Best way of cleaning up rusty clutch parts

[mangocrazy]

I'm currently preparing a spare Lancia Beta engine I have to take to France and substitute for the cream-crackered one that's currently in the car. I bought this engine 3 or 4 years ago and it's never run in my ownership, so I'm doing my best to ensure that it works as it should when I swap it over. This weekend I split the engine and gearbox to check on the state of the clutch. It doesn't look too bad apart from large amounts of rust on the friction faces (approx 65-70% of circumference is rusty).

What would be the best way of removing this? On the metal faces I'm planning on just using a wire brush on a drill or angle grinder. For the friction material I was thinking of giving it some treatment with citric acid solution. Would this damage the friction material, or should it be OK?

 

[rtbcomp]

I would fit a new friction plate - IIRC they can absorb moisture if left for a long time.

Dare I suggest bead blasting to clean the flywheel and cover.

 

[brightspark]

I would fit a new friction plate - IIRC they can absorb moisture if left for a long time.

Dare I suggest bead blasting to clean the flywheel and cover.

do u know someone like not a million miles away from him

 

[colnerov]

Hi, I would suggest that you use a new clutch centre, pressure plate and release bearing because a reused one will invariably end up with clutch judder.

Colin

 

[Bill Edwards]

What are the springs like in the friction plate part? If they're rusty I'd be more concerned about them than the friction face as that'll soon sort itself out after a few juddery starts. I take it the rust isn't bad enough on the rivet heads that the rivets might break loose?

 

[rikrobson]

I'd be fitting a new cluts plate.
Clean all the rust off with oil/paraffin and wire wool.
Then clean that with brake/clutch cleaner before re assembly.
once in use they will bed together.

 

[dannyp]

problem is now you've
A) thought about it
and even worse
B)looked at it

 

[mangocrazy]

There's a new pressure plate on ebay for a tenner plus postage, so I think that will be favourite. And I think the clutch cover might be making a short journey across Sheffield to Roger. The Flywheel is still fixed to the crankshaft and is staying that way. A wire brush on a cordless drill should sort that...

Actually the friction plate is in fairly good shape, but for a tenner it seems silly not to replace it now the thing's stripped down.

And as regards judder, isn't that what clutch alignment tools are for?

 

[rtbcomp]

Clutch alignment tool is to centre the friction plate enough to get the gearbox in place. If it's slightly off it will move into place when the clutch is released for the first time after fitting.

Judder can be caused by warped or contaminated friction plates.

 

[mangocrazy]

Thanks for the explanation, Roger. As you may have guessed this is the first time I've dismantled a car clutch. Done loads of motorbike ones, but never a car.

 

[rikrobson]

If the friction plaste is not aligned then the gearbox will not go on. Once the spring is release the plate spins freely with the drive shafts.

 

[Bill Edwards]

And on the alignment topic, you needn't get a special tool. Get your head in and centre the disk by eye, it's a surprisingly accurate method. When you can't get a head in, fingers work.

When putting the gearbox on do not force it to the engine by tightening the bell housing bolts, this can cause damage. If it won't slide in the last couple of inches select top gear and turn the propshaft flange to allign the splines.

 

[paceman1]

hows this old way I used to put the cover bolts In a little way enough so plate just moves then look at the gap on the edge of the plate where the plate touches the cover .
if not 1/4 drive socket bits and some tape wrapped round till you get the right size just things we did if we had no proper tools

 

[Robotstar5]

hows this old way I used to put the cover bolts In a little way enough so plate just moves then look at the gap on the edge of the plate where the plate touches the cover .
if not 1/4 drive socket bits and some tape wrapped round till you get the right size just things we did if we had no proper tools

Used that trick myself

 

[mangocrazy]

Cheers for all the suggestions - much appreciated. I can see me using a few of them... Typically, just when I was about to buy the clutch plate on ebay, the listing has been closed. Probably my own fault for mentioning it on an open forum... So I've cleaned up the rusty pressure plate with a soft wire brush, and the cover's going to Roger for blasting tomorrow.