advice on clutch

Here's my situation, I have the trans out of our 1957 CJ-5 to install a new ring gear on the flywheel. The clutch was operating fine before I took it in. The clutch is about 1/2 worn. My question, should I go ahead and replace the clutch, or re-install and use it until the clutch gives problems. I have the Auto Mechanics class at school doing the work so the issue of saving on labor does not apply. If you would replace anyway, where would be a recommended supplier:??

thanks for your thoughts

 

yes if you have the dough replace it, pressure plate, and throwout, check the fork and flywheel too.

 

Depends on the cost, when I built my Jeepster with the 4.3 I bought a used flywheel and it came with the used clutch. I put it in there 3 years ago and it's fine. I don't daily drive it, and since Jeeps are usually low geared the clutch doesn't get burned up as quick with higher gears. I'll probably get many more years out of it.

 

while your at it, all the springs, fulcrum pivot for the fork, and pilot bushing ( make sure you soak it in oil for a couple days), clean the inside of the bellhousing and check for gear oil leakage from the t-90 retainer and leakage from the rear seal of the block and welsh plugs.. Its a pain to have to go back in there again if you dont have to. .

Walcks4wd in PA
SurplusJeepparts in CA
MidwestMil
"Pete" Debella in NY

I havent had any experience with Kaiserwillys but they should have it.
you might also try NAPA or Car quest if your in a pinch.

 

labor for free....... inspect everything, replace what needs to be or what looks like it will give trouble in the near future, clutch job for the school later on for new students to learn on

 

I'd only replace if you see a lot of hot spots on the press plate or flywheel.
Discs wear down quickly when they are new; then they last a long time if not abused.

 

I agree here. It's a teaching tool for the students. If you fix it too good, you may be retired before it breaks again and think of the students that will never get to work on this special vehicle.

 

Originally Posted by kaiser_willys
labor for free....... inspect everything, replace what needs to be or what looks like it will give trouble in the near future, clutch job for the school later on for new students to learn on
I agree here. It's a teaching tool for the students. If you fix it too good, you may be retired before it breaks again and think of the students that will never get to work on this special vehicle. __________________

I think this is the route I'm taking. The clutch still looks to have a good bit of life, and as long as I'm at that school I can get it worked on in the future for the cost of the parts. Great Benefit that is not listed in the employee handbook. Thanks for all the advice. I'll post an update with the classes grade on the project.

 

Being an Automotive Instructor, I have to disagree. Fix it right the FIRST time if at all possible. That lesson is one of the hardest to get across to students.
Half arsing a job is teaching the students very bad work habits and ideas that can carry on the rest of their lives.....

Plus, what if this free labor is not available when the parts you didn't replace fail?

My students work on a tremendous amount of customer vehicles. We don't charge labor. If the customer expects us to do a shortcutted shoddy job so they can save a few bucks, I send them down the road. It's frustrating for the students to have to keep working on the same project over and over just because someone refuses to pay for quality parts. Again, it teaches the students bad habits as well.

 

haw haw haw thats rich only if your retirin this year, let them fix it right, then let them fix somthin else right till its all fixedR). then maybe when you retire it'll run for a couple of months without wrenchin on it.R)R)R)

 

AAAAAMEN brother!!! I closed my shop because I got tired of clients asking me to do a 'cheap" shoddy repair just to get them on the road again..

BUBBA

 

You might get the repair labor free, but if the clutch goes out when you are out somewhere. What is your time worth and the cost getting the Jeep to the shop.

 

I don't agree with telling students to throw away half worn out parts, unless you want them to do that when they get out in the work world.

An example is a Honda Civic I had. I had it into the dealer and they recommended replacing the brake shoes at 32 000 km. I disagreed and had well over 100 000 km before I changed them, and they weren't gone. I travel all highway at off hours and it was a manual trans, I didn't use the brakes much. If they had their way I would have been on the 3rd set at 100 k, and for what? If the clutch was near the end of it's life, then sure replace it. What if he gets an oil leak a week after the new clutch was installed? Buy another one, or should a person rebuild everything while one piece is apart? Where do you stop?

We're not talking shoddy repair here.

 

'nuff said
no guarantee new parts won't give you trouble
why fix it if it ain't broke ?

 

Brakes are simple to access and easily replaced when there is a problem. A clutch is an entirely different thing that is not a relatively small job. Apples and oranges comparison in my opinion.