Clutch smokes then doesn't what gives?

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idrift

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Been having some issues with my clutch, but they are weird.

I can go out and rev it up and dump the clutch and lay a 50 foot patch
no problem, then do the same the next day, and the clutch is smoking
not the tires. Then, go out the next day and smoke the tires again.
Weird, I would think if the clutch is shot it would slip all the time.

It's adjusted right, can't quite figure this one out.
 
I'm thinking, binding zbar, bad pressure plate, oil on the disc... none of those are fun. The clutch on my old truck would bleach the tires when cold but slip after the engine heated up...sorry not too much help.
 
check the oil in the transmission,sounds like the seal for the output shaft leaking onto the clutch
 
waggin said:
check the oil in the transmission,sounds like the seal for the output shaft leaking onto the clutch
Click to expand...

I just checked it when I changed the speedo pinion a week ago, are you
thinking it is too full?

I also need to pull the cover and look at the clutch type, isn't there something
about removing the over center spring on a certain style also that would
keep if from fully engaging?
 
Sounds like you're getting oil, water, or something in the bell housing.
 
sounds like I need to get the inspection cover off again and have a look.
 
Pulled the inspection cover tonight, what a rusted mess, yikes. That and a
bunch of black "tar" mess. Hard telling what is going on in there. Most things
the previous owner did are suspect, so not sure what to do other than get
what life I can out of it then replace it all.
 
I just don't have the funds for a replacement at the moment, I'll have
to see if I can get by for a while. There wasn't "light" oil in there anyplace
so cleaned it good and will check again in a week to see what it looks like.
The inspection cover is not from this car either, has an extra bolt hole that
goes no where.

How much for a good clutch and flywheel job?
 
So it seems I am missing a part of the inspection cover on the passengers
side that leaves the lower part open? Is the cover 2 pieces or did someone
hack this together on me? The oil I found appears to have come from when I
had a leak at the oil filter plate and it ran off the header and blew right into
the clutch area. What part of the cover am I missing???
 
There is a piece of special sheetmetal that goes in front to seal things up. I`m driving without one and experience the slip on occasion too. Damn oil leaks:angry7:. I have a raggity one but it goes on before the starter. I need to repair and install it before I get embarressed at a stoplight:-D Just the other day a miata pulls next to me, at a light, and I just knew he was going to launch it, Well he did, so I crack into it and it starts slipping, hit second still slipping, then finially grabs, by the time I hit third he was so far back I just let off it and hit fourth and crused. I get it back to my favorite burnout road to test it again and she hooks good. Our clutches are contaminated, maybe a good shot of brakeclean may help. but most likely, damage is done:clock:
 
I guess maybe I'll have to try to fab one up. I pretty much have the
oil leaking fixed...the guy who did the engine didn't remove the seal that
goes under the filter plate and it was painted orange with the engine, then
they put another seal on when they put the plate back on. When I pulled
the plate it was followed by a WTF. These kind of "things" have caused
me a little lost sleep and worries. They also didn't use the right washer
or key on the camshaft sprocket which caused a nice "walk" home and
tow with my Jeep as the sprocket spun and the fuel eccentric was free
wheeling. It's been "fun" or as my wife says, my vocabulary has been
expanding.

If anyone has a picture of that plate I think it would help out tons and
probably help quite a bit with the slipping but if not it should certainly
help when the clutch gets replaced!
 
I am using a truck clutch behind my small block with a OD manual. I had a local place set it up, 3000lbs, with a Kevlar disc set me back $200.00. It is the 10.95 diameter clutch, and it holds great, the pedal pressure is another story, but I don't mind....
 
Oh, yes i am missing a piece of sheet metal that goes between the block
and the bellhousing on the passengers side, does anyone have a picture you
can send me of the part. Oh , and the lower bolt hole is missing on mine
because the last owner decided to hack it off with a saw for some reason....
 
I`ve looked for my old one and can`t find it, guess I`ll be forking out for a new one, since my last post on this thread mine took a crap, pulled inspection cover and totally oil soaked, between powersteering leak and front seal. I`ve got my work cut out for me.

CHS911.jpg
 
Thats the part I need. Does anyone know where to get one?
 
I know this is an old thread, but I can contribute some info here.

I had a cracked front bearing retainer around my input shaft so I replaced it with a billet retainer from Brewers, but still had a leak at the front seal area.

I removed the inspection cover and I cannot see any leak from the bearing retainer area so I know that is fixed, but I remembered that when I had the bearing retainer off, I noticed that the input shaft had a groove worn where the radial seal from the bearing retainer had rubbed for years creating a groove which allows fluid to leak by which is most likely the source of my intermittent slipping, smoking clutch and mystery trans dope leak.

I will be pulling the transmission out once the weather is too cold to have fun on the street so I have plans to install a helper sleeve to slide onto the input shaft area that mates with the radial seal to keep the fluid from getting by.
If the leeves are not available, I will probably have to get a new input shaft.
If that is the case, I will have the trans gone through by a pro with modified synchro's for slicker shifting and whatever else one can do to an A-833 to make it more fun.

Hopefully my disk is not contaminated, if so, I will go with a dual friction clutch for more bite unless someone has any better suggestions.
 
The oil was the problem. when I used to run manuals; I left the cover off so rainwater splash would clean out the clutch dust. No problems.
 
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