2.3L dangling from hoist, how to center clutch

[auto117584]

couldn't get the dang 4-banger to mate with the tranny. finally lifted it back out, looked inside the clutch area where the trans spline shaft goes? the innermost smooth female part of the flywheel doesn't line up with the outer grooved part of the clutch. how do I move the outer grooved part of the clutch over to line up with the engine smooth part? I think it's called centering the clutch? thanks. and now.... it's miller time...

 

[LiLRanger]

They make a tool called a Spline tool, or something like that, that is a duplicate of the input shaft of the transmission. You loosen the bolts holding the pressure plate in (dont take them all the way off!). Then insert the tool into the disc, going all the way into the pilot bushing. The tighten the bolts back up. Then its ready to go in.

I have used a long 1/2 socket extension to do the same thing, by eying the clutch disc to get it centered, also.

 

[auto117584]

Well there ya go, nothing to it at all! Thanks for the info. A 1/2" socket extension. I'll try that! I have a couple of those floating around under the truck. Put the rascals to work, I say! In the morning, of course... it's freakin friday night dude!

 

[schmoo]

i turned one out of hardwood on a lathe.
you don't need the splines- just turn that
section to the id of the clutch disk.
you put the tool in the disc, put it on
the motor, install the pressure plate,
and pull the tool out.

 

[auto117584]

i turned one out of hardwood on a lathe.
you don't need the splines- just turn that
section to the id of the clutch disk.
you put the tool in the disc, put it on
the motor, install the pressure plate,
and pull the tool out.

It sounds like you think the flywheel is off the motor. it's not. what i've done is, i've loosened all the bolts that hold the clutch to the flywheel. But the spline section is way off center. how do i move it?

 

[auto117584]

They make a tool called a Spline tool, or something like that, that is a duplicate of the input shaft of the transmission. You loosen the bolts holding the pressure plate in (dont take them all the way off!). Then insert the tool into the disc, going all the way into the pilot bushing. The tighten the bolts back up. Then its ready to go in.

I have used a long 1/2 socket extension to do the same thing, by eying the clutch disc to get it centered, also.

ok i loosened the bolts, but that center part with the spline female is offcenter. I don't know the difference between the disc and the pressure plate. is there a page on this site that explains how to center the clutch? i put in my jack handle way in, but discovered that the part way inside, the female receptacle for the transmission shaft? I thought it was a bushing, but it looks like some type of bearing chase. i don't want to damage that, i don't thik.

 

[schmoo]

no, you do this with the flywheel on the motor.
you center the clutch disc before you put the
pressure plate on.
the pilot bearing is a caged roller bearing with
a seal, don't ruin it.

 

[auto117584]

no, you do this with the flywheel on the motor.
you center the clutch disc before you put the
pressure plate on.
the pilot bearing is a caged roller bearing with
a seal, don't ruin it.

the pressure plate is on the motor, too. how do i center the clutch disc? i've loosened the bolts holding the clutch to the fywheel, but the disc isn't loose yet. do i just keep loosening the bolts until I can reposition the disc by hand, or do i need to force it at some point?

 

[auto117584]

disc was stuck to the flywheel...

had to tap it with stuff to break it loose (once the bolts were loosened). It popped loose after a few tippy taps.

took me a while, but I f*7(^&*(^*(ed around with it and centered it by eyeball. Then dangled the motor again in front of the transmission, and suddenly there was this big sucking noise (shlurpppp!), and the two were mated. just sort of popped right in. i was turning the cam bolt with a breaker bar and socket to help. it was cool, after so many days messing around with it. i've been messing with this truck almost 2 years now!

 

[pontiacfieroguy]

just buy the damn alignment tool. they usually come free with a clutch kit but i think they are only about 5 bucks by them selves

 

[auto117584]

just buy the damn alignment tool. they usually come free with a clutch kit but i think they are only about 5 bucks by them selves

Sorry, my humor made my post unclear. I got the clutch centered, and the engine popped right into bell housing. I've tightened all the engine to trans bolts and have moved on to attaching the exhaust system and all the other stuff. didn't need the tool, used my eyeball and a 3/8" extension bar and a hammer to tap it into centered position. Success!