New T/O bearing and slave, clutch not disengaging

[MrAdam]

Hi everyone. After searching post after post and not finding an answer I am now breaking down and posting a question for you all.

I have a 97 ranger 2.3L. Replaced the T/O bearing, slave cylinder, and master-to-slave line(i broke old one), clutch looked real good, so didnt touch it. Pulled out hydraulic system and worked air bubbles out, just like the Perfection guy said to. Reinstalled it, gravity bled(many times).

First time i got it all back together it shifted great. Went to the store, and got almost back and the clutch wouldnt fully disengage, even when pumping the pedal. Since then, ive removed the hyd system again to get air bubbles out, gravity bled several times, even tried the pump and hold, crack open bleeder, method with no improvement.

I would think maybe there's still air in the system, but when i watch through the bellhousing peephole the slave cylinder has really good travel. I couldnt find a spec on how far the T/O bearing needs to depress the plate fingers to fully disengage.

Im at a loss here. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrAdam]

Forgot to add: The reason i replaced the T/O bearing and slave was because it had been squealing for a while, and then last week wouldnt fully disengage the clutch, leaving me stranded. When i pulled the T/O bearing and slave, the old bearing was bound up. So I thought: "gotta be a bad bearing and maybe a going-bad slave". Now I'm wondering if the pressure plate could be bad, causing the clutch to not disengage when warmed up...

Thanks for letting me bounce my problems/thoughts off you guys.

 

[Eaglefixer]

1st check with your hand how much play is in your pedal at the top

 

[Eaglefixer]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67723

 

[MrAdam]

Just checked. Doesnt really have any play. And the clutch starts grabbing toward the top of the pedal stroke. Thats another thing that is confusing... lots of downward pedal travel left after clutch "grab point", yet clutch wont fully disengage.
I will check for pedal bracket wear as soon as i get home this afternoon.

 

[ashleyroachclip]

With all of the work you went Thu , you should have replaced the clutch disc ,and pressure plate as well.

 

[MrAdam]

I know! Kicking myself over that one! Clutch was grabbing good before this so I thought it was ok.

 

[MrAdam]

UPDATE: I bought a new clutch kit, tore it back apart, and started seeing bearing pieces falling out when I pulled the transfer from the engine. It appears the bearing was binding up giving the feel of a clutch not disengaging. Put new bearing and clutch in and got it.back together. Runs better than ever now.

 

[MrAdam]

Correction: should have read "when I pulled the transmission from the engine", not "transfer from the engine"