Monday I installed a clutch in a TR6. New everything - resurfaced
flywheel, new pilot bushing, new cross shaft, bushings, throwout arm,
new disc, new hydraulics and the "Magic CLutch" kit from the Roadster
factory, including the Gunst throwout bearing. All installed and just
about buttoned up on monday. Today the car is started to check the
clutch action before the customer comes in. Drat - terrible
screeching noises, obviously related to the clutch. Yank the works
apart, check it all out, bolt it back together, still the noises.
The Gunst kit is supposed to keep the throwout bearing in constant
rotation against the pressure plate. With no contact, no noise. Move
the bearing to where it hits the pressure plate, noise. Bad noise.
Hours and a removal and reinstall or two later we figure out the problem.
The noise is coming from the *inner* race of the Gunst bearing machining
a groove in the fingers of the pressure plate. A rather poor photo of the
results can be seen at http://fatchancegarage.com/gunst/clutch_fingers1.jpg
Notice the blue heat discoloration of the tips, except for the shiny,
freshly ground groove. It seems that with this pressure plate the ends
of the diapraghm fingers curve up too much and hit the inner race of the
bearing, which doesn't spin, rather than putting the load on the outer
race that is supposed to spin.
Has anyone else encountered such troubles with the Gunst bearing and TRF
clutch kit?
mjb.
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