i got a 53 ford with a problem, need some help

hey guys,
i've got a 53 ford with a inline 6 on a 3 speed tranny. anyways, i've had some clutch problems, at first it didnt' want to return from the floor, then it started to stay way down low and not catch enough clutch to shift smooth.., so after looking at the z-bar linkage i'm guessing that i need a whole new z-bar part. the springs look good, but when i push the clutch pedal to the floor it just goes and stays way down there and doesnot catch any clutch, wont get into gear and the pedal wont return but maybe 3/4 of an inch. it took about 2 weeks to go from driving just fine to slowly getting no clutch at all. i've tried to hunt down a z-bar with out much luck. if anyone has had this problem let me know, or of maybe you have a z-bar you can sell me, let me know. i gotta find a fix for this.

-she's been sittin for about 2 weeks, gotta get her back on the road.

-john

 

Hey,

This sounds more like a pressure plate problem, than an adjustment.
How old is the clutch? And, what about the pedel return spring?


Swankey Devils C.C.

 

Take a picture of the linkage so you can re-install it correctly, then take it all apart and weld up all the worn parts. Make sure the motor mounts aren't sagging so badly the linkage binds. If the clutch worked OK 2 weeks ago, the pressure ass'y & disc should be fine.

 

alright guys, i got under my car and played around a little with my clutch adjustments, i dont think it's the linkage at all.... i felt around the whole z-bar for wear or loose parts, that thing is solid has hell, i may need to replace a clutch return spring that attaches to the fire wall but here's the important part.., .., i noticed that there was some play in the little stubby arm that sticks out of the tranny or clutch housing. it's an arm about 4 inches long and 2 inches thick. as i adjusted the push action rod that applies perssure to that arm i saw how it moves in and out a pretty good amount, at least 1 inch, maybe 2 , it doesn;t look natural to move in and out, clutch action would be back and fourth.. does this arm inside the tranz give a negitave or return pressure on it's own?, and do they have that much play in and out? i'm thinking what ever that arm is hooked to inside my tranny is fucked, along with a clutch return spring.

-i'm so new at this motor head stuff.., i know i sound crazy but how elds does a person learn, thanks for the help.

-john

 

i drew some stuff in there to show what i'm talking about.., the red lines is the "z-bar" linkage. which i'm thinking now is solid.., the arrow points to a return spring, and HHHAAA- the yellow circle., this is the stubby arm i'm talking about, i tried to adjust the screw that attached to the front of it and realized that the arm (in the circle) is loose inside the transmission! i know it's supposed to move back and fourth to get the action the clutch needs, but it wants to come out, like strait out. almost an inch and a half or 2 niches. this is why i'm not getting any clutch and this is why it took 2 weeks to work loose. (i think so anyways) so, since i'm not an inner clutch guy
or a tranny man, it's going to a tranz shop. too bad i have to flat bed it there.

any ideas of what these parts are that make this happen?
thanks.

 

That clutch fork with the yellow circle pivots on a fulcrum inside the bellhousing and pushes the throwout bearing into the pressure plate to engage/disengage the clutch. The fix could be as simple as putting the fork back in the correct position inside the bellhousing, or as complex as replacing the fulcrum and/or the fork. Good luck.

Dan