Clutch Alignment?

[iflylow74]

Hey all,

Finally have my new crank/bearings installed and am on to install the flywheel and clutch. This is all new to me so I'm learning as I go.

Any tips on aligning the clutch? I've seen special tools used for this but hate to purchase one if not completely necessary as I will probably never use it again.

Thanks!

[p3ferris]

Clutch aleignment tool is a wood peg.  Only a few bucks.  make sure it is for your vehicle. Well worth the few  dollars.

[Gunslinger]

I made one out of an old broom handle that fit the ID of the clutch disc.  Turned the end down to fit the pilot hole.  It wasn't pretty, but as long as the engine is out and you can see what you are doing its OK.  If you can find the wooden one for that engine your best off, but I have't seen those for a while.  

Once I was able to talk an old mechanic out of a worn out pilot shaft for the vehicle I was working on.  That was free and accurate1!!

[jamesr]

I used the input transmission shaft, then assembled the transmission.  Jim

[athawk11]

I'm kind of in line with JamesR.

I set the clutch in position and tightened the pressure plate just enough to hold the disc in place.  Without the bellhousing on, and although it was heavy and cumbersome, I was able to take the assembled transmission (disconnected from the transfer case and cross member), slide it into the clutch splines and guide bearing, then tightened the pressure plate bolts a little at a time, crossing back and forth until they were all tight.  

Note: The transmission shaft was wired in place so the shaft would stay in position.  Also, my Willys is completely disassembled for a restoration.  It made good sense for me to do it this way.  (I didn't take the transmission totally apart as the prior owner had done this a few years ago.)

Note: The transmission is a bit heavy assembled.  I had it sitting on some blocks while I used it to align the clutch.  This also assured that the splines on the shaft and the clutch mated and were the right size.

I know this is goofy, but it worked for me.

Tim

[RussellL]

Napa sells some generic plastic alignment tools and Jungle Jims (aka Willysjeepparts.com) sells a specific tool for $16.95 and includes one if you buy a clutch kit from them.  There may be other jeep parts sellers that have them also.  They aren't expensive.  

[Carls_jeep]

Geez Tim, you sure did it the hard way. It's cheap to buy a generic clutch alignment tool and not have to fight with all that weight and I don't know how you really had it in line like that. I guess it worked for you but I bet that was a real wrestling match under there.

I have done so many clutches I have gotten to where I hate doing it and find the easiest way now. I even bought my uncles tranny jack so I wouldn't have to lift the buggers any more than needed.

If you replaced the input shaft when you rebuilt the tranny you can use that to align the clutch.

[athawk11]

Hey Carl.  

Yeah,  a bit crazy, but as mentioned, the CJ is disassembled.  The tub is off, so I was able to work from above.  I got the clutch in the mail and was so excited to actually reassemble something...anything,  that I didn't want to wait 4 days to get an alignment tool through the mail.

Tim

[Carls_jeep]

Yea, having the tub off made it easier. If you ever do a clutch job again and you align the clutch plate but the tranny still won't go in have someone work the clutch release fork while you shove the tranny in. As long as the input shaft is in the clutch plate but it won't go into the pilot bearing that trick will work. It's still a wrestling match but it will work.