Hot Rods Throw out bearing,trans input shaft question???

39 trans in an Av8 roadster. The throw bearing isn't making any noise and when going down the road and through the gears there is no problem. The problem is when I'm creeping along in traffic and am constantly using the clutch there's a sticky spot when releasing the clutch slowly and the same when I'm depressing the clutch slowly. When slowly letting out the clutch there is a sticky point where the clutch is still engaged and passed the sticky point it's released. There's isn't a smooth transition at the sticky spot. Now I'm definitely no mechanic but the throw out bearing slides on the trans input shaft, I think, now could there be a rusty spot on the input shaft where the the throw out bearing gets stuck then suddenly jumps past the sticky spot when releasing the clutch? Could it be on the input shaft and if so is there a way of lubing the input shaft without pulling the trans. It's an enclosed drive line so that would be a pain.
I hope I'm making sense. I've greased the zerk fitting on the clutch linkage but that didn't help.
Any ideas?

 

If there are no wear points causing the problem on the exterior operating rods/pivots etc, inside the clutch /bell housing, the T/O bearing slides on a sleve /collar at the front of the box (thru which the input shaft passes, I wouldn't think a rust spot, more like a wear on the collar (I have seen badly worn collars on OT vehicles when working on them, usually caused by the operating arc of the release arm) or possibly the fork that operates the bearing has worn a groove where it pushes the T/O bearing causing it to stick at a certain point of operation, Either way, if it's inside the clutch area, you will need to pull the box.

 

Thank you. The worn groove possibilty makes sense.

 

Take the little inspection cover off the top of the trans and watch what happens as you depress the clutch pedal. Might give you a clue what’s happening.

 

Thanks. That will be next.

 

Turned out the clutch fork was tweaked and was binding on the input shaft. When the clutch pedal was depressed and released really slow you could feel it binding. When depressing quickly and average shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd you couldn't feel it. Only when letting out slowly in 1st gear it was really noticeable.

 

That's one you don't expect on a 39 clutch fork.

Worn out bushings on the clutch shaft?

 

The early Ford (1935-48) clutch release fork is a forged steel part. It can be bent but it takes some effort to do so. We’ve seen the fork tips bent….not front to rear but side to side. I think it tends to happen when someone is driving the shaft out of the fork on a previous rebuild. The tips of the fork should fit to the “ears” of the carrier hub on the release bearing without binding. Likewise they should nestle into the notches on the front bearing retainer easily. If not, the fork should be removed and corrected if possible, or replaced.