Just installed new clutch, can't get it into gear, car doesn't stall

[eboy0]

Hey guys, did my first clutch install.... boy was it fun!
Anyways, got the car started after checking and rechecking everything... only to find that something is wrong, like i suspected..

Here's the problem, I can put the car into 1st gear when car is off, start without the clutch pedal at all, and it won't stall on itself (it's on jackstands so i don't know if it moves or not)
This obviously isn't normal...
When the car is off I can shift into every gear freely...

Also, when I start the car in neutral, I can't put it into any gear except halfway into reverse but it grinds...

Is my slave cylinder pushing against the fork or something? Is my clutch constantly engaged?

I bleed the slave cylinder with some DOT 3 fluid.

It's a 2600 act with a south bend full kevlar disc on an XACT flywheel...

Someone help?

 

[DSMpwr25]

haha well man let me know if anyone knows what your problem is because I am having the same problem with mine. I have destoryed 2 clutches now with this problem. I will make it a little easyer for you, I have replaced the clutch, master cylinder, slave cylinder, Throw out bearing, clutch fork, pivot ball, and even put the spacers in behind the pivot ball. I replaced all that and it did the same thing about 2 1/2 weeks later, So beats me what it is

 

[talon187]

what kind of clutch did you install ? did you bleed the clutch ? it honnestly sounds like a slave cycinder to me... hows the pedal feel?

 

[eboy0]

I installed a 2600 Pressure plate, along with a southbend full kevlar disc, with an ACT lightened flywheel.

The pedal feels stiff, at midpoint all the way to the floor... I only bleed the slave cylinder.

 

[Savage Talon]

Put it on the ground, start it in gear, and see if the car wants to creep or just take off. Sounds like you need to adjust the master cylinder rod at the pedal. Let me know because I am having the same problem with this disc and a diffrent pp.

 

[numlock666]

With the car off, put it in 1st and start it up with the clutch all the way in. If it rolls forward then your clutch isnt disengaging. Only things that will cause this is Bad slave, bad master, bad Pressure plate (seen brand new ACT PP on a SR-20's not work) broken fork, worn pivot ball. Look at the fork were it protrudes out of the tranny. It should be either centered in the boot or pointed more towards the drivers side. Also, what method are you using to bleed the clutch, because sadly, there are many who dont know how.

 

[eboy0]

Well after screwing around with it for the last couple of hours, bleeding and rebleeding, and adjusting the rod... i think i'm onto something, I was able to get her to go around the block, it took 2 hands to get it into 1st gear, but after that it wasn't that bad... 3-4 pop right in with little force....
It engages RIGHT off the floor, like... as soon as I even think about lifting my foot, it already grips, I don't even need 1st gear, when I stopped at a stop sign, I was able to get her out of 2nd gear as easily as I would in 1st...
This is very strange and worries me.... the more I drove it, the easier it got to shift... or maybe it's all mental..

The fork is down the middle by my eye... it doesn't seem to point in either the passenger direction nor the driver... its just kind of down the middle... my brother pushes on the clutch, and I see the slave pushing the fork as far as it'll go(i tried using a screwdriver to see if i could pry the fork any farther that the slave wouldn't push it)

I used one of the DIY guides.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-drivetrain/60319-how-bleed-your-clutch.html
The pedal is stiff as shit, just takes almost 2 hands to rip it into gear.

 

[Savage Talon]

Same problem I am having, it is not right. The clutch is not disengaging completely and is dragging. What you are doing is very hard on your trans.

 

[eboy0]

Same problem I am having, it is not right. The clutch is not disengaging completely and is dragging. What you are doing is very hard on your trans.

I know well can you tell me what you've already tried so i don't go doing the same things...
It doesn't seem to roll though.. when clutch is pushed in now, the car stays put, but as soon as I take any pressure off the pedal it starts to roll instantly..

 

[numlock666]

Heres the deal on the DIY clutch bleeding method. 1st, the vac line is supposed to be fully submerged in brake fluid prior to bleeding. 2nd your supposed to close the fitting before lifting the pedal back up. Also if the pressure plate is doing its job, its supposed to be EASY to go from gear to gear not take two hands. My pedal takes a good 30lbs of force to press down, and I go from gear to gear with 2 fingers and a flick of my wrist. To me it sounds like your problem is the clutch isnt fully disengaging. Another thing to try to to adjust the rod on your clutch pedal so you get more movement in you master cylinder.

 

[eboy0]

Heres the deal on the DIY clutch bleeding method. 1st, the vac line is supposed to be fully submerged in brake fluid prior to bleeding. 2nd your supposed to close the fitting before lifting the pedal back up. Also if the pressure plate is doing its job, its supposed to be EASY to go from gear to gear not take two hands. My pedal takes a good 30lbs of force to press down, and I go from gear to gear with 2 fingers and a flick of my wrist. To me it sounds like your problem is the clutch isnt fully disengaging. Another thing to try to to adjust the rod on your clutch pedal so you get more movement in you master cylinder.

Yah i kind of figured that out, it went like this. Hose in fluid, clutch down, open bleeder/close bleeder, raise clutch a couple of times, while refilling the reservoir.

That's how my old clutch used to be, though it slipped like crazy, it took little effort to get it into gear.....
I've tried adjusting the rod, a good 3-4 turns clockwise, made the pedal stiffer, probably why it grips so low to the floor?

 

[numlock666]

try counter clockwise, Take a looke at it, its a threaded rod that comes out of the master clinder and threads into the pedal. Make it so that when you push in the pedal it pushes the rod farther into the master cylinder. It should engage just under halfway up.

 

[eboy0]

try counter clockwise, Take a looke at it, its a threaded rod that comes out of the master clinder and threads into the pedal. Make it so that when you push in the pedal it pushes the rod farther into the master cylinder. It should engage just under halfway up.

Ahhh, more rod into the cylinder = higher engagement?
I'll give it a try.

 

[numlock666]

Howd it work out for you?? Please reply if it fixed it so others can read this and maybe it will help them out

 

[DSMpwr25]

yea check out the RRE website, its the clutch adjustment on the master cylinder rod on with the clutch assembly. I am going to take mine down for the winter but will be coming back with a shep stage 3 and a mult-disc set up.