Super C Throw-out Bearing

Pilot bearing noise will start later in the cycle and end earlier. It will begin when the clutch is completely released and end as the disk starts to spin with the flywheel and pressure plate assembly. It will disappear before the clutch is completely released.

Clutch disc problems will appear when the clutch is starting to engage and usually is gone when completely engaged. Oil or grease on the friction material can cause noise and jerky action before it gets so bad thet it slips. A leaking rear main seal or too much grease on the release bearing can cause lubricant to get on the lining.

From your description of the problem my, first guess would be a lining problem. If you can get at it, you could try holding the clutch down and, with the engine running, spray carb or brake cleaner on the disk in front ot the release bearing.

Pull that little cap (it"s held in place by a rivited clip you"ll see when it pops off). Look straight in - you"ll see the throwout bearing and zerk fitting.

It sounds to me like the throwout bearing is so worn you need a new one, and I would likely put in a new clutch while I was in there.

The Lubrication chapter of the Owner's Manual reprint I have gives item number 37 as "Clutch release bearing" and says there is a "clutch release bearing fitting."

This is clearly distinct from item number 21, "Clutch release bearing retainer."

The diagram in the Lubrication Guide clearly points to the release bearing (I've always used the term "throw-out bearing"), but there's no fitting visible on mine.

I don't know the answer to this. Apparently I've been missing something all these years. I just kind of "blipped" over this passage in the owner's manual, thinking I had it covered by hitting the zerk on the retainer.

If I had to guess, I'd guess the original throw-out bearing had a lubrication fitting, but my after-market bearing does not. Probably the after-market bearing instead has teflon or other "life-time" lubrication that will, of course, give out long before the clutch itself.

But this is just a GUESS. Anyone KNOW?

BTW, it sounds to me like the culprit isn't the throwout bearing, it sounds like it might be a pilot bearing problem. There is no grease fitting for that on a Super C.

If you will please re-read the thread, you will find that we both know about the grease fitting on what you are calling the "bracket" (IH calls it the "retainer" in the manual).

We both know about the access hole in the left side of the torque tube. This is item #21 in the list of periodic lubrication in the "Lubrication" section of the manual.

There is also a seperate item, #37, that pertains to the bearing itself.

Quoting DIRECTLY from the manual:

"21 - Clutch release bearing retainer. Use pressure-gun (chassis lubricant) and apply two or three strokes of the lubricator. Do not overlubricate. The fitting can be reached by removing the clutch housing dust cover from the left side of the clutch housing."

This is the one we ALL know about. However:

"37 - Clutch release bearing. Use pressure-gun grease (chassis lubricant). After every 1,000 hours or at least once a every year, apply a few strokes of the lubricator to clutch release bearing fitting (37) or just enough grease until it starts to come out of the bleeder hole on top of the bearing retainer. To reach the fitting, remover clutch housing handhole cover "A." See illustration 37. Also see Illust. 41b."

Illustration 37 is the main diagram showing all points of lubrication. It is drawing, not a photo; and it CLEARLY shows a lubrication fitting on the bearing itself.

Not the retainer, the bearing.

Illustration 41b simply shows the location of the handhole cover (also known as the "mouse nest removal cover").

The fitting on the retainer is shown seperately from the fitting on the bearing in Illustration 37, with the notation "left side."

Again, my belief is that OEM bearings were lubricated and had a fitting on them, but aftermarket bearings are lifetime bearings and won't take lubrication.

I'm hoping some one will know the answer to this one; I sure don't.

Link

I wish I had known this when I had the clutch replaced. Not surprisingly the older bearings seem to have lasted longer.

The thread referenced above implies that at the date of the thread (3/06) one could still get the old-style bearings from Case dealers. I hope that is still true.