Technical Clutch chatter with new clutch.

I guess every name brand manufacturer has the 10-in long style that I need but who to trust? I personally had good luck with Center Force and have never tried a ram before. A friend of mine just put a 10" unit from Fort Wayne in a 39 Ford and it's smooth like*****er but I guess it's a***** shoot

 

How does backing up push the torque tube forward?

 

Also thinking possible worn out U-joint in the clamshell but it's probably just a junk clutch

 

Actually, I brain farted that, in reverse it does not push the torque tube forward it pulls it backward, and pushes it forward when going forward.

When in reverse and you let the clutch out and the rear wheels are turning they are applying force to the the tires which in turn pulls the the car backward. This action also causes slight axle twist, especially with only the transverse leaf spring being the rear most axle location point. In reverse the axle twist would be to make the pinion want to move down. That in turn also unloads the chassis, but that is a separate issue. This downward movement of the pinion, then acts on the torque tube to want to rotate down which in turn causes the torque tube to pull rearward. Leaf springs are made to flex and move, so when that slight axle twist is applied to the rear and the reaction through the torque tube, it allows the movement rearward. All of this in in very small amounts of movement, but the issue can be exacerbated by loose or worn out motor mounts and no chatter rods being installed. But what cause the chatter, is the relation in the slight amount of movement and the clutch linkage. When backing up, you let the clutch out, it starts moving but flexes a little pulling the torque tube down and rearward, which then the clutch linkage, which is being held by you foot on the pedal, see the slight rear pulling like you are pushing the clutch in a little bit, which then unloads everything, but you foot is in the same place on the clutch pedal, which then causes the whole down and rearward pull of the torque tube and starts the minute clutch engage disengage cycle that continues to repeat itself till the clutch is all the way in out out. It is much more of a problem on 35 to 39 fords, because of the clutch linkage design, but it will also to the same thing, though not near as violent, on a 40 to 48. I was always told that this is why Ford changed the clutch linkage design in 1940 to address the issues of this clutch engage / disengage issue, which did help it but did not eliminate it. I had this same issue with my 39 when it still had the banjo and three speed, I had could watch the entire trans and engine move rearward when trying to back into my driveway when i had the trans cover off. everything was new, including the springs and mounts, but no chatter rods, and it was violent to say the least.

 

I knew all that, I just wondered if you had a different understanding than I did. Brain farts happen, I have a few every day it seems.
Hopefully your detailed explanation helps someone else understand how a torque tube driveline can be subject to clutch chatter, even with a perfectly good clutch plate, pressure plate and flywheel.

 

I doubt it.
I never had any chatter until I replaced this with a new one, and put new rubber mount in (1932), new gearbox, pulled all the clutch and flywheel off to check ,etc.
I thought maybe I had tightened up the chatter rods too much. (Although I don’t really understand how they work).

by the way, I only found this as I wanted to update the gearbox.
The bearings were gone and there was no clunking or indication that it was wearing out………

 

Wow so you didn't have a chatter until you put a new U-joint in?

 

I don’t think the chatter came from the U joint.
Put in :
New U joint and rubber mount, pulled all the pressure plate out and clutch to check it all, before putting it all back together.
Drove it for 12 years and never any chatter, since doing all the work in August 2017 - now I have the chatter on long trips, sometimes. Don’t seem to notice it around town.

 

"I knew all that, I just wondered if you had a different understanding than I did. Brain farts happen, I have a few every day it seems."
At least Brain Farts don't stink!