S/Hand clutch. Should I machine flywheel?

[no eye deer]

hey fellas,
I am looking at a good deal on a fairly new clutch. Comes with flywheel. Some say dont machine, some say do machine. Both options seem to make sense. I dunno.

Thanks
Mark

[garett]

i would machine it. hows the springs look on the pressure plate ? thrust bearing ? but is it worth using a 2nd hand clutch ? i wouldn't unless i had no other option. its just too much work to do it again... but thats just me as i do all the work myself.

[threedogs]

I'm with Garrett but if its the only option ATM then machine the fly wheel

[mudnut]

I agree with the the above posts.
Only if a new clutch is beyond
your budget and there is
absolutely no other option
would you even
consider a second hand clutch.
How does the clutch face and
flywheel look. Is there any
discolouration which indicate
that there has been any
sort of heat from slippage
or heavy use.
Machining is the best way to
eliminate any hot spots on
the flywheel. All of the
manufacturers of clutches
I have used, require the
machining to be done
to validate warranty.

[no eye deer]

Thanks fellas,
I'm doing the usual conversion, and thought a S/H clutch would be ok. But maybe not. Its an Exedy HD (and its PINK)!! But- yeah- it'll cost me about $350 with freight. I can get a new clutch for about that, but just a cheapy. So- maybe I should just stick to getting a new one.

Mark

[mudnut]

I have an Exceedy clutch
fitted on my Rb30, 10000ks
ago. No trouble so far.
Some forum members
use tried and trusted
heavy duty 4x4
brands as sometimes
cheap means trouble.

[dom14]

Considering the amount of back breaking labour involved in doing a Patrol clutch, I wouldn't even think about using a secondhand clutch, even if I get it for nothing. AFAIK, the used clutch should have a wear pattern that goes with the flywheel. If you get that used clutch with the flywheel, that may worth a consideration if you are pretty tight in money and you are doing the clutch by yourself. Using a secondhand clutch on it's own is asking for trouble, unless you have to be super tight with the money.
Real cost of doing a clutch is the enormous amount of labour. Whether it's pulling the motor out or pulling the gearbox out, it's the same heavy labour job.
Assuming we are talking about GQ Patrol, the standard clutch is just over $100 and the heavy duty clutch is just over $200, so I don't think there's much saving in a secondhand clutch unless you get a very low km clutch for free.

[no eye deer]

Yeah- standard GQ. TB motor. I havent been able to replicate those prices though. Seem to be looking at around 400 for an Exedy or similar, and havent even looked at OEM clutches!

Mark

[ashmccormick]

I did a swap recently mate and rushed the job because I had a guy helping me out with his hoist who was only here for a weekend. As I live remote I couldnt get to a new clutch in time and so we made use of the best condition clutch and flywheel of the 2 motors... And it haunts me every day that I didn't get a new clutch and thrust bearing etc!

If you have time and a bit of cash mate seriously just get a new clutch and machine your flywheel. Do it properly now and you'll be sweet for another 300,000k's! Its not something to do on the cheap because it's a major PITA to re-do it (as I will be in the near future!)

Ash

[garett]

i'm worried about my clutch .. its been in there for over 20 years never even been looked at. with about 500 000km on the clock not sure how much more its got left. when i do have to change it its gunna be a full clutch kit, pressure plate thrust and spigot machine flywheel.