I am trying to install a light steel flywheel with a stock clutch. In the kit they gave me aluminum spacers, I installed them to where I thought they would go, between the pressure plate and the flywheel. When I put the bolts in a tighten them up the clutch disc is loose.

The clutch was supposed to be for an 81' but is now going on an 84'. The flywheel is for an 84' Would the difference in years cause this?

 

I know there has got to be sombody here who has installed an RB flywheel.

 

You have it correct as far as I can tell. I put a 86 clutch on a rb steel flywheel and it seemed to tighten up. I actually installed it first without the clutch just to play around with it. it closed up enough to make it so the fingers went in a bit.

Make sure your pressure plate it ok. That might be your issue.

 

It is a new clutch and pressure plate I had intended just for the 81' but I pulled the motor from the 84' and plan to use it. Flywheel is new too.

 

possibly the clutch plate is backwards?? its gonna be loose till you torque the pressure plate down too. id go in a star pattern btw...

 

There's an easy way to remember which side of the clutch disc faces the flywheel. There is usually a note on the disc on the side that faces the flywheel, but if not, you can remember that the FLat side faces the FLywheel. The other side of the disc with the PRotrusion faces the PResure PRate or uh plate.

FLat side - FLywheel
PRotruision side - PRessure plate

 

make sure you are using a counter weight if you are using a lightened flywheel on a 12a, have to have it.

 

Torqued up with the clutch on the proper way I can still with the clutch aligning tool move the disc and see a couple mm of space.

I do have a counterweight installed

 

The counterweight should be for an '84. Now the clutch is smaller for the '81 than the '84 (215mm vs. 225mm), but it should still work. Now, Mazdatrix lists all lightweight steel flywheels as being the same from '72-'88 N/A. However, the hardware package is different between your '81 and the '84. Perhaps you need different hardware (spacers wrong thickness)? Maybe give Mazdatrix a call and see for sure.

 

I will try giving them a call

The counterwieght is for an 84'

For giggles I tried installing the old clutch that was on the 84' and I get the opposite results, spacers become too small. I fear I have to buy another new clutch.

 

well i need a new clutch so if u want to sell that one maybe ill take the offer.... haha.

 

Definitely call them, but it's probably not a big deal. Some pressure plates are made to accomodate the stock flywheel step (requiring spacers on a flush flywheel) and others are made for flush-mount flywheels and don't need spacers. The stock pressure plate sounds like it fits fine with the spacers (you have to suck it down with the bolts), as it should, so the aftermarket one is apparently intended to be used without spacers. If you measure the spacers, they should be about 5/16 inch thick, or approx .312, which is the stock step-height, IIRC.

If you end up not needing the spacers, I will be happy to buy them from you. I have a light steel flywheel and a stepped pressure plate combo that requires spacers and it will save me from either making them or exchanging the pressure plate for a non-stepped one.

--
Blake

 

try the new clutch without the spacers ... the flat part of the disk faces the flywheel

 

I tried it with no spacers and it seemed to suck it down, the pressure plate touches the flywheel when it is torqued, and the clutch is tight.

Thanks for everyones help.

Blake - I will be happy to sell you the spacers but, let me put everything back together first to make sure it will shift without drag or any other problems.