Jeep: Clutch Linkages
By Jason Bolonski
The clutch linkages on the Jeep was very greasy and messy. The rubber seals were no longer doing their job. The manifolds and exhaust where removed from the Jeep allowing me easy access to the clutch linkages and bell crank. I used this opportunity to pull it out and give it some refurb treatment.
The cleanup consisted of degreaser and a wire wheel. Everything was disassembled and reviewed for reusability.
Linkage Before
All of the rubber seals where degraded. There was a sleeve that held grease in the balljoint that had completely failed. There was also felt washer that protected dirty from getting in the ball back at the clutch fork that needed to be replaced.
Linkage Degreased
The metal parts were looking good after degreasing and cleaning off old paint on the wire wheel. All of the rubber and plastic “pieces” were trash.
Powder Coating
I decided to powder coat the parts to give it durability since they sit low in the Jeep and are exposed more to the elements.
Coated and Cooled
3D Printing
I couldn’t find the rubber sleeve used to protect the ball joint. So, I used NinjaFlex filament on my 3D printer to print a new flexible sleeve.
Reassembled and Installed
I was able to locate replacment rubber seals and nylon spacers.
The adjustable arm that goes from the bell crank to the clutch fork was electroplated with zinc and then protected with cadmium chromate. I was not happy with the look of it but it was my first try at doing the cadmium bath.
The felt washers were made using compressed felt used for putting on the bottom of furniture to protect floors.
