Told the clutch needs replacing?

Hi there

I bought a 2008 Western Star with a Detroit under the hood about 3 months ago. I also drove this truck (hauling oil tanker) for the previous owner for a year also before buying it from him. I know he had done a lot of maintenance and repairs before I bought it. One of the things that were done was a clutch replacement about 18 months ago.

Couple days ago...I go out to the truck and try to put it in gear. But all it does is grind...and wont go into any gear with clutch to the floor. Tried the clutch pedal in different positions and still wouldn't.

So, I assumed it was the clutch brake and decided to take it to the shop today (I couldnt check myself as its -30 outside and I dont have a shop to park in...lol.). I got it moving by putting the truck in gear and pressing the clutch while starting it and the truck started to take off even while the clutch was still pressed to the floor.

The shop looks at it for about 20 minutes and tells me the clutch is shot and the clutch brake was still good? I was kinda surprised as I havent noticed any slipping but had noticed it getting harder to get into gear from a stop...but only sometimes (which is why I figured clutch brake). They couldn't do any repairs today so I had to bring it home.

Suddenly, now I can put it into gear again and its just like it was before. No slipping but a little tickle sometimes getting into gear.

Basically, I don't get it. If the clutch was bad...why would it start working again? Any advice you can offer is appreciated. I'm no mechanic by any means but I know a little bit and this just seems strange

Thanks in advance
Travis

 

No...when it was cold the other morning it wouldn't at all. Today when it was warmed up...it went into gear. I tried several times and it went into gear everytime. But the odd time not easily. Sometimes I would have to lift the clutch pedal a bit to get it to pop into gear nicely.

 

Thanks...Yeah I'm going to take it to the local CAT shop and get them to adjust. If that doesn't help...I'll take it back to the original shop for replacement.

 

I do grease it regularly. That's what the first shop said....that the clutch might be coming apart and stuff getting stuck between the discs. Makes sense why it started working again after they played around with it and driving it back and forth from the shop. I suppose if that is what's happening...it might be best to change it out?