Throw-out bearing on an M - is it a problem?

Slappy · Nov 11, 2008

The throw-out bearing I ordered from IH came last week. It looks identical to the one that came out, but when installing it, I noticed that it was packed with a stiff waxy substance. The bearing appears to be pre-greased with the stuff with no means of lubricating it if the wax is removed. The problem is that the wax is so stiff that the bearing can't be spun by hand. Even heating the bearing until it was warm to touch didn't loosen it up.

Is this normal? Will clutch pressure cause the bearing to spin? I'm afraid to put the bearing on until I'm certain that it won't grind the fingers off my new clutch when I use it.

Thanks in advance!

Bob M · Nov 11, 2008

1 - When the clutch is disengaged the throwout exerts several hundred pounds of force on clutch fingers. That more than enough friction between the fingers and the bearing rotating memeber to overcome initial stiffness in bearing.

2 - Once the bearing is installed then the clutch has been disengaged a minute or two with the engine running, the bearing should loosen up considerably as the lubricant gets churned up and "rearranged" within the bearing.

So long as bearing can be turned at all before it's installed I wouldn't be too concerned.

Janicholson · Nov 11, 2008

I agree with Bob, The waxy stuff is Cosmoline preservative for storage, ignore it. The bearing will be fine. JimN

Throw-out bearing on an M - is it a problem?

Slappy

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Bob M

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Janicholson

Well-known Member

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