Aligning Clutch Discs

[M3S2k]

Hey all,

Been awhile since I've been on here. Anyways, winter is rapidly approaching which means it is almost time to remove the tranny in the Esprit again to address my glazed clutch issue. Plan on taking it to a local place and have it resurfaced provided everything still looks alright. Was wondering what tool I would need to align the clutch discs again once reinstalled or if anyone might have a an old primary shaft lying around that they would be willing to part with. Thanks

[Günter]

Have done it: measure the smaller diameter of the teeth's in the discs, and that from the pilot-bearing in the flywheel.

It's just an job with an woodworking lathe ... .

[jeff_hooper]

I just used a cheap universal clutch alignment kit available from most car accessory shops, there nothing special about aligning the Lotus clutch.

Jeff H

[Günter]

the problem is that most cheap clutch aligning kits are made for an single disk.... . That's why i made my own dummy-"clutch spline" from an piece of wood !

[jeff_hooper]

[quote name='G

[Günter]

It's not an 'single size' problem that I'm talking about -It's the twin plate clutch of the later V8 . You know !? Those universal kits have several cone profiles to match , that's right. Bud they are made for an clutch with one friction disc.... .

[andydclements]

And the tool needs to align the teeth of the two plates not just the centres, so i can see why Gunter is going down the route of old input shaft.

What about a local gearbox re manufacturer? Even if they don't have an Esprit input shaft it's going to be the same as many others.

[M3S2k]

WooHoo, getting clutch back this afternoon. Shop has relined the clutch discs and is just finishing machining the flywheel down to match. It appears that the disc closest to the flywheel lost half of its lining on the pressure plate side. Luckily no damage to the pressure plate (no resurfacing required) and just some machining to the flywheel and stepped surface needed. Shopped had it bolted together and tested to make sure everything will work properly. Will be finding out what this will cost me shortly, but should be a substantially cheaper fix then replacing with a new clutch!!