Clutch Adjustment on Ford 8000 truck

So the old Louiville is not engaging in the mid range, it will in low but slow and with a load you can feel the slip at the start.

There is a bolt on the clutch with a star adjuster. I can see it and have been told to disengage the clutch (blocked down pedal with a pice of wood to the seat)and wind it in clockwise.
Will this will push the pressure plate further in???? How far do I wind it in? Should I just do a few turns to see how it runs? Any other advice?
I know the linkage could be adjusted, but should it be lengthened or shortened?

Thanks for any advice. Oh - its got the Cat 3208 engine if this makes a differance - just a good old farm truck. Grant

Measure the pedal free travel, it should be 1 to 2 inches. If not, Block the pedal down. Put a wrench on the pressure plate adjusting bolt. Wiggle the wrench a little as you PRESS IN on the bolt head, to release bolt from the lock. Turn the wrench/bolt about 1/4 turn. Let go of the bolt head, wiggle the wrench a little, so the bolt head can come back out, into the lock. Remove the block, check the free travel again. Re-adjust again as necessary. Have paper and pencil on hand, Make a sketch of direction you turn the bolt vs free play achieved for reference.

Do remember to push ahead on the socket before you turn the bolt. This will disengage the lock... Also, if it doesn't turn it's possible that the mechanism is seized. What that bolt does is simply turn a gear that is in mesh with a large ring in the back of the clutch cover. The ring is threaded into the cover and it pushes against the pressure plate. The ring can and often does seize. If it does you will need to pound on the clutch cover to see if it will free up. If not you drop the transmission.

Also... generally speaking... if you have not changed the free travel in the clutch linkage, DO NOT change the FREE TRAVEL in the linkage. Any clutch adjustments on these clutches are made on the adjuster ring as described.
What you're aiming to do on that adjustment is bring the pressure plate back so that the distance between the release bearing and transmission cover is about 1/2" (without clutch brake) or basically until the clutch brake disc is tight with the pedal fully depressed if it has the clutch brake.

Again, if you can't get it adjusted, you need to drop the tranny to change the clutch. Also... the adjuster bolt will break off if you try hard enough...

Rod

Well I got it done. It was surprisingly easy. The bolt went in and I tured the ring gear about a quarter turn. The pedal has free play and it engages in mid range again. I'll try a load on it later today.The first thing I was tempted to try was playing with the linkage- glad I didn't.

Thanks alot guys. Hey Rod, where in NS are you. My FIL lives in Chester. I'm on Vancouver Island. Complete oposite ends of the country, consequently I don't get out very often.
Grant

Eastern Cape Breton... 20 min from the newfie barge.

Rod