Clutch Issues

[Gumby'sC20]

Ok guys, like you probably know, I just got my truck and it needs some basic care.

Heres another issue. The clutch. The reasons:

1) The clutch pedal needs to be pressed to the floor very hard to engage gears

2) When to the floor, you can still hear the clutch rubbing (a whining noise)

3) In 2nd gear at a stop with the clutch firmly to the floor the truck still inches forward

4) Moving through gears takes extreme amounts of force on the shift lever and *sometimes* is impossible to muscle into gears.

5) I *think*, when the truck is off, it's as easy as cake to move through gears with clutch pedal in


Not sure what the issue is...

[El Jay]

Sounds like an adjustment problem.

This is actually a lot easier than it reads:

1) Disconnect the clutch fork return spring @ the fork on the clutch housing.
2) Loosen the outer adjusting nut & back it out ~1/2 " from the swivel.
3) Hold the clutch fork pushrod against the fork to move the throwout bearing against the clutch fingers. The pushrod will slide through the swivel @ the end of the cross-shaft.
4) Rotate the lever until the clutch pedal contacts the bumper mounted on the parking brake support.
5) Adjust the inner adjusting nut to obtain ~1/4 cleaance between the nut & the swivel.
6) Release pushrod, connect the return spring & tighten the outer nut to lock the swivel against the inner nut.
7) Check for free travel @ the pedal and readjust as necessary. It should be 3/4"-1".

[68gmsee]

Have you replaced any parts lately? I've gotten some defective pressure plates that acted the same way.

Since you mentioned that when it's turned off it's easy to shift through the gears, then something is continuing to keep the clutch gear shaft moving. More than likely it's an adjustment. However, if after you check the linkage it's still not shifting right, it could be mechanical problems like worn or defective clutch disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing or pilot bushing. Maybe a combination of those.

[Gumby'sC20]

No parts have been replaced. Everything is As-Is when I purchased the truck a few weeks ago.

[El Jay]

Clutches wear, that's why they need to be readjusted from time to time.

[Gumby'sC20]

Truck shifts gear-to-gear easily as should with clutch pedal pressed and truck is off.

When the truck is on it's very hard to move gear-to-gear.

Not quite sure why...

we've been wrenchin in the cold for about an hour with no results yet

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

...Since you mentioned that when it's turned off it's easy to shift through the gears, then something is continuing to keep the clutch gear shaft moving. More than likely it's an adjustment. However, if after you check the linkage it's still not shifting right, it could be mechanical problems like worn or defective clutch disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing or pilot bushing. Maybe a combination of those.

I'm not suggesting you do the following and if you do it you have to be absolutely sure you take safety precautions.

I was having trouble with not one, but two defective pressure plates, I removed the flywheel dust cover, raised both the rear wheels and placed the axle on heavy duty stands. I also chocked the truck so it wouldn't move and observed from underneath as a buddy depressed the clutch pedal and cranked the engine. I was able to observe that the pressure plate fingers were being depressed to the max but they were not releasing the clutch completely.

The third pressure plate I got from a different source and it worked fine after that.