Clutch travel adjustment

[Wayne B.]

I'm finally about to put the 70 back on the road. The previous owner had started the restoration and did all the drivetrain work. I know it got a new clutch but there seems to be some adjustment problem. I have to put the clutch all the way to the floor to get any disengagement. It seems that it doesn't really release till about the last inch and a half or two inches of travel (pushing into the carpet). The adjustment nuts on the rod are already adjusted all the way out to the end. Keep in mind, I've only moved this thing half way up the driveway a time or two so I can't say it's got the best testing so far. Any ideas?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Clutch travel adjustment

With no information on the replacement clutch that reveals a problem, I think it's premature to be concerned until you get the clutch well broken in. If the clutch isn't the correct replacement, it's going to be a lot of trouble to fix it...put a few miles on it. My opinion is the problem may be self correcting with break-in.

[Wayne B.]

Re: Clutch travel adjustment

Thanks, and yes it does need some break in. There's been a lot of sitting during the restoration, just cranking up now and then with the occassional roll up or down the driveway so, I guess I'll go get my tag today and put it on the road this week, first time this car has been back on the road since 1988.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Clutch travel adjustment

I had the same problem with clutch parts and it won't get better. When you run out of threads the cluch package or throw out bearing is not correct. I was using Auto Zone parts and I did some checking of new parts they had in stock and a different package was OK. I have had this problem happen twice and both times I had the flywheel resurfaced and this may add to the problem. If you have the old parts I laid the pressure plate on a flat surface and measured to the fingers and then found a new set that was the same.

[John H.]

Re: Clutch travel adjustment

I'm finally about to put the 70 back on the road. The previous owner had started the restoration and did all the drivetrain work. I know it got a new clutch but there seems to be some adjustment problem. I have to put the clutch all the way to the floor to get any disengagement. It seems that it doesn't really release till about the last inch and a half or two inches of travel (pushing into the carpet). The adjustment nuts on the rod are already adjusted all the way out to the end. Keep in mind, I've only moved this thing half way up the driveway a time or two so I can't say it's got the best testing so far. Any ideas?

Wayne -

Have you adjusted the linkage swivel/nuts to achieve 1-1/4" of free play at the top of pedal travel? That's your starting point. As the clutch wears, re-adjusting the linkage to compensate will move the swivel/nuts rearward on the threaded pushrod, not forward; having the swivel out near the end of the threads on the pushrod with a new clutch is normal.