Interesting Tale of Two Clutches.........

[asphaltgambler]

My Targa resto project has been a long road, like many before and the end is in sight. So like most people I have a limited budget and buy parts both for present needs as well as short near term future steps.
About three years ago, I needed to order another round of parts some of which was to include a new clutch assy. I wanted the Sachs 'sport' clutch because of the added clampiing force plus weight savings.
I decided to buy the Sachs Sport set-up from a 'guy' off of ebay. It was almost $175.00 cheaper than Pelican or most other major authorized parts suppliers. This guy had 100% feedback and sold many, many Sachs kits.
So I buy it thinking I've saved enough to buy some other stuff I needed. Clutch arrives promptly, in a Sachs box all the part #'s look correct. I set it in the corner while I finished my engine and trans build.
Fast forward a while later. I assemble the engine and trans and then wait to install it in the car. Last December I took some time off and tried to make some real headway on this thing. I installed the engine and trans and started to work on other systems that then needed attention.
One of those was to remove the pedal assy and modify the levers so my future ex-wife can reach them. I re-install them hook everything up and go to step on the clutch pedal and it is like stepping on a brick.
The pedal effort was so high the pedal arm started to bend. I look under the car while my better half is working the clutch and there is not much movement. I'm a BMW tech by trade and am no stranger to clutches or most anything else for that matter. I figure I must not have the fork engaged or something is incorrectly installed or assembled.
I remove engine and the trans looking at everything and all seems normal. I reassemble the trans back the engine. I then take a 30" piece of pipe and put it over the small clutch lever and it takes quite a bit of my strength to get it to move through the arc. It is clearly way too much effort.
I then post here with this problem, with some replies but all obvious stuff I have already gone over. At this point I am convinced that the issue is with the pressure plate. I know it is the correct one for the car, but I know there is more to this story.
I call Pelican and ask the rep if he can indentify this pressure plate and he said sure. Just give me the number, which by the way, is not the numbers stamped into the hat but a faint stenciled or printed number series to the side.
Pelican guy says those production #'s do not compute with the number grouping that he has. Ultimately I reach Sachs of North America and get a live guy on the line. I tell him the whole story and give him the numbers.
He calls back two days later and after some extensive research on his part, he has determined that Sachs never, ever produced that piece...........................................it was a knock-off, possibly Chinese. I told him I had suspected that for some time when I could not find the answer to my problem. it was the only logical explanation left. B*ll ***** counterfiet parts.
I call Pelican and drop another chunk-O-money ($730) and installed it this pasat weekend and problem is solved!!!! So kids lesson learned here is when buying new parts, buy from authorized distributers. It will in the long really save you time and money

[herr_oberst]

Thanks for sharing. I recently replaced an alternator in my car, and I looked at the ebay units for a while, but ultimately went with Pelican. It cost more but I knew that I would only have to pay once.

[gtihop]

do you happen to remember the ebay seller's name?

[asphaltgambler]

No I do not as it has been over three years ago, I would like to point out that I have had many problems with counterfeit parts, but never like this............................