1979 J10 Clutch Problem

[marc6277]

Hi Everybody. I'm new to the jeep world. About 3 months ago I bought a 1979 jeep j10 that i've been using as my daily driver while I restore all the cosmetic defects. This is a great truck, 4-wheel drive works, and everything else functions great until just last week. The rod that engages the throw-out arm popped out on me while in morning traffic, which of course made the clutch pedal go all the way to the floor and stay there. I was able to get it back in and keep just enough pressure on the clutch pedal to ensure that it did not come back out until I got where I needed to be. I extended the threaded rod on the push rod thinking that it was just too short and managed to work its way out. Everything was fine until yesterday when it did it again. This time I got a shorter and stronger return spring hoping that would prevent the push rod from popping out. While messing around with the throw-out arm to get the old return spring off a bearing rolled out from where the throw-out arm goes into the clutch housing. Now I knew I had a problem. The throw-out arm seems to be moving around a lot more freely once that bearing rolled out. What exactly is that bearing for? I can't imagine that it came out of the throw-out bearing. How big of a problem is this? The clutch has always been working fine. Can I just replace this piece of the clutch and be fine?

Thanks for your help!

 

[marc6277]

I think I may have figured out what the bearing was. I believe that it's the pivot point for the clutch fork (or throw out arm) which would be why clutch fork is moving around so freely now. I found a diagram where they described it as a ball stud. Does this sound right? how the hell do I get the thing back in? haha

 

[stumpbumper]

sounds like you are on the right tract.. pictures say more than words for something like this!

 

[hillbilly1]

sounds like the pivot ball to me.never fixed let alone changed one with the trans in though.always put in a new one while doing a clutch job

 

[Ian Davis]

How do you get the pivot ball to stay in the socket?

 

[marc6277]

I pulled out the transmission this weekend and found where the pivot ball is suppose to go. not sure if I could have gotten it back in with the transmission in or not. But I have the same question, how do you get it to stay in the socket? My throw out bearing looks damaged so i'm going to replace that but everything else looks fine. I see a small spring on attached to that pivot ball socket, is that suppose to hold the clutch fork against it to ensure that it does not pop out?

 

[marc6277]

Well I figured everything out. I just got the transmission back in and as long as the clutch rod is pressing against the clutch fork and the fork is against the throw out bearing correctly it will keep the bearing in the socket.

I need to refill my transmission fluid though. Does anyone know how much goes in? It's a manual. I think it's 3 quarts because that's about what came out and it has not been leaking. Also, is it ok to just pour it right onto the gears? I had to take the shift lever out so I figured I would just pour it directly over the gears as long as the case is open.

Thanks