Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rack Man · 11-15-2008, 01:40 AM

It's been a long tiome since I messed with a manual trans....so forgive my ignorance!...LOL

Is the pivot ball retaining clip the only thing that holds the clutch fork in position on the throw out bearing ?? Is there no retainer on the clutch fork itself (around the throw-out bearing)...

My clutch fork went on the pivot ball very easily and doesn't seem like thats enough to hold it in place....I did replace the retaining clip on the pivot ball....but I really thought there was another retainer on the fork itself at the throw-out bearing..

I'm getting ready to mate the Engine to the Trans and just wanted to verify that I have it right before doing so....

Thanks in advance!

Dan

Brad · 11-15-2008, 04:19 AM

For a Saginaw and Muncie I can say for certainty that there's no other retainer other than the pivot ball retaining clip. I'm 99.9% sure that the bigger transmissions are the same way.

68,69 K20 · 11-15-2008, 09:58 AM

I just did a clutch recently and the clip was the only retainer for the fork.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 11-17-2008, 08:57 AM

The bell housing sort of holds the open end of the clutch fork on the throw-out bearing. The T.O. bearing is held on by the trans shaft. The clutch fork is held on by the pivot and the T.O bearing.
I have one 4x4 truck ['71 Jimmy] that has a threaded end on the rear of the lower clutch rod [not including the long threaded end that goes into linkage swivel]. This end goes thru the pushrod nut and thru the end of the clutch fork and secures the push rod to the clutch fork in extreme four wheeling mode. It may be a P.O.'s mod. My '68 C/10 has no back nut securing the lower pushrod to the clutch fork.

Tynee · 11-17-2008, 09:29 AM

I'm in the middle of fighting this right now. Where did you find a new retaining clip?

Rack Man · 11-18-2008, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tynee

I'm in the middle of fighting this right now. Where did you find a new retaining clip?

LMC... lmctruck.com

Dan

Rack Man · 11-18-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tynee

I'm in the middle of fighting this right now. Where did you find a new retaining clip?

LMC... www.lmctruck.com

Dan

Tynee · 11-19-2008, 04:06 PM

THANKS!!

I got lucky and found one local at the Volvo/GMC Heavy Truck dealer.

Hump88 · 03-25-2015, 12:53 PM

Guys, I'm new here and am struggling with this pivot ball and retaining clip. The engine/transmission supplier put together many parts for me to mate the engine/bell/tranny together. The part i'm having EXTREME difficulty with is the retaining clip. He supplied a regular round ball stud, and a tapered ball stud. The tapered one will install with the clip with great difficulty, but once I try to pivot the fork it springs out. Any suggestions out there?? I've been through two clips already trying to get this right. The regular round stud will not even come close to fitting properly.

geezer#99 · 03-25-2015, 01:07 PM

Welcome Hump!!
Spring yet!!
Always better to start your own thread than dig up a thread from the dead.
More info needed.
What tranny?
What bellhousing?
Stock fork?
Pics would help a bunch!

Lugnutz65 · 03-25-2015, 04:31 PM

If you install a new pivot ball clip, make sure you have it in right. I got a new pivot ball from the transmission shop and once the fork was pushed on, there was a little bit of slop. In other words, it wasn't snug like my OEM pivot ball. I called my tranny shop and they said it was OK and that the newer pivot balls didn't fit as snug because the stem side of the ball was shaped different, but that it would be perfectly fine. I searched through my collection and found another OEM pivot ball that was in great shape and used it but could have used either one. FYI, NOS pivot balls are still available from some vendors. The 3rd pic shows the pivot ball that I DIDN'T use.

Renzo89 · 08-30-2018, 12:07 PM

Hey guys curious on how you put your clutch fork onto the pivot ball? I have been trying to put it on but it seems to not go on. Please help
Posted via Mobile Device

*Chevyrestorerman* · 08-30-2018, 12:33 PM

What do you have and add pics so we can assist you if possible

Renzo89 · 08-30-2018, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevyrestorerman

What do you have and add pics so we can assist you if possible

The first pic is the pivot ball I tried putting grease on it to see if it would help but it didn’t and the second is the fork with the retaining clip in it
Posted via Mobile Device

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 08-30-2018, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renzo89

Hey guys curious on how you put your clutch fork onto the pivot ball? I have been trying to put it on but it seems to not go on. Please help
Posted via Mobile Device

If it won't click on with hand pressure, I bop it on with a BFH.
Pay attention to Lugnutz post about clip orientation.

11-15-2008, 01:40 AM	#1
Rack Man Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 770	Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question It's been a long tiome since I messed with a manual trans....so forgive my ignorance!...LOL Is the pivot ball retaining clip the only thing that holds the clutch fork in position on the throw out bearing ?? Is there no retainer on the clutch fork itself (around the throw-out bearing)... My clutch fork went on the pivot ball very easily and doesn't seem like thats enough to hold it in place....I did replace the retaining clip on the pivot ball....but I really thought there was another retainer on the fork itself at the throw-out bearing.. I'm getting ready to mate the Engine to the Trans and just wanted to verify that I have it right before doing so.... Thanks in advance! Dan __________________ My Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309288

11-15-2008, 04:19 AM	#2
Brad Out of the carpool lane. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clark Co, WA Posts: 5,672	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question For a Saginaw and Muncie I can say for certainty that there's no other retainer other than the pivot ball retaining clip. I'm 99.9% sure that the bigger transmissions are the same way. __________________ 1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

11-15-2008, 09:58 AM	#3
68,69 K20 They call me the Breeze... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,251	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question I just did a clutch recently and the clip was the only retainer for the fork. __________________ Mike 69 K20 "Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy"....Ben Franklin

11-17-2008, 08:57 AM	#4
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,622	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question The bell housing sort of holds the open end of the clutch fork on the throw-out bearing. The T.O. bearing is held on by the trans shaft. The clutch fork is held on by the pivot and the T.O bearing. I have one 4x4 truck ['71 Jimmy] that has a threaded end on the rear of the lower clutch rod [not including the long threaded end that goes into linkage swivel]. This end goes thru the pushrod nut and thru the end of the clutch fork and secures the push rod to the clutch fork in extreme four wheeling mode. It may be a P.O.'s mod. My '68 C/10 has no back nut securing the lower pushrod to the clutch fork. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

11-17-2008, 09:29 AM	#5
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question I'm in the middle of fighting this right now. Where did you find a new retaining clip? __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

11-19-2008, 04:06 PM	#8
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question THANKS!! I got lucky and found one local at the Volvo/GMC Heavy Truck dealer. __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

03-25-2015, 12:53 PM	#9
Hump88 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Sherwood Park Alberta Posts: 1	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question Guys, I'm new here and am struggling with this pivot ball and retaining clip. The engine/transmission supplier put together many parts for me to mate the engine/bell/tranny together. The part i'm having EXTREME difficulty with is the retaining clip. He supplied a regular round ball stud, and a tapered ball stud. The tapered one will install with the clip with great difficulty, but once I try to pivot the fork it springs out. Any suggestions out there?? I've been through two clips already trying to get this right. The regular round stud will not even come close to fitting properly.

03-25-2015, 01:07 PM	#10
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,777	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question Welcome Hump!! Spring yet!! Always better to start your own thread than dig up a thread from the dead. More info needed. What tranny? What bellhousing? Stock fork? Pics would help a bunch!

03-25-2015, 04:31 PM	#11
Lugnutz65 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,927	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question If you install a new pivot ball clip, make sure you have it in right. I got a new pivot ball from the transmission shop and once the fork was pushed on, there was a little bit of slop. In other words, it wasn't snug like my OEM pivot ball. I called my tranny shop and they said it was OK and that the newer pivot balls didn't fit as snug because the stem side of the ball was shaped different, but that it would be perfectly fine. I searched through my collection and found another OEM pivot ball that was in great shape and used it but could have used either one. FYI, NOS pivot balls are still available from some vendors. The 3rd pic shows the pivot ball that I DIDN'T use. Attached Images __________________ My 65 C10 build: www.lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly.com Want to know more about T5 transmissions? My website has a T5 Info Page and a Step by Step T5 rebuild.

08-30-2018, 12:07 PM	#12
Renzo89 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Surprise, Az Posts: 2	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question Hey guys curious on how you put your clutch fork onto the pivot ball? I have been trying to put it on but it seems to not go on. Please help Posted via Mobile Device

08-30-2018, 12:33 PM	#13
Chevyrestorerman Account Suspended Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GBR !! Posts: 144	Re: Clutch Fork, Pivot Ball & Throw Out Bearing Question What do you have and add pics so we can assist you if possible

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