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TECH: Mechanical Clutch Linkage

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Tindall, Sep 30, 2008.

  1. Tindall
    Joined: Jun 7, 2007
    Posts: 399

    Tindall

    I had a few options for clutch linkage on my hot rod. I like the simplicity of mechanical linkage, and it was pretty cheap.




    I started out with a DOM tube with a 7/8 id and a wall of 1/8. Then i made two Arms out of 1/4 flat stock. I used 2 GM Clutch Pivot balls for each end.

    [​IMG]
    One pivot will bolt through a 3/8 plate, attached to the boxed frame.
    [​IMG]

    On the other end, i pick up off of three bolt on the blow proof bell housing. [​IMG]

    This is what it looks like outside of the frame.
    [​IMG]

    And Inside
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    I used a corvette clutch fork, and a clevis for the fork side. The threaded rod to the clutch for is only for mockup, it will get a real rod later
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And on the pedal side, i used two Heim Joints. This is only a mock up for now, for the real deal, it will get a 7/16 tube and larger heim joints.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Hopefully, this will help someone out designing their clutch linkage.

    Matt Tindall
     
  2. Belchfire8
    Joined: Sep 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,540

    Belchfire8
    Member

    Thanks, might be usefull for me in the future. Are all those parts, pivots and clutch fork, etc. available new?
     
  3. Tindall
    Joined: Jun 7, 2007
    Posts: 399

    Tindall

    Yep, got them from Paragon Corvette, they have a website.
     
  4. blackout
    Joined: Jul 29, 2007
    Posts: 1,320

    blackout
    Member

    Nice. This is better than going with the used stuff as it is worn near out by the time you get it, and you have to cut it up anyway. Is that a Lakewoood scattershield?
     
  5. Tindall
    Joined: Jun 7, 2007
    Posts: 399

    Tindall

    most likely, it came with my 68 camaro
     
  6. great design!
     
  7. pan-dragger
    Joined: Sep 13, 2006
    Posts: 3,186

    pan-dragger
    Member

    nice tech, thanks
     
  8. skwurl
    Joined: Aug 25, 2008
    Posts: 1,620

    skwurl
    Member

    Good job Great tech. Thanks!
     
  9. lucky_1974
    Joined: Nov 18, 2002
    Posts: 1,068

    lucky_1974
    Member

    Hey that looks great I did something similar, the only difference is I drilled and tapped a hole for grease zurks and used a couple of battery post felts on the ends of the bell crank to act as a dust /grease seal. Nice job!
     
  10. SASROD
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 164

    SASROD
    Member

    Looks good, been thinking about making a mech. linkage too. Do you think you need some way to keep your bellcrank centered between the pivot balls?
     
  11. Rich Wright
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,918

    Rich Wright

    Nice work. Simple,effective and well executed.

    Rich
     
  12. Shifty Shifterton
    Joined: Oct 1, 2006
    Posts: 4,964

    Shifty Shifterton
    Member

    Nicely done tech

    What info/method did you use to figure out the lever ratios?
     
  13. 1950ChevySuburban
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 6,185

    1950ChevySuburban
    Member Emeritus
    from Tucson AZ

    Weird............. yesterday was clutch linkage day for my '71 Chevy pickup. I got mine working and adjusted nice!

    You did real good here, nice post and really nice results!
     
  14. Gusaroo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2006
    Posts: 285

    Gusaroo
    Member

    Nice, clean and simple. Sweet.
    Grainger's has huge variety of quality heim joints, and they are surprisingly cheap. I just rigged up a hydraulic clutch set up and purchased most of the linkage parts from them.
    http://www.grainger.com
     
  15. Tindall
    Joined: Jun 7, 2007
    Posts: 399

    Tindall

    yep i had a 7/8 od tube to slide in and weld inside the main tube to stop left to right movement. haven't gotten to that yet though
     
  16. SASROD
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 164

    SASROD
    Member


    Thats what I was thinking you could do, maybe a couple of holes in the outer tube and rossette weld it in there. You could even slide some of the nylon socket bushing things in there to reduce wear on the pivot balls.
     
  17. TagMan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2002
    Posts: 6,343

    TagMan
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great Tech article ! Wish I had it when I did the one for the Buick - would have saved me a lot of time & trial. Mine was very similar, but I added a small grease fitting for periodic lubes.
     
  18. 392_hemi
    Joined: Jun 16, 2004
    Posts: 1,737

    392_hemi
    Member

    You could put bonze bushings in there and not have to worry about lube.
     
  19. TagMan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2002
    Posts: 6,343

    TagMan
    ALLIANCE MEMBER



    Yep, that'd work, too.
     
  20. Good looking stuff. How does it feel? I guess you get your mechanical advantage from the length of the clutch pedal? How do you figure all this out, is there a ratio that you have found?
     
  21. 30 Buford
    Joined: Nov 4, 2007
    Posts: 399

    30 Buford
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nice Job , This will be very helpful to me when I fab. mine . In the not too distant future( I hope)
    Thanks for posting , Bruce
     
  22. DollaBill
    Joined: Dec 23, 2003
    Posts: 372

    DollaBill
    Member

    So, check this out...

    I mounted the brake and clutch pedal in the '54 Dodge Coronet gasser I am building for my friend Zombie, today.

    392 Hemi, Muncie 4 speed.

    As I am doing this, I am designing the clutch linkage in my head, right, as we all do.

    I get done, log on the H.A.M.B., and here's this post. It's...sublime?

    Viva la H.A.M.B.!
     
  23. Southfork
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 1,465

    Southfork
    Member

    Very helpful. Thanks for posting this great tech!
     
  24. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    I like you concept and the workmanship is excellent. The rolling chassis Brookville '31 roadster I bought partially completed, and am currently working on was already set up with a hydraulic setup when I got it. But if I have any problem with it, this approach looks good!
    Like several others ahead of me, I would like to have some idea of a total combined leverage ratio to start out with in my design.
    Dave
     

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