Cant get my clutch bolted to flywheel. HELP!

dandan · April 17, 2006, 03:43:43 PM

Hi all,
Good news is my engine has gone back into the bay today, hurrah!
Bad news is I have thrown my toys out of the pram cos i cant get the clutch bolted back onto the flywheel, does anyone have any tips?

If i do manage to work one dowel pin on, i can rotate the flywheel slightly and put one bolt in, but it seems the dowels aren\'t lining up elsewhere because pulling the bolt on seems to pivot the clutch about the centre, and then i cant rotate it round to access another bolt hole or another dowel pin hole!! argh!

Anybody got any bright ideas?

TRex · April 17, 2006, 04:38:21 PM

Dan make sure the clutch is in the correct way around(face wise).
Then it can only line up one way, then just catch all the bolts all the way around by probably 2 or 3 threads and then do them up slowly by a couple threads each bolt and also cross them(do them in opposite pairs), this way it will go in evenly and the cluth will stay centered.

Don\'t catch one and try running it all the way in as it won\'t do... :Nono!

dandan · April 17, 2006, 05:36:47 PM

clutch is def in the right way as it was never taken out, the problem with putting any bolts on at all is if i get it on a dowel far enough to even start winding one bolt in, it jams up and can\'t be turned to access other bolt holes.

should i just put some muscle in and try and force it round a bit harder? its all pretty tough stuff in there isnt it?

G@NDY · April 17, 2006, 05:44:10 PM

get one in!!, then turn the engine using the main engine pulley and a ratchet handle, that is easier than trying to turn the flywheel with a screwdriver, ideally try it with 2 people, then one can turn and the other do up

I think :p

kev-yorks · April 17, 2006, 07:23:02 PM

Stupid question maybe but you\'ve got the drive plate the right way round hav\'nt you as the hub is offset and only goes together one way around. It normally says flywheel side on one of the faces if you can still read it.
Kevin

Gman · April 17, 2006, 09:10:53 PM

Did mine a few weeks back, firstly you have to make sure you get all the holes lined up, there is only one way it can go. Secondly i had the trouble with the bolts, it seemed the clutch plate was pulling away so much it was not allowing the bolts to catch - lever the clutch plate onto the flywheel whilst threading a bolt and it should work.

antnicuk · April 17, 2006, 09:41:04 PM

What TREX meant was you have to spin the clutch cover until the bolt holes line up, as the dowels do line up with some of the bolt holes.

Its too late now but your best bet is to take the clutch off the gear box, bolt it to the flywheel, then put the engine in and just pop the thrust bearing in through the inspection cover.

You must make sure that your clutch plate is in the right way round as kev says.

The spings want to push the cover away (thats what keeps it pressed against the f/wheel), as Gman says, once its lined up, try pushing against the f/w and get a couple of bolts in and get some one to turn the front hub bolt (as above).

dandan · April 18, 2006, 08:14:23 AM

I luckily did have a spare pair of hands about the place and he was turning the pulley wheel for me, so are you saying the dowels are not equally spaced and will only line up properly in one position?
Im sure everything is in facing the right way as all the clutch bits never came out of the bell housing, unless they have magically taken themselves off and put themselves back on backwards.

So basically it looks like i\'m doing the right things, i need to just sit under my car and get some more bloody knuckles until it works it\'s way on.... damn

Thanks anyway people!

Gman · April 18, 2006, 10:38:33 AM

The studs will line up in two different ways but only one of those ways will have all the bolts holes lined up. I was on my own when i did mine and i turned the flywheel using a very strong screwdriver against the flywheel. I accessed the flywheel via the starter motor hole.

dandan · April 18, 2006, 01:20:33 PM

cheers gman, so is it just guesswork to find which way it lines up? you\'d think it would be made to fit any way round, or is it aligned to the counterweight or something?

Also does it make any difference if the slave cylinder is in or out, i have it out at the mo but i dont really understand how it is connected to the internals as it just sort of jiggles about when you rotate anything! durr.