Clutch servicing tools

I used 1 of these to take pumpkin off and a socket extension to align the clutch and a strong set of legs to push the pumpkin back in. It was a pain to align the the pumpkin with the prop shaft, but on my previous DIY it was pretty easy.
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Hey Robb,

The clutch cover comes off as an assembly with the clutch. There is a bearning in the cover (and special screw). If you remove the screw, the clutch can be pressed out of the bearing in the cover. Given the cast cover, I don't love that.

I did make a simple tool (jack screw / plate) to remove the clutch from the cover bearing.

Not sure if we will offer these or not.

 

Here it is, very simple
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very nice tool

 

Gee no tool is needed for that. Too many needless fancy tools will get you kicked out of the stooges.

 

I made a mister to bring on track days made of an old 2 gallon sprayer, works great

 

I just don't race when it is hot...

 

"Kicked out?" I'm not a member. Have no interest of being a "stooge"

 

for a 355 clutch job. You don't need any special tool at all. If you want to change the flywheel or repack the grease, you need a blind bearing puller, a press, and a Ribe bit. There is no tool required to pull the cover. A little prying and a little grunting is all it takes.

 

Sure, you can certainly press the clutch assembly out of the cover bearing but as I mentioned, I'm not a fan of pressing against the casting. Also, this requires a large press (size, not force). As cheap as they are, many don't have them. So, this simple jack plate works very nice to push the clutch out of the bearing and the load is on the studs.

Is it needed? Nope. Is it helpfull?, yes.

I try to do things with care and finesse. I don't use screw drivers as chisels and I don't use my sockets as press tools.

I'm sure many use a hammer and punch and tap the clutch out, but that's not for me.

Technology = Tools and know how. It's a great thing

 

I agree with Dave here, when I was working in the utilities field we used to make jacking plates for this reason and it made life so much easier. I may look into one. Not sure why he used a allen bolt. I think I would have used a regular bolt head

 

Thanks, Larry. Regarding the allen key, I really don't recall - probably a force of habit as in machine design, that's what is used. Also, it might have been what I had handy in the shop that had the right size and length of threads. Many bolts (allen or hex head), only have threads a certain length and not the full length of the bolt. The end of the set screw in this application was also surface ground flat.

I had my master toolmarker knock this out - I think it took him a whopping 30 minutes

I do need to remember to design my tools with metric hardware

 

Are you interested in buying my patent for pumpkin alignment/installation tool kit (all metric)?
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Patent?

Great post - shows another member being innovative and making tools to help the job go smoother!

Great job!

 

+1

 

I was going to patent my software that all you have to do is look at a jpeg on the page and I get all your passwords. But the feds got to me first

They did not get the other 3 heheheheh

 

I give you props for designing a good looking tool. However, diy guys really need to think and learn about how a system works. Anyone can make a tool. Apes have done it since the beginning. But did you know for example that this tool used improperly could really mess you up? Real pros see these things and read these threads and laugh. We look dumb to them. Don't get me wrong. This tool can help but at the same time can cause damage or prevent proper function. How you may ask? Well the parts just slide together with very little friction fit. People who have had problems putting the pumpkin on simply don't have it aligned right. There are 2 schools of though with pumpkin work. I'm of the leave the bumper on school. Others take the bumper off. The bumper off guys have an easier time aligning and sliding the pumpkin on. Doing this engine out is really simple. You can use a tool as pictured to help drive your pumpkin home and bind up misaligned parts. Then I get a call because the clutch doesn't work. Now disassembly and inspection are required and the newbie didn't know what got messed up in the 1st place and any damage he is totally clueless about. So he reassembles and prays. I'm not against tools. I make them all the time. I love help a tool can provide. I love simplicity like ernie's rubber band to hold bearings in a race. But it is super important to really think about what we are doing and why things work the way they do. It is also important to not introduce other sources of failure. Sometimes things that sound like a good idea just aren't. In medicine they call that being "evidence based."

 

Bumper on? In most cases, the bumper needs to come off to remove the muffler. Doing a clutch job without bumper removal / muffler removal makes the same sense as doing an in car major

And, Tools are now other sources of failure? This just keeps getting better and better

 

I hope my comments are constructive. I hope to save other diy'ers some pain. I'm not selling anything and I'm not arguing with dave.

 

I have posted no tools for sale in this thread. The tool show here was made for my own needs and not for profit.

 

I did not use any tools when I did mine except to get of the JESUS nut.

I have RIBE bits as well, but never used them as I replaced the ENTIRE dual mass crap with a MD clutches setup that is FANTASTIC (sprung clutch like 360, no dual mass)

 

All great points, Carl. A tool in the hands of a tool who isn't aware of possible unintended consequences is never a good thing. Thanks for sharing...

 

FBB Correct me if im wrong. Your last sentence states this "You can use a tool like this to drive your pumpkin home"...Isnt this tool for pushing the clutch assembly away from the bell housing and removing it?