Can I Reuse This Clutch?

So about a year or so before I tore down the Jeep I had my clutch replaced by a shop. Upon taking it apart my flywheel had some heat marks on it and the pressure plate has a tiny bit of heat marks on it as well. I’m not entirely sure what a clutch disk should look like but it looks fine to me? I’ve gotten the flywheel resurfaced and reinstalled. (1973 CJ5 with 258 from 1984 I believe)

The question is, can, or should, I reuse this clutch? It only has 1700 miles on it but the heat marks on the flywheel made me weary.





Thank you!


*Resurfaced flywheel

 

The most critical component by far typically is the driven disk.
I would reuse the cover plate assembly.
If your certain it’s only 1 k then I think it’s a pretty safe gamble concerning the disk.

 

Looks like a lot of life left on that disk. I would put it back in.

 

I just went out and double checked the numbers and it’s 1700 miles instead of 1000. Is that still within a safe range?

 

Run it!

 

Dissenting voice here...you can buy a name brand clutch kit on Rock Auto for roughly $100. Considering what's involved in changing a clutch, I would replace it. To me, it's worth a hundred to not have to go in there again.

 

Well I just hate to see good stuff pitched aside or get tossed out.
Most disks I’ve seen had some paint or ink stamping on the disk face. If I can still see the markings then I reuse the disk as they are only on the fiber surface.
When I look at your disk I see no ink on the fiber face but I can see that approx 50% of the fiber has never yet contacted the pressure plate and the flywheel.
So yes I suspect your good to go with this disk.
Really no guarantee that a new one will be any better.

 

What brand is this clutch and the disk anyway ?

 

Luk

 

I'm another that would run that.

 

My friend reused the clutch disc and pressure plate on his truck against my better judgment and it still jumps, bucks, and throws you around the cab of the truck, so I'd say it's good insurance to buy another if the budget allows and keep the old one as a backup.

 

Was the clutch in good shape before he reused it?

 

If you wouldn't use it this time, why would you use it next time?

 

if you're in a sticky situation, like 6 miles deep in the rubicon, an iffy clutch is better to have as a spare than no clutch. this time, however, it will be in a less critical situation, so caution is more of a concern.

 

Unfortunately? I'm well versed in pulling transmissions and don't see it as an onus. I'd stick it back in there.

 

I would glass bead blast the fiber surfaces to remove the glaze. Same for the contact surface f the pressure plate.

 

I wouldnt even have resurfaced the flywheel. Machine shops these days theres a bigger chance of it being screwed up now than it was before. Id just lightly hit the steel surfaces with a brown roloc disc and brake kleen the disc.

 

Emergency situation.

 

One should have more than adequate warning that your clutch disc is starting to fail. Sudden failure is usually linkage or a blown hydraulic circuit. In the latter case, most Jeeps will start in first gear and from there you will get practice speed matching your shifts. I've had that opportunity twice now.

A spare clutch disc isn't something that is ever going to be part of my trail "kit" any more than an extra transmission or transfercase.

 

If I was going to change a clutch six miles into the boonies, I personally wouldn't see any benefit to using parts I'd rejected once before.

I do sometimes carry "used" spares, but not for a job the requires removing the transmission each time.