MTFCA Forum

Should the pins stick through the drive plate? Right now, with the correct number of clutch disks the pins are just below the surface of the drive plate. Guessing there might be some wear so am thinking of adding a large and small disk to bring those pins up higher.

Yes. Hard to believe there would be that much wear to be the problem. Got the correct # of disks? Stock steel disk set?
Find the real problem. Dont mask it with extra disks.

Correct number 13 and 12 (but I am going to pull back out and recount), original disks, yes.

John;
Sunday AM went out and did some more checking. I didn't think it was relevent but am using a 1925 ring in the 26/27 brake drum/drive plate assembly.
See post below for more updates...

I have a stack of '26 - '27 rings - send me your address & I'll throw one in the mail !

Thanks for the offer Steve, but I drilled the holes out to accept the earlier disk ring. Just went out to do some more checking, the ring works fine, the pins will stick out as they should after I removed the clutch spring pressure from the fingers, no interference because of the larger outer diameter. I did check the disk stack height; it was short even with the correct number of disks. Adding two more disks brings it up to 1-1/8" as it should be. I have seen this before where the pins started working under the drive plate ploughing a groove in it even with correct number of disks.
I am under a deadline to get this back together, needs to have some run time before next weekend but will do a little more exploring before I button it up.

Its a curiosity that the pack is 1/8" short with the correct # of disks. Are the disks reproduction made with thinner metal?
If it were a wear issue on original used ford disks, the wear would be obvious. I have not seen used disks worn to that extent.
You are not working with an early brake drum that requires the thick first disk? Not sure how that changes the pack's stack dimension.

You may have a pressure ring that was modified to use with a watts clutch. Installing a watts clutch required that you shorten the pins. The stock clutch pack should be 1.125" thick. If it measures too thin, you can add another large plate to the top or bottom of the stack. If that's still not enough add one more small and another large plate. Don't get the stack too thick, or the clutch will drag heavily when the engine warm up.

Stephen

Stephen_heatherly wrote: ↑

Sun May 04, 2025 3:43 pm

You may have a pressure ring that was modified to use with a watts clutch. Installing a watts clutch required that you shorten the pins. The stock clutch pack should be 1.125" thick. If it measures too thin, you can add another large plate to the top or bottom of the stack. If that's still not enough add one more small and another large plate. Don't get the stack too thick, or the clutch will drag heavily when the engine warm up.

Stephen

Thanks, it isn't from Watts setup. Yes on the 1-1/8th which is where the stack is now with 2 extra disk, with oil added between disks.

John it is 1926/27 brake drum and correct clutch hub and no on reproduction disk.

I have come to the conclusion that it is more than likely worn pins. I added the two more disks to the stack to bring the pins out. That will bring the height of the stack a little over the 1-1/8", but it has to be what it is.
Next step is bore the 4th main and get the pan put back on then on to finishing the hogs head so I can button that part up and get engine installed.
Thanks for the suggestions and help!
Have a great rest of Sunday and week.

Someone mentioned the Watts clutch pin modification. I measured a stock T plate to pin length & it was 1.065 & the Watts modified plate to
pin is .985 in length.
Craig.