440 Frozen clutch disk

[BKahler]

I'm trying to remove the clutch from the flywheel so I can get to the bolts that hold the flywheel to the crankshaft. It appears the pressure plate is frozen to the clutch disk which is in turn frozen to the flywheel. I've got the 6 bolts removed but can't budge the pressure plate. I've sprayed the whole area down with PBlaster and will see if that helps. If anyone has any other tips or suggestions I'd like to here about them

Also, there was dirt packed in behind the flywheel and it took me around 20 minutes to dig it all out of there. How in the heck would dirt get up into that area I thought the bell housing area was a sealed area. It seems that any nook and cranny that dirt could get into it did

Thanks,

Brad

[Lavoy]

Brad,
If the pressure plate is that rusty, it will not be uesable, jut put a bar on it and pry it out.
There should be a flywheel cover of some sort that covers the bottom portion, lots of times people take them off and don't put back.
Lavoy

[BKahler]

Brad,
If the pressure plate is that rusty, it will not be uesable, jut put a bar on it and pry it out.
There should be a flywheel cover of some sort that covers the bottom portion, lots of times people take them off and don't put back.
Lavoy

Lavoy,

I don't think things were quite as frozen as I had feared. I used a small pry bar and the plate poppd right out. I was afraid last night to use any kind of pressure. The pressure plate looks fairly clean and smooth. I'm going to soak it and scrub it down to see just how good/bad it really is. The disc popped off the same way. The disc has plenty of wear left but I'm going to replace it no matter what. I'd like to salvage the pressure plate if I can. Time will tell.

Thanks,

Brad

[BKahler]

Brad,
If the pressure plate is that rusty, it will not be uesable, jut put a bar on it and pry it out.
There should be a flywheel cover of some sort that covers the bottom portion, lots of times people take them off and don't put back.
Lavoy

Lavoy, just a follow up on your comment above. My crawler has the diesel engine. Apparently for the gas engined models there was some sort of sheet metal cover on the bottom portion of the bell housing similar to that on cars and trucks. Kinda like an access cover. However the diesel engine doesn't use that. Its cast iron all the way around. Not sure how all the dirt and crud could have gotten in there but it did.

Brad

[Lavoy]

Brad,
I think the diesel still has the timing/vent holes in the bell housing. Seems like a lot of dirt can get in them.
Lavoy