clutch z-bar questions???

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys...

A couple of quick questions about setting up the Z-bar...

First, how much and what kind of grease should I use???

Second, there is a lot of pedal before I can feel the clutch engage...
To shorten the pedal travel, do I shorten or lengthen the adjusting rod???

Third, When I dismantled the z-bar, there were two springs.
One that went from the z-bar forward to the cross member, and a second one that went to the side and actually was hooked on the brake line...

When I was checking to see where it was supposed to be hooked up, I couldn't find any holes where it might be hooked up... any ideas

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[Wes]

I used water proof wheel bearing grease.
adjust the rod so you can wiggle the clutch fork @1/8"
There should be a spring between the z bar and clutch fork Not sure where the frame spring attaches

[averagef250]

I use lubriplate on them, seams to work well. I use lubriplate on everything though. Any grease is better than nothing.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys...

When all else fails, read the book...
The '68 Ford Truck Shop Manual... doesn't show a side spring...
It only shows one spring going from the clutch release lever to the cross member...
I wonder why it was there ??? perhaps it keeps something from rattling...
I'm gonna try it without the second spring and see what happens.
I'll keep the spring handy just in case...

KaptnKA s

[fordman]

i think the spring from the rod to the fork is suppose to be there to keep tention on it so the rod doesnt come dislodged while driving.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey fordman

There isn't a spring connected to the rod...
Look at the pic above...
both springs were connected to the same place...
One went forward and connected to the crossmember...
The other spring went from the clutch release lever and was connected to the brake line...
I might be a dummy sometimes, but I do know that springs are not really supposed to be connected to brake lines...

KaptnKA S

[Wes]

Kaptn,
Spring goes from clutch fork arm to Z bar arm w/ clutch
fork rod . To keep rod and fork tight together.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys

I scanned this from the manual...

There isn't a sping that connects the Zbar to the clutch release lever.
The only spring the book shows is the one that connects to the clutch release bar and goes under the zbar and connects to a hole in the cross member.
Evidently, the second spring is something the PO or someone did prior to my gettting the truck 20 years ago...
This is the first time I've ever had to mess with it...
According to the book, their is supposed to be 1/4 inch between the point of the release rod (adjusting rod) and the release lever...
That gap should give the proper pedel free play...


KaptnKA S

[Alfred Lord Tenniscourt]

Thanks for the pic, it turns out mine is wrong too. I don't know why people do things like hook springs up to brake lines. Do they think that is right? Even if they don't think it is the way the truck was designed do they think it is a good idea?

[Wes]

Ok I'll buy that, it accomplishes the 2 tasks with 1 spring.

That drawing is not 100% accurate thou the rods are reversed from the rods in your picture.
Thanks for posting it I removed the spring along time ago and couldn't remember where it went

[kaptnkaos]

yeah Wes...

I was lookin' at that too...
The ball mount is on the wrong side...
The piece they show on the left (mounted on the frame) actually should be on the right side mounted on the engine block as well...
I wonder how long it took Ford to figure out (if they ever did) that their diagram was backward...

KaptnKA S

[fordman]

the spring hooked to the brake line should go to the frame. ok yea it hooks to the fork and the frame in that pic. i was thinking that it went to the zbar. thats what i had remembered. the frame is correct though.