Breaking Clutch lifter plates and how not to!

[J4BPX]

Despite all the warnings I managed to break the clutch lifter plate on installation. Borrox! In my defence I was being very careful but still it broke. After much agonising l have changed my thoughts on why the clutch lifter plate broke - and I think it is a little more that just tightening it down evenly.

So one clutch unit sourced from ebay later - I recorded the next installation + plus my thoughts on how not to break clutch lifter plates!

Hopefully it might help others who are as hamfisted as I............................

Apologies for the pictures - I write my notes in MS onenote and this is the only way I can find to add the files. Now if I could upload a pdf..........!

[J4BPX]

And More

[J4BPX]

Last

[J4BPX]

I'm sure I was over complicating matters and some will quibble with the technique - but that is what forums are for........... healthy criticism.

Nb: When measuring the depth of the plate - I didn't measure at just one point - I measured next to each bolt!!! The pictures just shows one for clarity.

[ericheath]

Nice, thanks for sharing and clarifying. I have yet to do this, but I now think I could.

[roachb]

I broke two of them and was thinking along the same lines as you. The other line of thinking is that it has to do with the proper alignment of the springs. I was not so convinced of the spring theory. My first two attempts I was installing heavy duty springs. The third time I went back to the original springs and was successful. I also did a little beveling to help the posts slide into the slots. So I am not sure what made it work. I was also very slow and methodical with the tightening to keep the plate even.

[spencermad]

Roachb,

Thanks for this little bit of info. I just broke one and was thinking that I had been careful with spring alignment and the tightening sequence, but broke it anyway.

This improper figment between the clutch plate and the spring carrier(?) might be my problem too, or I'm merely hamfisted...


I'll try the dry fit first with the new plate and cross my fingers

[roachb]

And say a little prayer. Good luck with that. I still can clearly recall that horrible "tink" sound.

[rogue1000]

I broke my last one by dropping it on the concrete floor as I was cleaning it. I have also found that the aftermarket springs are a tiny bit larger in circumference than the oem, so you have to really pay attention that they are seated.

[MSGT-R]

Wow, what a painful lesson!

[dl1000]

Great write-up. Will no doubt save many a broken plate.

[spencermad]

And many thank to J4PBX for starting this post and including detailed pictures and diagrams. Big ups!

[1983lux]

Nice thread, might be a good one to add to shoptalk