Pressure Plate Fingers Bent

[Marck]

I have a lightened XT6 flywheel bolted to a EA82T engine. When I tigten the pressure plate bolts, the spring/fingers begin to bend in. They don't bend in so much that they are flat. Some are bent in more then others. I torqued each bolt down to 12.5 ft-lbs. When I loosen the bolts, the fingers go back to their normal position. I tried retorqueing the bolts again and it does the same thing.

 

I need to know if this is normal for a new clutch cover? The clutch cover and clutch are made for an XT6 by clutchnet.

 

-Mark

[Steveman09]

I have a lightened XT6 flywheel bolted to a EA82T engine. When I tigten the pressure plate bolts, the spring/fingers begin to bend in. They don't bend in so much that they are flat. Some are bent in more then others. I torqued each bolt down to 12.5 ft-lbs. When I loosen the bolts, the fingers go back to their normal position. I tried retorqueing the bolts again and it does the same thing.

 

I need to know if this is normal for a new clutch cover? The clutch cover and clutch are made for an XT6 by clutchnet.

 

-Mark

 

Yes this is completly normal, you have to remember when torqued down you are looking at the clutch assembly in FULL LOCK mode, once the clutch fingers get pushed beyound that point it RELEASES.

 

The only thing I would be concerned about is the fact that you said some fingers were more flat that others, this would not be a good thing, make sure the clutch is installed using an alignment tool and go around the bolts of the PP with a Torque wrench 3 or 4 times to insure proper specs.

[RickOregon]

Agree. And if some fingers are not too much different than the others it should still work. I installed one in an 86 Subaru GL, and a couple were slightly off from the rest, even after using the alignment tool and torquing properly as Steveman09 reminds us. Only noticeable difference is that I can hear a slight sound when I slightly engage the clutch - a sign of unequal pressure until fully engaged. I don't think it will accelerate the wear much, and the sound is hardly noticeable. Just fyi... Rick

[Marck]

I guess I should have mentioned that this is my first time installing a clutch, therefore it was a stupid mistake. I completely forgot to line up the two dowel pins on the flywheel with the holes on the clutch cover. I guess I ignored them because I thought that if the bolt holes line up, then the dowel pins should have too. Now that the dowel pins are in the covers holes and the torque is down to 12.5 pounds, everything looks good. All the fingers bent in evenly. It helps sometimes to step back for a day and try it again in the morning. Thanks for the suggestions though.

[MudisFun]

I guess I should have mentioned that this is my first time installing a clutch, therefore it was a stupid mistake. I completely forgot to line up the two dowel pins on the flywheel with the holes on the clutch cover. I guess I ignored them because I thought that if the bolt holes line up, then the dowel pins should have too. Now that the dowel pins are in the covers holes and the torque is down to 12.5 pounds, everything looks good. All the fingers bent in evenly. It helps sometimes to step back for a day and try it again in the morning. Thanks for the suggestions though.

 

It happens to everyone :-p

[Steveman09]

I guess I should have mentioned that this is my first time installing a clutch, therefore it was a stupid mistake. I completely forgot to line up the two dowel pins on the flywheel with the holes on the clutch cover. I guess I ignored them because I thought that if the bolt holes line up, then the dowel pins should have too. Now that the dowel pins are in the covers holes and the torque is down to 12.5 pounds, everything looks good. All the fingers bent in evenly. It helps sometimes to step back for a day and try it again in the morning. Thanks for the suggestions though.

 

As I was at work today I rememberd this and was just going to post about that but looks like you figured it out!!! GJ

[RickOregon]

A wise man once told me: "A person who has never made a mistake has never done anything."

 

Glad you got it solved.

 

My mistake was bolting the engine onto my engine stand with the clutch still installed and the engine stand bolts a bit too short for that arrangement. Pressed against the clutch cover plate and bent a few fingers.... ooops! That's how I discovered clutch would still operate, though with a less-than-ideal engaging. I'm pretty careful when I put an engine on the stand these days... guess even an old dog can still learn.