Clutch problems

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by KDubFarmer, Jan 27, 2015.

  1. KDubFarmer

    KDubFarmer Bobtail Member

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    Aug 5, 2014
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    One morning a couple months ago the clutch went on my truck. Hit 7th gear and got one hell of a shake going on, looked in the mirror saw it blowing smoke out from under the cab. Hit 8th gear and the same thing. Ok clutch was done. Got it in the shop and a new one put in. They said it had a reman clutch in it so obviously it's been replaced once before. But not even 3000 miles put on it and the brand new clutch is slipping. And not just a subtle little slip, a good hard jerk in and shaking slip. But the odd thing is it only does it in 7th and 8th gears between 1300-1500 rpm. Sometimes you can feel it a little bit in 6th and 9th gears too but not like 7th and 8th (18 speed transmission). But it will only do that right away in the morning when I take off. Once I get through the gears once it seems to be fine the rest of the day.

    Also since I've got it back from the shop there has been a rattle can sound coming from beneath the cab. Had the mechanic look at it and he says it's coming from inside the bell housing and thinks it's most likely the clutch brake rattling but doesn't seem to think it's any sort of problem to worry about. It is however annoying as hell as it just rattles as you're sitting idle and I can hear it in certain gears while shifting. Could this be related to the clutch slipping at all?
     
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  3. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    A new clutch does take time to wear in basically. I had a new clutch put in last year and leaving the shop bobtail I could slip it. I just went easy on it for a few weeks and it seated in just fine
     
  4. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

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    In my driving days I had two clutches replace, I had no such problems. There's a problem somewhere & the clutch probably will not last very long.
     
  5. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    How is a new replacement clutch with the flywheel resurfaced any different from a brand new truck? Clutches in new trucks don't need a break-in period. Why should a replacement need to be broke in. A reman clutch is a horse of a totally different color.
     
  6. SmokinCAT

    SmokinCAT Road Train Member

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    Each new truck is ran on a dyno prior to leaving the factory.
     
  7. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    This is true. I've had multiple new clutches do this. Not remans , new eaton
    They need to seat.
     
    lester Thanks this.
  8. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    I am with HasBeen, Guns, and Cat. I wonder if Lester and Swaan's clutches had the flywheels surfaced? Someone used 1/2 tube of grease on the shaft that slung out on the disc or something like that? If Farmer has that problem would 3000 miles not be enough time to clear it out? The only time I can recall clutch brakes making rattling noise was when the input shaft was worn down to a smaller OD at the clutch brake area. Can you get trans in gear without grinding while parked? Got freeplay? Sounds like warranty work to me and if the shaft is bad it should probably have been replaced with the clutch.
     
  9. KDubFarmer

    KDubFarmer Bobtail Member

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    Well I understand there's going to be a break in interval. I've got about 3000 miles on this new clutch so far and my mechanic said that's about how many miles the break in should be. Not sure how true this is or what the break in really should be. So I get there will be some slipping, but this thing will slip HARD. But like I mentioned in my original post it only does it at certain times. And it's kind of odd how and when it does start slipping like that.
     
  10. KDubFarmer

    KDubFarmer Bobtail Member

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    Aug 5, 2014
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    I should mention that the fly wheel was turned when this new clutch was put it. So it's true, or should be. Also the input shift and bearings were replaced at the same time. As for the rattle, we're still not sure what it is. The mechanic guessed it was the clutch brake but we really don't know what it is unless we pull it apart. All we know right now is that the sound seems to be coming from inside the bell house.
     
  11. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Your clutch brake in period should be the same as a Nascar car, they are expected to work right out of the gate. I did see a throughout bearing do the noise thing like that before. I don"t know if it was a bad new bearing or the guys did something to mess it up, abuse, no grease?
     
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