Clutch rant...

[bevans6]

So I am taking my clutch cover apart to generally inspect, renew as needed, put new springs in, change the finger buttons and generally get it read to go.  so I read the manual, figure it out, un-bury the hydraulic press, etc.  I put the clutch cover up on my bench and wire-brush it to get some of the grime off.  Step one is take off the straps that lock the finger adjusting nuts, so I do that.  Now I look closely and the nuts look a little wonky.  So I get my welding glasses and take a close look.  Last guy in has SPOT WELDED the ball nuts to the threaded posts on the finger clevises.  Who spot welds a flippin' nut to lock it?  There is a whole locking plate to lock it.  So I get out the hacksaw, the little chisel, the little files, and cut off the spot welds, and then when I take off the ball nuts every single one is ruined, and one of the clevises is ruined.

Is there any legitimate reason why some mechanic would carefully spot weld the ball nuts to the clevis posts, before I make a voodoo doll and ruin his metaphysical chances at reproduction?  This is yet another (the third) call to Luke on this clutch and another two weeks before I can put it back together.

On the good side I installed my jake brakes, set the valve bridges, lashed the valves, set the jake brakes and ran the rack yesterday.  I will no doubt recheck it five times before I call it done, but the first run through went just fine.

Brian

Brian

[TedsBUSted]

. . .Is there any legitimate reason why some mechanic would carefully spot weld the ball nuts to the clevis posts, before I make a voodoo doll and ruin his metaphysical chances at reproduction?  This is yet another (the third) call to Luke on this clutch and another two weeks before I can put it back together. 

PUT THAT NEEDLE DOWN! 

It only takes one clutch pulled to fix a "nervous pedal" or chatter caused by a backed-out screw to justify welding the adjustment.

Ted

[lostagain]

Glad to hear an other busnut has done a tune up and ran the rack, in spite of the neysayers stating that it is a job that can only be accomplished by old DD mechanics/magicians with 40 years experience! I have done it a few times. Just follow the service manual. It is not rocket surgery... And if it is not quite right, you can do it again anytime. You got to love a smooth running bus that you've tuned up yourself... You are getting closer to that by the day.

JC

[JohnEd]

ruin his metaphysical chances at reproduction


Thanks for that. Side splitter!  Peed a little!  (don't tell, OK?)

John

[luvrbus]

LMAO JC even the ones with 40 years under their belt screw it sometimes Brian is doing it right check and recheck where most get in trouble that is all they do run the rack never worrying about the governor settings.
I just love it when somebody has been fooling with the starting aid and has no idea what they are doing and don't even have the gauge to set it and wonder why it takes so long for the DD to stop a V type DD is a lot more complicated than 4-71 or 6-71 get off on 1 side and it will deal you some misery trust me on that one been there done that lol

good luck

[TomC]

This is why most just take the clutch into a reputable clutch rebuilder and just exchange it for a newly rebuilt clutch.  Good Luck, TomC

[bevans6]

Tom, out of curiosity how much does an exchange clutch cover usually cost?  I guess if my hobby was paying other people to do the stuff that I want to do as part of the hobby (if that makes sense) I would just pay someone to have fun for me.  But I like to do stuff myself.  The sticking point is where to draw the line...  So far I'm still OK, and probably bucks ahead of paying for a newly rebuilt clutch from a rebuilder.

Brian

[babell2]

LMAO JC even the ones with 40 years under their belt screw it sometimes Brian is doing it right check and recheck where most get in trouble that is all they do run the rack never worrying about the governor settings.
I just love it when somebody has been fooling with the starting aid and has no idea what they are doing and don't even have the gauge to set it and wonder why it takes so long for the DD to stop a V type DD is a lot more complicated than 4-71 or 6-71 get off on 1 side and it will deal you some misery trust me on that one been there done that lol

good luck

One of my customers used to run maintenance for a Trailways shop. He told me a story on getting the rack wrong on a 6V71T and trying to shut it down when it ran away he put a phone book over the intake...(It ate the book) Knocked a fuel line off with a hammer before it started self fueling with oil.   Lesson--- Steel Plate

[JohnEd]

One of my customers used to run maintenance for a Trailways shop. He told me a story on getting the rack wrong on a 6V71T and trying to shut it down when it ran away he put a phone book over the intake...(It ate the book) Knocked a fuel line off with a hammer before it started self fueling with oil.   Lesson--- Steel Plate


That's horrible!

[TomC]

I realize it is cheaper to do the job yourself-but if you're using equipment that has been abused to the point that rebuilding it is more chancy then you want to consider-that's when exchanging it makes more sense.  Granted-you'll probably ultimately do a better job of rebuilding then a rebuilder would do, but with a clutch-it just isn't something that is easily taken removed and reinstalled to correct a mistake.

I don't know how much rebuilt clutches are-I've never put one in my truck.  My present truck I'm converting, when I pulled the 13spd out and changed it to the Allison HT740, the truck had almost 1.2 million miles on it with the original clutch.  Good Luck, TomC

[bevans6]

I realize this is probably going to sound stupid, but I'm "rebuilding" not because it needs it but because it's out and I can't bear to put things back in without at the very least a thorough inspection, cleaning, and all that.  The actual rebuild, in terms of changing stuff that needs to be changed, is the buttons on the fingers, that's all that was worn.  I am putting new blue springs in but when I measured the ones I took out, they were already blue as far as strength goes.  I'm just funny that way.  I also put on a new power steering pump and a new (well both are actually reman's) air compressor. 

As always, Tom, I really appreciate your advice and everyone's comments.  I just try to do the best I can and I need a lot of help.  Just got off the phone with Luke, he found all the little bits and bobs I need and I think the cost of the shipping is going to exceed the cost of the parts.  They were not expensive!

Brian