really angry pig/herd of squirrels in my tranny

[Elsifer]

So I think the throwout bearing has gone on my tranny. I pulled one 5mm OD ball bearing and what used to be a pretty round hunk of metal from the vents at the bottom of the bellhousing.

Is it worth just changing the bearing assembly or doing a whole clutch job? I havent pulled the unit apart yet, but just wondering what parts I should have onhand before tackling this job.

Also, would the throwout or pilot bearing have any side effects of my starter not wanting to grab the flywheel on the first starting attempt? When I back off the key the starter winds down, then thunks. Then the rig starts no problem. I suspect the bendix might have a liberal coating of mud on it. But not sure if the flywheel might be crooked or something.

Like I said, I haven't torn anything apart yet. Just thinking of a list of potential parts before tearing into the tranny.

Cheers
Chris

[SwampSinger]

If you have to pull your tranny out ... might as well change the clutch while you are in there. thats' my opinion...

I don't think the throw out bearing as anything to do with your starter bud (I might be wrong...I'm not an expert  )... I would pull out the starter (easy 2 bolts job) and check the gear to see if it wearing out weird or it it a marks on it...like it would be skipping because your missing a teeth on your flywheel.

Your starter might be full of muck also and do not turn on the first try.. mine did that. I went to ATI and they rebuilt it. They did a killah job (about $150)

Like I said ..I'm not a mechanic but that's what I would check first..

Good luck and I hope the repairs are not too extensive (or expensive  )

[rws]

Pull your starter and take it into the nearest PartsSource and they will check it for free.  Clean water can be used to clean it off.

If you are doing a clutch job its cheap and easy to get the fly wheel resurfaced while everything is apart.

[Bnine]

Definately the release bearing Chris. The starter may just have been jammed on a bearing or peice of metal.

Do the bearing and clutch, then see if the starter is behaving again.

[Wif]

... If you are doing a clutch job its cheap and easy to get the fly wheel resurfaced while everything is apart.

I think the FSM says not to resurface the flywheel .. as it's not a flat level surface from the factory.

[Dragonmaster]

I think the FSM says not to resurface the flywheel .. as it's not a flat level surface from the factory.

It depends on the clutch you re-install.  If going with am OEM don't resurface, if going with anything else resurface is ok (not great)

[Elsifer]

Well, I left the clutch alone. And just changed the release bearing.
Turns out all the bearings were gone, and just the races and retainers were left. Ouch.

All is good again, but the tranny makes a whup-whup-whup noise when I am accelerating and letting the clutch out. Prolly the clutch. But I only drive the rig when I am in town. And I happen to be in town till the end of june, then back to work for weeks at a time, and only days back home. So for the time being, I am not worried.

Thanks for the info all.

Anyone know if a NV4500 bolts right up to the 4L???

Cheers
Chris

[WagoneerXJ]

But not sure if the flywheel might be crooked or something.
Cheers
Chris

If the flywheel was "crooked" you would definetly know it!