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88 Cherokee Piston Slap? Nope, Cracked Flexplate

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Focker, May 30, 2017.

  1. Jun 6, 2017
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    Yes, internally balanced.
     
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  2. Jun 6, 2017
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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  3. Jun 8, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Comparison.
    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Jun 8, 2017
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Instead of flex plate they should name it Breaking plate.
     
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  5. Jun 8, 2017
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I bet it was flexed right before it broke...
     
  6. Jun 8, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Kinda looks balanced to me, with all those holes drilled in that spot. But I know little about these things. All I know is that I think wife's Cherokee needs one, too.

    Maybe I missed it but, did you spin the rotating mass since removal of the flex plate....to listen for the knock....to make sure it's gone?
     
  7. Jun 9, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Good catch... I didn't post it... Sorry.

    It spins great...Makes the perfect sound of oily machined parts moving within their tolerances of one another.
     
  8. Jun 9, 2017
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
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    Isn't this universal for those of us that have the good fortune to know she'll be there for the next stupid thing we want to do? Mine's been doing that since 1992...
     
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  9. Jun 9, 2017
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
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    excellent read.

    I'd be thinking the timing chain is the next project while I have this thing all apart. It'd give me pieces of my mind... (I'm late to the party).

    OK, I'd bolt it up, get it going, spin it around the block and then have the daughter drive me to the DQ for a dilly bar...

    Then I'd fix the timing chain.

    It always amazes me the collective wealth of experience and knowledge folks here have and willys-ingly share for those of us who dabble and getting in over our heads with this stuff.
     
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  10. Jun 9, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    It's next...But I'm going to button up the flexplate/transmission installation first. This Sunday or Monday is installation day.
     
  11. Jun 9, 2017
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
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    just a question: since the transmission is out...

    Any thoughts of servicing it? (new filter, drain / replace oil, etc.)
     
  12. Jun 9, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    I drained the fluid...New fluid is about all I'll do to it.
     
  13. Jun 10, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Got another minivan yesterday with a cracked flexplate. Ill get a pic of that one monday probably
     
  14. Jun 10, 2017
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    What is it that causes those flex plates to crack like they do? Loose bolts?
     
  15. Jun 10, 2017
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    Cheap low quality parts.
     
  16. Jun 10, 2017
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    How does working with the automatic compare to a standard. Easier is some ways as the TC/flexplate is easier to deal with than clutch and input shaft alignment?
     
  17. Jun 10, 2017
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    IMO, they each have their quirks. Lining them up is a piece of cake, but the flex plate bolts can be a pain on most engines, and the fluid lines can be a challenge, especially when setting them up from scratch. They have a flat bottom, so using a jack actually makes life easier, not harder like under a big truck 4-spd.
     
  18. Jun 10, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    The flexplate will have 1 hole that has flat sides in it for the torque convertor bolts. Tighten that 1 bolt first and all the rest will line up. Tighten one of the others down first and you will be loosening them back up at some point;)
     
  19. Jun 10, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    But after looking at the pic of the one you have they all look round...
     
  20. Jun 10, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Torque convetor bolts are a HUGE pain to get out if motor is siezed. Ive had a couple lately that i had to pull the motor and tc together. Tc will slide out of trans but makes a mess and adds extra length to the motor trying to get it out of the vehicle
     
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