Inspecting a 6 spring clutch
 

After inspecting my clutch friction plate, I notice it was black on both sides. The Hanes manual suggests throwing the friction pad away if it looks like this, but they only show the four spring version. Is the 6 spring friction plate made of black material, or is mine soaked with oil?

Also, my throw out bearing is bone dry because this engine sat for so long. It spins freely, but it sounds like an old roler skate bearing or those old Schwinn bearings that they put in cruiser bikes. Can I just repack this thing with grease or is it toast?

Kurt

Most of the friction discs I have seen are made of black material. A few have been a tan color. If the disk is saturated with oil it would be very noticeable. The disk would be very shiny and the flywheel and bell housing would be covered in a black, greasy, sticky mess, in addition to signs of fresh oil from either the main or o-ring seals.

Four or six springs on the disk is not an issue. Mine has six too, the picture is likely from a different manufacturer or a VW counterpart.

The throw-out bearing in sealed and ungreaseable. Any attempt to grease would result in the grease being spun out from centrifical force and into the cluth itself. A new one would be worth piece of mind.

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Chris
75 914 2.0L