70/71 911 Clutch Fork Question

[Rumble-Bee]

I am replacing the clutch on 70 911T and I have a question about the tension spring and cone washer that mount under the fork.

Mine does not have this tension spring -- it wasn't in there the last time I pulled the trans to rebuild it. I used 2 (ordinary) washers last time under the ball-pin to try to get the fork position correct (Mickey-mouse) and to keep the ball-pin from bottoming out on moving parts inside the trans. I had a hell of a time getting the throw-out bearing to rotate when pulling the trans this time. The fork had zero slack and could not be pulled back to rotate the bearing. The only way I could get it to rotate was by tapping the "rivets" in the pressure plate and cranking in 3 bolts with spacers to relieve the pressure plate tension. I now see that using a pair of plain washers under the ball-pin in place of the factory parts caused the problem I had removing the trans: as the disk got thinner, the pressure plate and bearing moved inward until there was (negative) tension on the fork. This time I used a fender washer and a regular washer and there is alot of slack in the fork -- I can easily rotate the throw-out bearing and disengage the fork -- all by hand. I read a post from a guy with a 70 911 who tightened his loose ball-pin and then had repeated problems with the fork slipping off of the throw-out bearing while driving. I feel the same thing will happen to me if I use these washers.

I finally saw a picture of the cone washer that goes under the fork. The online diagrams are misleading because they make it look like a plain washer. I have separated the trans again and am going to order the spring and the cone washer.

My question is this: which way does the cone washer mount? Does the domed side face the trans case or the fork?


I appreciate any advice.