Pressure Plate SHEAR

[Spacecrab]

So the other day I shifted from third to second and that's where the gearbox decided to stay: I got home using low range/high range

As I wait for the mechanic who rebuilt the T90 to come off holiday I decided to have a look at the clutch and one of the fingers on the pressure plate has sheered clean off

No idea what could have caused it, I was on a highway so we were going fast when I slowed and downshifted

Have a look: the other two seem to be intact, not sure how it one could be damaged and the other two be fine

[Rus Curtis]

I'm thinking that until you disassemble, guessing why or how will be the only thing available.  Fatigue is funny; sometimes not obvious until after the failure.  You may not know what your jeep went through before you got it.  The transmission guy may not have inspected this real close (were there stress cracks already forming?).

I've had a couple of driven plates (friction plates) fail around the springs, but I've not read about this type of failure that I can recall.  IF you can, take it apart and see for yourself what may have happened.

If you can't source a replacement here (WTB), Try Harry Sheets:  http://www.midwestwillys.com/

[Spacecrab]

Thanks Russ, I appreciate the advice, I'll check back with the site and let y'all know the findings

I actually do have a spare somewhere as I've seen prices go up so much in just 10 years that I bought a lot of extra stuff

Phew I thought I was the only one that has had friction plates shatter: here's the first one it destroyed a year ago: I believed with the T90 fixed and without play the clutch problems would go away, guess I was wrong

[Spacecrab]

So we've dropped the clutch assembly and compared it to the older one

Seems the older one has hardened tips whereas the one which has failed can be filed and sawed very easily

I'm hoping we have this diagnosed correctly: swapping back to the old one seems an easy fix

Unfortunately the gearbox sticking in second is a totally separate problem 

[Rus Curtis]

Another great endorsement to not throw away old parts until you know the new parts are good. Also, keeping old parts as spares is obvious!