Well I got everything together and found out the transmission is not engaged to the engine when in gear. Or at least when I spin the passenger wheel it is not engaged. The driver side axle is not installed yet and I'm wondering if maybe I am engaged, but can't see it because I don't have that other axle on. This axle idea was given to me by a friend at work, so I have not had a chance to verify that yet. But before I go home to tear this clutch apart I thought I'd ask some questions.

I am curious about the friction plate. When I installed it, the outside lip was not flat against the flywheel. It was about 3/8" away and I had to torque it down to get it to go flat against the flywheel. After torquing it down I also noticed that all the fingers that are normally pointed slightly out (maybe 20 degrees or so), where all completely flat and pointing directly at each other (0 degress). Is this normal or could this be part of my problem.

I had the flywheel machined, had no problem installing it. I used the alignment tool to keep the clutch in place while I installed the friction plate. The dowls lined up with the holes on the friction plate and I know that the clutch is not in backwards. It seemed to go together so good. But I'm just not sure about having those fingers bent in now.

Any suggestions?

PS: I have not installed the other axle because I'm doing the timing belt next.

 

Did you torque it down to the correct specification? If yes, then it's not the problem. Now if you overtighten them that could be it. The other thing is your freeplay. Is it cable or hydraulic? If it's cable, adjust your freeplay. It should be no more then 10-15 mm at the pedal and no more then 5 mm on the fork.

 

Yes, put the other axle in.

The pressure plate does extend away from the flywheel until the bolts are torqued down, at least on my clutch install it did. Your clutch is probably all good, and you just need to adjust engagement a bit.

 

Do you mean that you are spinning one wheel and it feels like it isn't resisting at all?
The diff is probably just spinning the other wheel in the other direction and you don't know it because you don't have an axle in that side. There is very little resistance with an open diff when you spin one tire, even if the car is in gear.

 

Sounds like you did everything correct. The fingers are supposed to be perfectly parallel to the flywheel (0 degrees). Just put in the other axel and everything will work. They only reason why it seems as though it is not engaging is because you have an open differential. Since the other axel is not in, there is no resistence which makes it seem that it is not engaging. Also when filling the transmission with fluid, jack up the passenger side only. That way you can get more fluid in the transmission.

 

Well, good. It sounds like it is doing what it is supposed to do. My buddy just did his civic and and doesn't remember the fingers bending in like that. It kinds freaked my out.

Anyway, I'll have it all back together in a few hours. I'll know then for sure. My clutch pedal is a bit easier to push now but engages the same as before. The first inch does nothing, then it gets stiffer. I bled the slave also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by randygzrs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Also when filling the transmission with fluid, jack up the passenger side only. That way you can get more fluid in the transmission. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You're not suppose to overfill it. Read the manual again.

Don't jack it up on the angle. The car must be levelled to the ground when you're putting the fluid in. Once you're filling it and you see the fuid is levelled. Put the drain plug back.