I recently had a new clutch installed in my truck (2002 Freightliner Classic XL).

I picked the truck up late at night at no one was around. I have since driven it over 1,000 miles. The clutch feels crazy. I am pretty sure that it is way out of adjustment. There is almost 4 inches of free pedal travel and only maybe 2 inches of actual clutch. The clutch takes hold if you even think about letting any pressure off of it from the floor.

I looked around here for the adjustment procedure but found one that I don't think pertains to my truck.

Looking through the inspection hole I see the trans brake and the fork, then the shaft with a spring around it, no threads, then the pressure plate.

I am sure that the clutch is adjustable. I have been a helper when it was done before.(Bump it over, O.K. hold the clutch in.) but never been on the bottom end to actually do the adjustement.

Where is the adjuster?

Thanks,

Dave

 

On the firewall there should be your clutch linkage. Take the clevise pin out and adjust it tell you have 1/2" free play. Probably will be about 5-6 turns on the clevice.

The real mechanics on here might want to add something about this.

I helped a mechanic put a trans and clutch in my truck, When we got everything installed the free play was a little off and he adjusted it on the firewall linkage.

 

There should be a half inch between the release brg & the clutch brake, if not it needs an internal adjustmant. The adjuster is on the pressure plate( clutch housing that bolts to the flywheel). Roll the engine over tll its at the bottom, a 15/16 on the alternator pulley works well, there's a couple different styles of locks. Some you depress & turn, others you remove a lock. Hold the clutch pedal down to turn the ring, turning it clockwise increases free play so by the sounds of it you should turn it counter clockwise...........

Freeplay is adjusted internally & clutch brake is adjusted on the linkage externally. Hope this helps

 

after measuring the distance between the release bearing and the brake, it is less than 1/4 inch so it looks like the guy just adjusted it too tight.

I guess I just am not familiar enough with the adjuster to know what I am looking for. I understand that it is supposed to be on the pressure plate, but I just can't find it.

Anybody have a pic or diagram?

Thanks,

Dave

 

If you bar the engine over 1/4 turn at a time & watch for it you'll find it............it should be quite noticeable..........

 

You need to have a 1/2 clearance between the throwout bearing and the clutch brake and 1/8 of an inch between the release fork and the throwout bearing. There are a couple of different types of clutches out there. The solo which is one is a self adj clutch which the only thing that you can adj with them is the clutch brake. Then there's the spicer which is normaly adj with a 5/8 wrench. Push the bolt in and turn clockwise to adj. After making the adj make sure the button on the adj pops out or the clutch will turn in all the way. You could try goig to the spicer web site and look in there for pictures...John

 

Never, Never, Never adjust the free travel on a double disc pull type clutch by messing with the external linkage!

Adjust only at the adjuster on the pressure plate.

 

Yes, what Slipshifter said!

 

O.k. I guess I will have to ask. Why don't you mess with the linkage?

No I don't plan on doing it, but now you have gotten me curious as to why.

I checked out my clutch some more. There is a metal piece with a bolt in it. removing the metal piece doesn't expose a screw or anything like that. The metal piece fits between two metal pieces on the pressure plate. I don't see any actual adjuster.

Thanks for all the replies,

Dave

 

Take the bolt out, it locks the adjuster ring, Hold the clutch pedal to the floor with a bar/helper etc. Using a prybar turn the ring counterclockwise ( opposite engine rotation). Move it 5 or 6 notches & check the adjustment, freeplay should be decreasing & the release bg shouild move away from the transmission. Turn the ring until you have a 1/2 inch between the brg & transmission.

You only adjust the linkage if the clutch brake needs adjusting due to linkage wear, cab mounts etc, not for freeplay.