I've got 10 hooks on my clutch this season, and I know it shouldn't need rebuilding yet, but...I was really really dumb/nervous at my last pull and rode the clutch for 100' trying not to blow the tires off too early and not get any momentum up...it was bad...real bad, when I saw the video of how far I was riding it, I wanted to kick myself in the rear.

Ever since I have a really really hard time getting it in gear, and I have heard that when its hard to get in gear its about due for a freshening up by South Bend...is this true?

It was a little more grabby the first day of driving after the pull, which it normally is, but its been 3 days and I have to really fight the shifter to get it into 2nd gear to take off.

I am ready for the upgrade to an Iron Giant, but I need a few more hooks on this one to finish out the season, and maybe learn to get off the clutch

 

I'd like to know as well. I've only got 8 hooks on mine, I don't ride it out at all. The twins light very easily. However, it has gotten alot harder to get it into 1st or Reverse recently. I was thinking maybe the upgraded hydraulics weren't working correctly?

 

Maybe I can shed some light.....since I have had 5 DD's in my truck over the years..

If its just hard to get into gear its fine. If its grabbier after a pull its fine!
If it wont go into gear at all check hydraulics, if they are ok, then its melted.

With just 10 hooks it should be still good to go.
Stay away from the direct gears like 5th lo on a 6 speed or 4th lo in a 5 and it should last you 25 hooks or more.

You'll know they're starting to wear when they get softer after a pull....ie going into gear like a dream etc. At that point it will take a couple days of street driving to get them to get grabby again.

Grabby is good.

 

oh ok, well the other day i sat at a red light with people honking and starting to go around me for 15 minutes as i fought to get it in to ANY gear, finally got it to pop into 3rd, i jolted the clutch a little to make the truck move, then pulled it down to 2nd and took off...i've never had that problem before...

my pull on sunday was a loose track so i went 2nd on the high side...once i got off the clutch the truck really came to life and took off...wish i had done that 90' sooner.

 

Having trouble putting it into gear at a stop:
Make sure your hydraulics are ok, put truck into 3rd then back to 1st.
Also, if you are really stuck for 15 minutes I would have just shut the truck off. Then put it into 1st gear with the truck off and start the truck in 1st gear and take off....then force gear shifts as you drive down the road if its an emergency (ask me how I know!).

 

i meant 15 second LOL...long enough that people go annoyed and went around me

 

if it is hard to get into gear, what is that doing to our 5600 trannies that dont have replacements available?

 

i have a replacement sitting in my garage, i obviously cant sell it without giving it away so i am keeping it

 

The same thing sledpulling does to them!!! The same thing hot rodding does to our engines!!!

If you can't hang with the big dogs stay on the porch!!

 

You can get replacements.......ask me how I know. I got sources for you if you ever need. Maybe not brand new, but the rebuilders can get parts. They are scarce though, and it's not cheap.

 

Actually, that's not a bad idea at all!

 

ok well tonight i pulled again, all week the truck was hard to get in gear when sitting still, and when you tried to put it in second to take off, you could feel the truck rock forward as you tried to force the 2nd gear synchro/push it into gear.

i had a good pull tonight, actually won with a 321'-8" pull, got the tires spinning early, no riding the clutch, but after the pull now the clutch has a less than stock pedal pressure and will not go into any gear except maybe reverse, and when it does, the truck starts moving on its own without letting the clutch out.

would this be the clutch itself, or maybe a hydraulic issue, or someone said maybe the throw out bearing seized up...any ideas?

ill call peter on monday

 

Definately talk to South Bend on it for sure. Rolling with clutch pedal depressed sounds like hydraulics not working correctly. I think if it were the throw out bearing, it wouldn't work at all, but I'm not 100% sure.

Is it impossible to convert to a mechanical linkage setup like semi's have? They have 2, 3 and sometimes 4 plate clutches. Yea, the maintnance goes up, and the pedal pressure is really high, but it's a surefire way to know that everything is working correctly.

 

The only thing you can do is drive it more and see if it clears up. Check hydro's....and of course pull the tranny and inspect...

Congrats on the win!

 

Thats what mine was doing before upgrading the hydraulics.