915 trans - is vertical play clutch fork ok?

[elflamo]

Hello,

I have two questions regarding my 1972 (lucky me) 915 transmission:

- is there supposed to be vertical play in the clutch fork. Meaning: when tranny detached from engine, I can move the fork up and down about 5mm-9mm.
- I have removed the clutch actuating arm from the tranny (that moves the clutch fork) and forget how it was positioned relative to the shift fork. Does anyone know what this basic setting is supposed to be?

Many thanks in advance

Regards

Dennis

[Walt Fricke]

Dennis

I think this play is normal. The internal fork piece, which is pinned to the vertical shaft, just rests in the space between the lower shaft bushing and the upper bushing. And that is not a tight fit. The fingers on the internal fork are in the groove in the throwout bearing, while the TOB rests on the guide tube sticking out of the tranny. However, the grooved outer housing of the TOB shouldn't rotate much (even though it is free to do so. The inner part of the TOB is much more firmly attached to the pressure plate spring, so the TOB rotates on its internal ball bearings between its two major halves. So I don't see some downward pressure on the TOB which this play might cause as being an issue.

Someone may have other, better, views on this, though.

As to setting the cross arm, don't sweat it. Just install the clutch cable and get under there and try various positions before you put the circlip back on to hold the arm. There will be only one position which has the clutch cable and the wedge and adjusting nut any where near close to where they were.

I think normally the arm is a little rearward (toward the engine side) of being at right angles to the car, and ends up almost at right angles when the clutch is depressed. A change of one spline moves the arm quite a bit, so the likely possibilities are only a couple.

I've taken to marking my shaft end and arm, just to make this easier, though. I think the shaft has a mark already, but I may be hallucinating or I put it there with a punch.

Walt

[elflamo]

Thanks for your reply Walt. That means I can now go and proceed onto mating the tranny and engine.

Cheers

Dennis