020 clutch wierdness

[VWTUNING]

symptoms: clutch doesnt always dissengage, but about half of the time its fine. it has also started to slip.

Pulled tranny and clutch/flywheel, everything looks normal and all bolts were tight. Pressure plate and flywheel have a half inch groove on the inside and on the disk there is a corresponding glaze ring. Clip was still on thrust plate and pushrod (i think thats what its called) is tight and comes out straight from the tranny. Throw out bearing and the bushing the pushrod goes through were also replaced when the clutch was done (about a month ago). I did find some oil around the input shaft seal, doesnt look like a ad leak though.


Some things I know.... the kid beats the crap out of the car. it has an oil leak at the oil cooler which runs down and some appears to have pooled in the bottom of the bellhousing. the motor mounts are pretty much shot. the kids dad changed the starter, and didnt support the motor, it fell forward potentially yanking and being supported by the clutch cable. clutch cable has recently bbeen replaced with a manual adjust one.





I think Im gonna put another flywheel and disk I have in it and see what happens. Not sure if the thrust plate got bent but Im gonna replace that if I can find one by tomorrow afternoon.

[lotar_6]

The only thing I can think of is that the thrust plate was sticking. Maybe caused by improper torque or binding of the throw-out bearing? That's a weird issue I haven't heard before. I suppose the cable could be sticking, but that would be noticed in the pedal. Did the pedal stick to the floor when it wouldn't dissengage? Did the cable get replaced when they did the clutch last, or b4 or after? Did the issue start when the starter was replaced or b4? I'm interested in figuring out why it happened... just curiosity.

[VWTUNING]

the clutch cable was the last thing replaced, we were thinking maybe the auto-adjust cable was shot, so we put in a manual adjust.

Pedal feel doesnt change wether it dissengaged or not.

I think the issue started after the starter was replaced, but it was replaced very shortly after the clutch was done.

I should also mention that the setup in this car is Vinny's old setup, so it was used. But Vinny didnt have any problems when it was in his car.


The more I think about it, the more I think its gotta be a pressure plate issue, I'll pull that today and inspect.

[turbosnow]

Pete, check the little arms that acts on the throwout bearing too.....I have herad of them going bad and causign the exact symptoms you describe.
This is the part I am takin about...you can check it out without pulling the tranny.

http://www.germanautoparts.com/displayimage.php?file=B2950271194410042106

[VWTUNING]

Well we are putting in a different tranny so that should rule that out.


I think I may have found the culprit... there were a few small chunks of metal in the pressure plate, looks like part of the starter may have broken off and fell in there. I think the chunks of metal were preventing the pressure plate from releasing (opening up). The PP has a large ring/groove worn into it, so i dont think its a good idea to re-use it, so I'm on the hunt for one.

[lotar_6]

If you think part of the starter broke off and/or it was mounted at an angle, be sure to closely examine the flywheel for wear around the teeth. I just saw the effects of a poorly mounted starter on a chewed up flywheel on a F-150 at Garth's shop on Friday.