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You know from my other post that I just picked up the rebuilt tranny for my M37. When I removed the old one, I noticed something odd: the last 1/4 inch of the input sleeve looked as if it had been machined, with a taper working out toward the front edge. This didn't look right so I pulled the clutch set last night. Sure enough, the pressure plate fingers (when the clutch pedal was pressed) apparently made contact with the end of the input sleeve, machining off some of the material. Closer inspection also revealed that the throwout bearing carrier showed wear on the inner rim edge just inside the bearing edge. The throwout bearing also has about 1/8 inch side-to-side play (and it is new, with 31 miles on it. I checked the clutch numbers-it is the Borg and Beck 10-inch clutch set so I beleive it is the correct clutch.

Has anyone experienced or heard of this? I'm considering cutting back on some of the finger area to provide adequate clearance, but this side play and wear on the throwout bearing and carrier is another concern.

Any and all replies are welcome-thanks in advance,
Gary

If the pressure plate fingers were making contact with the sleeve, they were being depressed too far. A linkage adjustment should correct that problem.

If it was necessary to depress them that far in order to get the cutcch to disengage, that indicates a different problem entirely, but I'm not sure what could cause it at the moment.

There should NOT be 1/8" lateral free play on the throwout bearing. My guess on that would be that you don't have the right bearing.

Thanks for your input, Lifer! I've changed a thousand clutches in my military career but have never seen the oddities this one has presented. Honestly, it's been this way with the whole truck-fighting me at every turn but after 5 years I'm past the "I give up" stage.
Gary

Way to go, troop! Keep plugging away at it. Sooner or later, you'll "take that hill."

Fortunately I found a new Timken throwout bearing locally through Auto Zone (they had to search '66 Dodge 3/4 ton truck to find it ), so I will be tackling this job this coming weekend. Oh, I also checked the end play on the transmission input shaft per Charles' advice- no improper movement at all-everything is tight and orderly. More to follow,
Gary

I took a minute last night to remove the old t/o bearing-good thing I did, as it apparently seized from the get-go and ground the bearing carrier sleeve. What a POS-even with all of my PM on the first install the bearing ended up worthless, and took out the bearing carrier with it.

Where are my parts catalogs....?
Gary

What parts need to be replaced? I may have some extras here and will save you the cost of ordering them. If I have what is needed there yours for postage only.

That's kind of you to offer, Carter! Do you have a spare throwout bearing carrier? That's what I need.
Thanks!
Gary

I'll check today and let you know.

Gary, I found the carrier I have and it's very rusty with the bearing frozen to it and think it's most likely junk and not worth trying to save. Don't know why I've kept it other than it's an M37 part and don't usually scrap that stuff but in this case it is scrap! Thought I could help but not this time, sorry.

That's ok Carter-your generous offer was very gracious! I've located one at a reasonable cost-thank you for looking out for me-I'd do the same for you!
Gary

It was worth a try just to see if I could help a brother owner, maybe next time.

By the way as an FYI, if anyone wondered about the '66 Dodge 3/4 throwout bearing I noted above, YES, it is the correct one for the M37 and is a USA-made Timken #4065. I installed it along with the transmission last evening.
Gary