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In this Discussion
- Clutch guy July 2011
- Essex4 July 2011
- Joe30Essex July 2011
- Marconi July 2011
- SamJ July 2011
- stev1955 July 2011
Clutch Fluid
-
On my 30 Essex six whenever I go for a drive or even run the engine for a while the clutch fluid comes out around the throwout bearing and drips off the the flywheel when the engine is stopped. I don't mean all of it but I might get a puddle the size of a tennis ball on the garage floor after shutting the engine off. There was no seals around there when I had everything apart nor do I see any on the parts breakdown. Is this normal and do I just need to keep the clutch full of the proper amount of fluid?Steve
1930 Essex Super Six -
Steve,
Are you sure it's Clutch Fluid? That happened on mine, but it was motor oil from the drain tube in the oil pan being plugged-up. Had to drop the pan and clean out the tube, and that took care of the problem.
Joe -
Joe30Essex wrote:Steve,
Are you sure it's Clutch Fluid? That happened on mine, but it was motor oil from the drain tube in the oil pan being plugged-up. Had to drop the pan and clean out the tube, and that took care of the problem.
Joe
What Joe said.
A puddle "the size of a tennis ball" is quite a bit, considering the clutch only runs in a few ounces...:huh:HETfortyqtpi@earthlink.net (drop the HET) -
HI Steve,
Here might be an easy way to tell if your puddle is engine oil, or clutch oil without dropping the oil pan.
Drain the clutch, and refill with 1/2 pint of Dextron III automatic trans. fluid. Take it for a drive, then after it sits, check the color of the oil in your puddle on the floor. If it's red, it's the clutch leaking, if brown engine oil color...... there you go.
Have been using Dextron III in the multi-disc clutch on my '20 Eszex for a couple years now, and it works great. Also has the added benefit of extra detergent additives that help to keep it all clean inside.
Hope this may be a help.Dave Bean
HET Club
Essex 4 Registry
Manager -
Thanks for the replies. Yeah it's red so I know it's clutch fluid. I had the clutch resurfaced by Ron Fellows and what's in there (or what's left) is the fluid he sent with the clutch. I really hadn't drove the car but around the neighborhood until recently as I just now got it road worthy. I'll empty and refill with the right amount of Dexron III and see how it goes.Steve
1930 Essex Super Six -
Thanks Marconi. I did silicon seal the clutch cover to the flywheel but there was no seal inside the throwout bearing assembly. I thought maybe the grease packed in there would sort of seal the assembly against oil seepage but I quess that is not the case.Steve
1930 Essex Super Six -
Joe, if you are referring to the Essex on your icon, it doesn't have a positive seal. Marconi is correct with his description, but only Hudson got this starting in '32, Essex in '33, and then the new design in '34 for all. I beleive your Essex has a slinger ring built into the t-bearing ,but has no positive seal. The leather seal inside the later throw-out bearing stops fluid from running out once the engine is shut off,and must be good and in place. Slight sepage is common. Big spots of leaks should definately be addressed. Verify the p/pl.is not leaking. Also,did you clean and seal the flywheel back on,torque to specs?. Hope this helps, CG
