I have the engine out of the car and I'm getting ready to put it back in.

I've replaced the clutch fork in the trans bell housing, with a new throwout bearing. Everything is lubricated. However, I'm finding that without the clutch in place (because it's on the engine, which is not in the car) the spring tension keeps the clutch fork and throwout bearing fully retracted into the bellhousing, meaning that the far end of the fork, which the slave cylinder would normally push on, is at full extension forward (towards front bumper) and the slave cylinder's booted push rod cannot reach it to stay seated. I can strectch it to connect with the fork arm, but the tension of the rubber boot inevitably pulls it back out. I think that as the throwout bearing snaps into the pressure plate it should pull that end of the fork forward and the other end back towards the slave cylinder, at which point it would be able to seat properly. But at that point the engine will be in the way and I don't see how I could reach up through the starter hole in the bellhousing and seat it by hand.

Am I misunderstanding how this process is supposed to work? Should the slave cylinder be more extended at this point? The pusher rod appears to be loose within the rubber boot, so it hangs flaccid (heh) and droops down.

Thanks for any help!

 

Pics, if helpful.



You can see that (1) the slave cylinder pusher is drooping down out of alignment with the fork and (2) it doesn’t reach the fork or stay in place if stretched to fit to it.

 

Normally I leave the slave hanging until the gearbox and engine/clutch are mated.....accessing the bolts isn't too bad.

 

So you’d install the engine, then unbolt the slave cylinder and mate it up with the fork that way?

 

In this case, I'd remove the slave before bolting the motor to the bellhousing - not as if it's needed for the installation. The spring clip retainer and the two 12mm(?) hex bolts aren't a big deal to reach.

Also I like to have unfettered access to the clutch fork to ensure the collar seats in the pressure plate fingers.

 

Leave it as it sits right now. Just make sure no one gets in and pushes down the clutch pedal, you have about 2 presses of the pedal before the slave ejects itself

That said, get the engine in and the throwout bearing engaged. You can then reach up through the starter hole and make sure the end of the slave is where it should be in the clutch fork. If so, try out the clutch and make sure it's happy, then install the starter and continue forward.

Dale