Sensitive clutch on 98 IH 9400

Cornbinders always had touchy clutches. I used it as little as possible.

 

No

 

If it has some free play at the top of the pedal not much you can do about that. Old clutches often have tired springs and hot spots. That makes them grab.
Some truck frames twist a lot and cause a similar situation.
Check your engine mounts, housings bolts and torque spring on top of the transmission.
My 9370 is very touchy. New clutch and engine mounts. I usually do like semi said. Use the clutch once and shift at low RPM. If I am trying to get out in traffic I twist it up and double clutch every shift.
Work with it. Different engine and transmission combinations work differently.

 

What are you running for power?

I know of a few guys with lower powered Class 8 trucks (>400 hp) that swapped out the ceramic button clutches to organic clutches so the engagement would less harsh.

 

Take the inspection plate off the bottom, where you grease the throughout bearing. Feel around in there. Look for broken dampening springs, laying in all the grease. If any are found, that’s the problem. Clutch is on borrowed time.

 

Looks like it left the factory at 455 hp (339 kW) but could be uprated to 470 hp (350.5 kW).

You should have enough ponies.

The truck in question the clutch swap was done on was an old pre-cup 3406A with only 375 hp. Clutch would engage so roughly that it needed some throttle to get moving loaded on a hill in 1st deep reduction. The organic clutch slipped more and allowed smoother take off out of the hole.

Is there any oil or excessive grease up inside the bellhousing? Grease and oil contamination can cause a clutch to be more grabby.

 

I wouldn’t put a ceramic clutch in anything older that has a hard to find replacement flywheel. They will eat the surface up more than an organic eventually making the flywheel scrap and if you can’t find a new or good used replacement you are without a paddle.