Do you guys know that ring that is on the input shaft of the transmission? A buddy and I are trying to install his motor and the ring seems too big to fit into the pressure plate of the clutch that is bolted onto the back of the block. But, it is the same one that came off when we pulled the motor so nothing has changed. What is up. I have changed the clutch in my '93 and it went into place without almost any resistance but this one will not go in. We ordered a new one just in case this one has distorted due to the heat. I need some advice on this one so somebody give me your two cents. Thanks.

Quid.

 

The ring is on the engine side of the pressure plate. It clips around the bent ends of the metal wedge collar. The collar is what actually gets fitted into the hole in the pressure plate.

Dave

 

Yeah, I know that. When I use the fork to try to press it back in, the ring pops off. It really sucks ***. Somebody else told me that you have to replace the ring whenever you change the clutch. Do you think this is true? I have never changed the ring before in other clutch jobs. But then again, I have only have only done one RX-7 clutch before this one. Do you think the ring is distorted?

 

The collar could very easily be distorted. The ring is more durable IMO but also could be damaged. If removed properly they both should be reusable.

I would unbolt the pp from whatever its attached to, and assemble the ring onto the wedge collar while it's off. That way you can be sure all the fingers of the collar hold the ring, and you can push the ring down to be sure everything seats properly.

Usually the collar fingers get bent. Are the cutouts in the ring aligned with the longer collar fingers?

Dave

 

No, I did not know the grooves in the ring had to be lined up with anything. How do you figure that out if you are under the car and you are having to look through the insepction hole? Also, do you think it is smarter for us to instal the clutch onto the shaft, and then mate the motor up afterwards?

 

There's a video of the pull type clutch on the forum....do a search it explains everything. Jack

 

In my limited experience I recommend removing the pressure plate from the flywheel, setting in the ring and collar, and test fit the t/o bearing into the ring/collar to see that it locks correctly. Then reassemble the pp with the collar/ring in place, and click the input shaft into that. Trying to do it blind or thru the inspection hole will be difficult at best, as far as I can see.

I suggest you run a search in this forum. Plenty of people have fiddled with this locking ring and collar and had better info that I do. You can find the video at http://www.zeroglabs.com/rx7/pullclutch.htm also - not so important for your since you're already reassembling, but very good regardless.

Dave

 

thanks brother

 

You'll never get the ring/wedge collar back into the pressure plate with the transmission already inserted into the e-shaft. It requires even pressure all around to go into the pressure plate which really needs to be done without the tranny mated up.

Most likely by now, you have damaged the fins on the wedge collar though.