VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 1921 490 Clutch

Anyone have a good way to keep the (7) ball bearings from falling out of the spring tension rod as you assemble the clutch? My flywheel is off the motor. I can hold them in place with a sleeve over the tension rod but seems like when i remove it to mount the clutch they could fall out. Thanks

I am not familiar with your application but have used a fairly wide rubber band in other situations. The rubber band should deteriorate into something that should not affect any thing down there. In transmissions we use heavy grease to hold needle bearings in place during assembly. Will either of those work?

I am not quite sure, but as I remember I just packed the rod retainer (?) with grease, put the balls in the grease, inserted the rod into the retainer and held the rod in place until I had inserted this assembly into the end of the crancshaft. The assembly must be inserted maybe 2-3 millimeters into the crancshaft end.
Be careful when you do this! As you mabe can see on this picture the assembly is inserted correct a little askew. So I had to remove the assembly and make it correct.

Thanks for the quick replies. Sounds like i need some heavy grease. Swedechev I'm not sure what this rod retainer is. You're picture didn't show up. Thanks again
Ok now i see the picture. The retainer you show is still attached to my flywheel. It is the race for the bearings. I'll check a little closer when i get home.Thanks

Yes, the rear race for the bearing balls. The front race is on the rod. (I forgot the word "race".)

Maybe this would help hold things. http://www.lubegard.com/C-253/Dr.+Tranny+Assemblee+Goo

I totally understand your issue and was recently reminded (that means I forgot) how this works until changing the clutch and flywheel of my car last week.

I had forgotten that the "Clutch Thrust Ball Race" (part #766 ) was a separate part from the crank and flywheel. While installing a spare flywheel on my car, the "Clutch Thrust Ball Race" stayed in the flywheel on the car and my spare flywheel also had one pressed into it as well.

Here is a picture of the "Clutch Thrust Ball Race" from the 1924 Parts Book:


Here is a picture of the loose part laying on the floor of my garage:


Here is a picture of the flywheel with all these parts installed:


The rod and all of it's bearings can be installed in the flywheel and then tap the "Clutch Thrust Ball Race" into the end of the crank. That should hold the rod in place allowing you to compress the clutch spring and install the cross pin to hold everything together. Just keep telling yourself that this is better than working on 'modern' car.

Is that a 63 or 64 Super Sport parked next to your project??? (Hub cap)
Steve

'63 Nova SS Convertible. It's my slow moving project for my wife.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I was able to keep the bearings in place by taking the race out of the flywheel and packing the bearings with transmission assembly lube. Then tapped the bearings, tension rod and race into the end of the crank. Now onto the tranny issues. Thanks again Dave

Bought new bearings and packed them in tacky grease ,they stayed in place. Read the repair manual half a dozen times, makes for a braver mechanic

Good going! That is what everyone should do before starting a repair project on their cars. However, sometimes the repair manual is a little vague in certain areas.

I would say that statement is quite modest, Junkyard Dog. Does anyone have pictures and instruction for releasing the clutch by putting steady pressure on the spring in the middle during the repair
?