Clutch not Working

I would check to make sure the clutch cable just didn't come off of the wing nut end of line first. Sometimes a few strands will break allowing you to operate the clutch with some resistance but not enough travel to shift gears. Otherwise removing the engine to check the transmission really isn't all that difficult. But check with @DannyP since he has a Spyder and can get his motor out faster than most.

i once had the clutch lever(the thing U attach the clutch cable to) bend towards front of car enough so clutch wouldnt engage,,guessing metal fatigue..

Robert, the Vintage Spyder has a hydraulic clutch. The master cylinder is a 5/8" Wilwood and the slave is a 7/8" Wilwood also. But I'm not sure at all what Daniel would have used.

If the slave is moving enough to disengage the clutch, then it's either the cross shaft(sometimes the welds break on the throwout bearing arms) or the throwout bearing itself went bad or the clutch fingers are bent.

Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose any of this is to pull the motor.

Pulling the motor is nowhere as easy as on a Speedster. I have the tools and have done it plenty, but it's still not easy.

@Robert M posted:

I would check to make sure the clutch cable just didn't come off of the wing nut end of line first. Sometimes a few strands will break allowing you to operate the clutch with some resistance but not enough travel to shift gears. Otherwise removing the engine to check the transmission really isn't all that difficult. But check with @DannyP since he has a Spyder and can get his motor out faster than most.

Never mind. Lol

@DannyP posted:

Robert, the Vintage Spyder has a hydraulic clutch. The master cylinder is a 5/8" Wilwood and the slave is a 7/8" Wilwood also. But I'm not sure at all what Daniel would have used.

If the slave is moving enough to disengage the clutch, then it's either the cross shaft(sometimes the welds break on the throwout bearing arms) or the throwout bearing itself went bad or the clutch fingers are bent.

Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose any of this is to pull the motor.

Pulling the motor is nowhere as easy as on a Speedster. I have the tools and have done it plenty, but it's still not easy.

It uses a Wilwood slave. It is moving enough to disengage the clutch unfortunately is not releasing. The clutch components are Kennedy Engineering Products. What is the best way to look at the clutch, dropping the engine or removing the gear box from the back? If you have some recommendations please let me know.

I'm not 100% familiar with taking things apart with a Subaru engine. It appears there are mounts welded to the middle crossmember by the bellhousing that support the engine.

It's going to be a matter of removing the engine though. The engine drops down, so you'll need some high and solid jackstands or a lift. Then you'll need a cherry picker(with clamshell removed) or a transmission jack to lower the motor.

First, remove the exhaust. Then all your hoses, lines, and engine harness. Don't forget the accelerator cable. I also remove the shift cables from the trans and arc them up over the firewall and into the cockpit.

I've never gotten the motor out of my Vintage through the top. IMHO, it has to be lowered. If you can't get it to clear the trans input shaft, you can remove the mount by the tailcone of the transmission and push the trans down some, once the engine is slid forward and there is NO weight on the trans.

If you end up pulling the transmission for any reason later you need to pull the hubs and brakes off the axles, and remove the shocks so you can slide the trans to one side and get the axle up and over the frame, then to the other side for the other axle.

Good luck. It is helpful to have two extra people to remove the clamshell and at least one to remove the engine.

Thank you

I'd give Vintage a call and ask the best way. He builds a LOT of Subaru-powered cars.

In a Beck you can pull the trans off the engine on a Subaru build, leaving the engine in place and the cooling system intact, and making for an easy clutch service/change/etc...  You have very similar room in a Vintage, so it may be worth a shot (or just ask Greg).  As for your issue, if you have a Kennedy (KEP) pressure plate I'd be willing to bet it's pulled slop into the rivets and the pressure plate is not engaging evenly.  KEP still makes some good parts that I use regularly, but pressure plates are not one of them.  If that is the case, swap it to a Sachs HD and continue on...

Thank you for all your responses. My mechanic was able to move the Gear Box from the back this morning . As suspected the Thrust Bearing was the cause of the failure.

@chines1 posted:

In a Beck you can pull the trans off the engine on a Subaru build, leaving the engine in place and the cooling system intact, and making for an easy clutch service/change/etc...  You have very similar room in a Vintage, so it may be worth a shot (or just ask Greg).  As for your issue, if you have a Kennedy (KEP) pressure plate I'd be willing to bet it's pulled slop into the rivets and the pressure plate is not engaging evenly.  KEP still makes some good parts that I use regularly, but pressure plates are not one of them.  If that is the case, swap it to a Sachs HD and continue on...

Do you have part numbers for the Sachs pressure plate. I may as well replace the clutch parts that could create future problems.

I had that same failure early last year. It made a mess inside the bellhousing. A new clutch and pressure plate is a good idea.

Clutch, pressure plate, T/O bearing, and alignment tool from Amazon: $142, free delivery. Click the blue font-- it's a link.

If you want a spring center clutch, the kit is $187.

I'd get a solid center disc. I've put 45k on solid discs. I only replaced it since the motor was out.

I'm glad you can pull the trans back on a Suby car, either Beck or Vintage. No such luxury on a type1 powered car.

@GO550 there are both early (collar) and late (no collar) pressure plates that correlate to having an input sleeve around the input shaft of the gearbox or not.  Late model with the input shaft sleeve on the gearbox and no collar on the pressure plate is the preferred set-up, but you have to match what you have to your gearbox.  

@GO550 Sorry, just saw your photos and you have the early trans and the early throw-out with removable clips (late model have the clips integrated into the bearing housing) so you'll need the early model HD pressure plate.  EMPI is a distributor for Sachs and their part number is 32-1235-B   Factory part number is 311-141-025EBR  I only assume their is a different part number for stock vs. HD but be sure to double check it is HD.

One other small tip is once the throw out is installed put a SMALL dab of high temp silicone on the springs where they insert into the side of the throw out bearing casing.  The aftermarket springs aren't shaped as much as the old German OE ones and on occasion can get spit out causing TO bearing failure.  A small dab of silicone helps keep them in place.

Mr. Hines, going the extra mile, again.

They're a tiny bit more difficult to install, but I use the Weddle HD spring clips and they don't come out.

https://weddleindustries.com/p...-HD/111-141-177-A-HD

@DannyP nice call, since we don't use them often I didn't know they existed.

also @GO550 spring for the German TO bearing.  It'll be $40-50 instead of the $10 China one, but you save that 10x over if you don't have to fix a broken one.

@chines1 posted:

@DannyP nice call, since we don't use them often I didn't know they existed.

also @GO550 spring for the German TO bearing.  It'll be $40-50 instead of the $10 China one, but you save that 10x over if you don't have to fix a broken one.

EVERY. BIT. OF. THAT!

I get about 90% or more of my trans stuff from them. If there is a non-Chinese option, they usually have it. Not too much German is available these days, but the Brazil stuff isn't too bad.