, the new pressure plate made the pedel effort much less as well. You could see that the fingers were adjusted differently than the old pressure plate, so I do not know if that was the problem the first time?

 

[JNehl]

I expected a stiffer clutch and a little noisier due to weight but when I said it wore my leg out I meant that IT WORE MY LEG OUT, not just a little more pressure.



I talked to "Woody" at Southbend. I don't think it should matter who you speak with.

 

[oneshotkyle]

just call peter and he will take care of you. he has handled all of us on TDR...

 

[thekidfan]

I got one of Peters' DD's over 3 years ago and as you said at first I was very concerned I had made a mistake! My next move was to call Peter, tell him my issue (very hard to get into gear) he said "give it 1k miles" I was still concerned but said ok. Fast forward a few weeks and by god almost 1k miles to the mile it was a new truck, I was happy to say the least! Now 3+ years later and almost 400rwhp more I still love my DD and am very happy about buying more clutch then I needed (thats what people told me at the time)!

In general people need to at the very least concider what we are asking the trucks/ parts to endure and accept some of the responsibility for everything not going just perfect! Before I was wanting to know how much money I was gonna get back I'd want to know what was wrong, then I'd let Peter respond and go from there! Good luck to ya, although I really don't think you need luck



BTW: My DD does have stock pedal feel, I went from stock clutch to this one so these is my only comparison. Power was low for a DD and has been as high as 692. 5

 

[JFaulkner]

One of my fingers broke also. Not sure why, could have been defective but also could have been hit when lining things back up. Either way I had a new pressure plate the next day (which was about 30,000 miles ago) no problems since. Couldn't be happier with SBC.

 

[jelag]

Typically when the clutch pedal is depressed the levers move about 1/2" and with this movement based on the ratio of the fingers... the pressure plate in the cover will retract about . 050" or so... this is enough to allow the disc to hang free on the input shaft if the friction is not warped, the disc itself is not damaged and the input shaft is aligned to the engine... .



Some friction used to require a break in period in that it had some high spots on it... and when the pressure plate pulled back... a high spot of friction might hang up on either the pressure plate or flywheel... .



Most disc's have spring steel that the friction is attached to... . (organic disc) this spring steel is installed to the center of the disc with a sight twist so that when the pressure plate compresses the disc to the flywheel... there is a few thousands of an inch of crush... . This crush is the cushion that you feel in the pedal and allows the disc to slip for a few seconds... this slippage allows for smooth engagement... . without it the disc an cause a shudder... like what you see on a ceramic clutch...



The Society of Automotive Engineers publishes a manual (AE-17) ""Manual Transmission Clutch Systems"" a very rewarding book to those of us in the business...



I think the last one I bought and gave away was around $85. 00... if any of you have an interest..... some of the photos are at least 50 years old... not much has changed after all... on the other hand its very up to date on dual mass flywheel clutch systems...



Peter won't talk to me... . ask him sometime if he's read it... or has a copy in the office... I'd like to know...

 

[lmills]

Peter won't talk to me... . ask him sometime if he's read it... or has a copy in the office... I'd like to know...

Peter don't need no stinkin book. He wrote the book on performance clutches! :-laf

 

[thekidfan]

Peter won't talk to me... . ask him sometime if he's read it... or has a copy in the office... I'd like to know...

Not exactly sure where your headed but since I don't need to speak for Peter, but I'll tell you I haven't read any books about what I do but by god I'm still pretty good at it

 

[JoshPeters]

Typically when the clutch pedal is depressed the levers move about 1/2" and with this movement based on the ratio of the fingers... the pressure plate in the cover will retract about . 050" or so... this is enough to allow the disc to hang free on the input shaft if the friction is not warped, the disc itself is not damaged and the input shaft is aligned to the engine... .



Some friction used to require a break in period in that it had some high spots on it... and when the pressure plate pulled back... a high spot of friction might hang up on either the pressure plate or flywheel... .



Most disc's have spring steel that the friction is attached to... . (organic disc) this spring steel is installed to the center of the disc with a sight twist so that when the pressure plate compresses the disc to the flywheel... there is a few thousands of an inch of crush... . This crush is the cushion that you feel in the pedal and allows the disc to slip for a few seconds... this slippage allows for smooth engagement... . without it the disc an cause a shudder... like what you see on a ceramic clutch...



The Society of Automotive Engineers publishes a manual (AE-17) ""Manual Transmission Clutch Systems"" a very rewarding book to those of us in the business...



I think the last one I bought and gave away was around $85. 00... if any of you have an interest..... some of the photos are at least 50 years old... not much has changed after all... on the other hand its very up to date on dual mass flywheel clutch systems...



Peter won't talk to me... . ask him sometime if he's read it... or has a copy in the office... I'd like to know...

Great way to state the function of a clutch! Thank you!



On the same breath...

To say not much has changed in 50 years... . that's far FAR off... . in 1957 clutches were Cable operated, were of POOR materials by todays standard. Double Disc? Probably not... Double disc Daily Driver... uhh no. In 1957 they were lucky to have synchronized transmissions!



JP

 

[JH8128]

South Bend Clutch

Its like a broken record. Call Peter at southbend clutch he will take care of you. That is why I bought mine from Southbend a little more $$ but well woth the extra change. Peter's customer service is awesome. Rest assured you are in good hands.