Help! "Transmission hangs up on install"

[Desert Nomad]

Trying to re-install my tranny tonight after replacing the clutch, pilot bearing. I cannot get it all the way in, seems to hang up about 3/4" from being flush with bell hsng. It goes through the T/O bearing and clutch plate ok but seems to be hanging up somewhere around the pilot bearing. I checked the clutch alignment with the plastic alignment tool that came with the clutch and it seems to be dead on. I've tried twisting, turning, in and out numerous times until I finally ran out of ideas and energy. This about killed me tonight. If anybody has any ideas or may have seen this before, sure would appreciate and tips or if I'm doing something wrong. Thanks, George:Wotfl;help

 

[Paulywannafly]

hook up the clutch linkage and have someone push the clutch pedal to release the clutch trans will slip right in

 

[Desert Nomad]

"Transmission Hang-Up"

Thanks for the input. Releasing the clutch is exactly what I'm going to do, and a great idea. Along with trying an old input shaft first to insure clutch is precisely centered. I'll let you know how it goes later today. Thanks again.
George,

 

[LVMYVT76]

did you try the new pilot bushing on the input shaft to make sure it is the correct size?

 

[Tom Bryant]

Did you lap in the new clutch disc to the input shaft? The disc may be hanging on a burr someplace. Using lapping compound on the shaft and sliding the disc back and forth over the full length of the splines gets the two parts comfortable with each other. This also ends up in a smoother feeling clutch pedal.

The pilot isn't full of grease that would hydraulically keep the shaft from going in all the way is it?

Tom

 

[Desert Nomad]

Well, I finally got the tranny seated this afternoon. I fabricated some guide pins, and had the wife push the clutch as my son and I twisted and pushed it in. Got with-in 1/8" and the bolts took it the rest of the way. I beleive pushing the clutch in did it. What a trick, thanks again. To answer "LVMYVT76" question above, I didn't check the bushing prior to installation but my alignment tool fit right in the new bushing. I mic'd the alignment tool and the end of the input shaft and found that the input shaft was about .004" larger, but didn't think that was an issue as the tool was slightly loose in there. To answer Toms question above, never thought about lapping the disk to the shaft as I knew that the input shaft was going through the disk ok. But I did wonder about excessive grease inside which could have caused a hydraulic effect. I cleaned it out and lightly greased the input shaft. Anyway, its in. Will see in another day or two if all this misery payed off. Thanks again for all your input.
George,

 

[Tom Bryant]

That's good news. I hope it all works out ok.

Tom

 

[G Winter]

Is this on your 90 or on the 78? If on the 89 don't get to excited if the clutch does not seem to release correctly the first time you try to put it in gear. Pump the clutch to the floor as if bleeding the brakes a number of times. Seems it has to set.

Glenn