Thread: Tdi clutch fork. Case harden the pivot socket ?

Originally Posted by rick130

Seeing as the fork is just pressed steel, and I'm guessing a very low carbon one at that, particularly the after-market ones, what do our engineers reckon about case hardening the pivot socket ?

I have enough powder to quench it, so should I do it or just beef up the back of the pivot and don't worry about the wearing surface ?

Rick,
I would just lube it with moly based grease and don't bother with hardening or beefing it up. The pivot ball will be worn if you harden the fork, and you may cause brittleness surrounding the pivot socket, and induce a fatigue fracture rather than a plain old wear issue, which will take years anyway.
I wouldn't do it.

JC

Id rather have the for break rather than have the fork smash the ball back into the housing damaging the housing in the event of the throwout bearing siezing on the shaft..

Theres a lot of mechanical advantage to be had out of the clutch hydraulic system and I have a big left leg cause I double declutch a lot..

thanks for the replies fella's. Duly noted.

Dave, I'm actually impressed such a failure prone part has lasted as long as it has, as in the period from 75,000km (when I acquired it) to 220,000km I reckon I could count the number of times I haven't double de-clutched a down change on one hand. Have a throttle pedal with an 'ear' on it for heel and toeing too. Makes things a lot easier.

Originally Posted by rick130

Seeing as the fork is just pressed steel, and I'm guessing a very low carbon one at that, particularly the after-market ones, what do our engineers reckon about case hardening the pivot socket ?

I have enough powder to quench it, so should I do it or just beef up the back of the pivot and don't worry about the wearing surface ?

The latter... Beef it up at the back and don't worry about the surface.

My 2c.

M

finally whipped it all apart this morning (I've become friggin good at clutchless gear canges. Thankfully a neighbour just down the lane from our new property has a concrete pit which he graciously volunteered, then proceeded to help ) and found that yes, the pivot had punched through, but the slipper pivots were buggered as well. One had totally gone, (slipper and clip was in the bottom of the bell housing) the other was nearly worn through.
The diaphram was nearly worn through at the thrust race face and was about to collapse as the finger heights were all over the place. The plate had heaps of meat on it still, about only half worn, maybe less (Valeo plate and cover)
The flywheel face looks great, but will get a light skim, and get the pressure plate/flywheel balanced as well while it's there.

With the pivots also gone, can't see much point in reinforcing the ball socket.