Why no throwout bearing return spring ?

[Little Bill]

Did a clutch job recently on an '01 and noticed there was no return spring on the throwout bearing lever. Also noticed that the clutch release rod kept extending from the slave cylinder. This may be due to head pressure from the overhead reservoir. It all ads up to the throwout bearing being in contact with the pressure plate spring fingers all the time. If anyone has an '01 service manual, I'd appreciate if you would check the parts list to verify whether there should or should not be a return spring present.

TIA,
LB

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2001 QC SLT SWB ETH 6SP JRE Spa Fabritech Bosch Edge
South Bend

 

[South Bend Clutch]

On all hydrolic clutch application the throwout brg. rides on the fingers of the pressure plate at all times. The brg. is desiegned to run continuously. The fingers of the pressure plate return when you let off the peddle and they push the hydrolics back to the original or (adjusted due to wear) position. It does not apply pressure at this time. With the machanical linkage the throwout brg. is not desiegned to run continuously so the return spring pulls the brg. away from the fingers so the brg. is not being used until the clutch is pushed in. Also the linkage has to be manually adjusted as the clutch wears out. When the clutch disc wears out the fingers of the pressure plate move back towards the transmission. When the disc finally wears thin enough the clamp power of the clutch cover is gone. Peter

[This message has been edited by South Bend Clutch (edited 05-10-2001). ]

 

[MikeR]

Right,there is no return spring. While I had my clutch out I noticed a telltale wear ring (only 40k miles) on the fingers from the T/O bearing continuosly riding against it. The bearing still rolled smooth.

-Mike

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

Thanks Peter for that explination.

 

[Little Bill]

Thanks, guys.