How to tell when your clutch needs to be replaced.

It has become very common in this industry to periodically adjust the clutch by running the ring in a couple or three notches. While this will increase free travel and clutch brake at the same time, it ignores the foundation for a proper clutch adjustment, which is 1/2" air gap between the bearing and the brake. The internal travel of the clutch gets thrown off making these adjustments and sooner or later causes clutch failures.

 

Questions, more questions If I'm lucky and get the proper clutch operation doing this, how can I determine how much clutch life is actually left, as the clutch surfaces cannot be seen from the inspection plate?

 

You can't read remaining clutch life.

One thing that I failed to mention for your unique situation: When you back up the clutch ring adjustment (counter clockwise) you're likely to run out of free travel in doing so. This will hold pressure on the release bearing and give you a false measurement on your 1/2" gap. If this happens, adjust free travel into your clutch linkage so there is no pressure on the release bearing for proper measurement.

 

When it lost adjustment (changed suddenly) that is what happened. It all makes sense now.

Thanks for your help and sharing your knowledge. Really appreciate that.

 

I think I've covered it all, but if you run into problems just yell, I'm glad to help when I can.

 

Here is a link to that clutch install and adjustment video Mr Haney posted awhile back. Good visuals there.
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rs/164204-clutch-adjustment-how-to-video.html

 

Hi, thanks for the video.

Before I got chatting with "Bender" everything I read or came across said two things: (1) rotate the adjustment ring to adjust the clutch and (2) leave the linkages alone. That's the impression I got.

I now know this is wrong.

 

Deleted the duplicate post, forum thought I was a BOT,

 

Did you get your clutch adjustment worked out?

 

I squeaked by for today, got my hauling work done, but tomorrow I'll have a go at that linkage and do it right. I'm hoping I've got some more life left the clutch because my $$ were targetted at other equipment.