fast advice? clutch

JH924S · 01:19 PM

hey all im trying to remove the clutch release SHAFT, but it does not want to come out , i even found a sliding hammer that fit in it and it is not budging . any ideas as to get this off. or just keep trying to muscle it off?, guys this thing has not budged at all and im so close to getting the bellhousing off its the only thing keeping me back form finishing the repair. TIA
87 924S

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Been there done that. Here is what I did:

I cut a piece of copper pipe, the kind used to plub sinks and what not, then went to the hardware store and bought severla flat washers and a longer 8mm bolt. I then put the copper pipe over the release rod and started to screw the bolt in using varying amounts of washer.

In essence this builds an extractor, which will pull the rod right out.

todwic · todwic's Garage

How very clever!

JH924S · 09-29-2002, 04:54 AM

wow scott r , i think your "da man" in todwics pole im gonna do that today.thank you

Crippler · 09-29-2002, 08:08 AM

Uh oh, that's the same thing that happend to me this summer. I like you tried the slide hammmer and that didn't work. So then I used ScottR's idea with the coper pipe and that didn't work. So I was left with one option. Engine removal. After it was out, there is a hole at the top of the bellhousing and you can beat the release lever shaft out pretty easliy.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

WOW, that thing must have been really stuck! I actually started to bend the copper pipe a bit before it came loose. Sounded like tires screeching it was soo stuck in there.

I love how the "Haynes" manual says to grab it with pliers! LOL

todwic · todwic's Garage

If copper's too weak, there's always galvanized in different schedules...

JH924S · 09-29-2002, 02:25 PM

haha o man . it took me all day to get this thing out, i ended up using a pice of steel from home depot, cus that thing was IN THERE i mean it did not wanna come out , first attempt ended up snapping the first bolt so we tapped that out and bought a higher strength bolt. when it finally did come out i thought i broke something b/c the crack was so loud. once we got it out 3/4 " it wasnt so bad , but it was a long innovative day.

now its time to cry- after all that and removing everything else the bellhousing still wont come off , everything is removed to my knowledge and torque tube is pushed way back. i cant see anything externally still holding it on except , that the speed sensors were not removed just unscrewed, am i missing somthin, housing bolts relaese shaft, starter , ground, clutchcylinder,elec.harnes.. the whole right side seems to be loose but the other only moves a little , this is drivin me nuts i need help. TIA

Crippler · 09-29-2002, 06:11 PM

Don't know what you meant by the speed sensors being unscrewed. However they have to be removed for the bell housing to come off. They stick down on either side of the flywheel. But, becareful when removing them. They will break and are expensive to replace. Trust me I know first hand.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

You may still need to pry it off. Mine was rusted onto the guide pins. I swear my 85 1/2 was lashed down to the deck of the ship that transported it to America, everything was rusted.

JH924S · 09-30-2002, 10:27 AM

nah it really feels like im hitting something, b/c there is play but it knocks against something on that one side,like something internal?

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Well once you get the pin out you need to move the fork a bit. Stick you hand up into the access hole on the bottom and move the fork off of the throwout bearing.

Other than the shift fork there really should be nothing else holding it up if you have both of the reference sensors removed. Also there is a ground on top of the bellhousing just in front of the reference sensors. It should be easy to see with the sensors removed. Did you take it off?

JH924S · 09-30-2002, 01:22 PM

yeh i got all that ground wire off and sensors, but i didnt play with the fork all that much i thought it might be that, should it be all the way up in the center part or just ouut the acces hole there

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I remember that I had to wiggle it around and it just fell towards the bottom of the bell and then the housing slid off.

Gielamonster · 01-31-2005, 05:51 AM

I've had my engine sitting on the ground for a few months now after getting frustrated by this damn pin (and the fact that its friggin COLD outside). I like this bolt/pipe extractor idea, I hope it works for me! I've been pounding on it through the hole in the top of the bellhousing and it hasn't budged. Maybe if I use the extractor it'll come, or at least make it easier to pound.