Clutch Pedal Seized

[swampdigger]

As some of you might know, I bought an '85 F-250 with a broken bellhousing. I'm a broke college student, and I've got it in the campus automotive mechanics shop right now to be replaced.

Thinking about why the clutch pedal seized though, the release bearing slid okay along the input shaft retainer. But when you push it right up to the end of the shaft, it hung up as it partway fell off.

I'm not sure if it can ever get that far up on the shaft with the pressure plate installed, but is this a possibility? During normal operating where does the release bearing spend most of its time?

Please please please don't tell me to start replacing parts, as it's totally outta the budget. We're looking for half-assed fixes here, seriously. I'll change what I absolutely need to, but nothing else.

 

[swampdigger]

Well, as a follow-up, I got ahold of the previous owner, and they said the clutch got stiffer and stiffer over a 2 year period. The shop figures it was because of a slight rear main seal leak which gummed up the shaft.

Anyway, I don't think I'll ever be allowed to bring a vehicle into the school shop again. They wanted me to replace everything: flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disk, slave cylinder.

Most non-ignorant people would have let them, but the disk still had decent groves in it! Didn't slip before, so I'm sure it'll be fine considering I won't be hauling anything around.

They didn't like my penny pinching attitude. I guess they were hoping to give the students some experience doing this work, instead of simply having them man-handle the powertrain apart to change out a bellhousing. Oh well!

 

[sle2115]

Check the firewall!!!! They are poorly designed and tend to fail - crack and it allows the master cylinder to move when you push the clutch pedal. The bushings up under the dash, on the clutch and brake pedal pivots are also prone to wear, they are just little plastic bushings, problem is, when they wear, often times they go unreplaced and the hole in the metal gets worn from continued use/not replacing the bushings.

I would check all this out as well, don't ask how I know...

 

[Mont91]

Well lets see, something can be seizd for non payment, it has violated some law or a coupe that seized control of a government. Since the pickup may have been built in Canada maybe the INS seized it as an illegal import.

I do not remember your original post. Did the bell housing break because of the seized clutch? I would suggest the pressure plate be checked for binding, I just do not see the throw out bearing causing that much resistance without a bent shaft or something simular.

 

[swampdigger]

I think its had the firewall problem already! I saw some reinforcing around the master cylinder

I fully intend to pay, I just don't want to dump 1000 bucks into a beater truck, and they're disappointed they don't get to have fun actually servicing this thing properly. I want them to do a sub-standard job, and it's sorta mad them mad.

Binding pressure plate? ****, that actually makes a lot of sense. The bellhousing broke from what I assume to be too much force required to release the clutch. I too am skeptical that it was the throwout bearing binding, because I slid it by hand.

The previous owner figured it broke because of a hairline crack or something, but that's just his theory.

Dammit, pressure plates are pricey.

 

[swampdigger]

Oooh ooooh!!!

A bent or worn release fork could cause it to jam up, eh? Fingers crossed, I hope that was it because I actually bought a new fork for it, hahaha.

 

[Muddinkev44]

Dude, I feel your pain with being in college cause im trying to scrounge up cash for new injectors and it aint workin too well..... all i gotta say is with a welder, and angle grinder and some 2" angle you can fix almost anything....

 

[swampdigger]

Haha, true that. Yeah, it's frustrating because they want to throw money at it to make the problem go away, and I want to positively figure out what's wrong and only fix that. Easy for them because it ain't their money!

I'm getting my grinder sent to me from home Once it warms up it bit, it's bodywork time.

 

[adrianspeeder]

You broke the bell! Wow, haven't saw that ever on one of these cast iron units. Start searchin junkyards for a T19 IDI bell housing.

Adrianspeeder

 

[The Warden]

The T-19 bellhousing is aluminum. It's not an integral part of the tranny like it is with the ZF and Mazda trannies.

IIRC this isn't the first bellhousing to break...

 

[sle2115]

The T-19 bellhousing is aluminum. It's not an integral part of the tranny like it is with the ZF and Mazda trannies.

IIRC this isn't the first bellhousing to break...

Yeah, I think I have seen a post or two about it, but can't seem to remember the reason, or if one was ever found.

 

[tonkadoctor]

A bent or worn release fork could cause it to jam up, eh? Fingers crossed, I hope that was it because I actually bought a new fork for it, hahaha.

Broke bell housing & bent/worn forks????

Those parts don't break easy, you better take a close look to find out why it broke those parts or get ready to eat some crow & start saving up to put it in the shop again.

 

[swampdigger]

There are a lot of rabbits on campus...

 

[Agnem]

You can't just slide the TOB on the shaft with your hand and say it's OK. When the fork pushes on it, and the presure plate fingers are against it, things can get cattywhampus and if it is being moved off-center then it can bind. The fact that your bell housing broke, indicates that the problem is internal to the bell housing, and you should have listened to your shop folks. Just replaceing the bell housing will result in another broken bell housing. You most likely have a worn clutch fork and ball, and probably a presure plate problem. I'm not going to list all the parts you should have replaced, cause you've got that list already, but the reality here is that no magic potion exists that will reduce your need for cash.

 

[towcat]

Reading this brings back memories why I closed off my shop to servicing the general public. I am in a area where men are too much of a ***** to change a flat tire, yet when their car is in the shop and they get hit with a whopper of an estimate, they suddenly become auto repair "experts". I then get to do my "cozality"(name the movie folks) spiel. Cause and effect....you see and cured the effect, but the cause has not been found and eliminated. Good luck in finding another bellhousing. Oh yea, how to get rid of the second guessers? Open the shop to fleet work only. Fleets don't care as much about the nickel and dime cost when the vehicle is down, its costing major $$$ to them until the vehicle is returned to service.