Advice......Clutch help

[OldFL1970]

Hello,
I recently took on another bus project and could use some advice on a clutch issue. The bus is a '73 that I've had for a few months. I been driving it 1-2 times per week for short trips as I get things sorted out. The PO told me things he had done prior to it......1 being a new clutch kit (disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, cable). Over these few months no issues have been noticed with clutch.

Yesterday I went to take bus on a short errand and after starting / warming up, I go to put it in gear and it wouldn't go (in to any gear).
Turned off and it goes through the gears fine. Checked cable / adjustment and not the problem.
Put in 1st gear, then attempted start with clutch depressed.....bus jumps forward as if the clutch is not disengaging.
Went under as friend worked clutch and the lever at bell housing seems to have good movement.
No issues when driven last about 8 days ago.

Pilot bearing failure? Just want advice as what to do / check at this point and preferably the best order to do so to diagnose the issue?
I did search for awhile as I usually do as u can see from my low post numbers as I usually find answers without asking questions due to the wealth of knowledge and answers on here (thank u all for that).
Any advice / help is much appreciated.

[Wildthings]

Probably the pilot bearing has failed and seized, but if could be something else in the clutch system has failed instead. Time to pull the engine and take a look-see.

[OldFL1970]

Yea, thanks wildthings I assumed as much. Was just hoping to not have to as back just flared up If someone has had the same issue and could let me know what their diagnoses ended up being would be helpful. Thanks

[busdaddy]

The odd time you can get away with replacing the clutch cable because it's broken internally and stretched, but since you say you observed lots of movement on the arm it sounds like it's engine drop time for you.
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[OldFL1970]

Yea busdaddy thanks. I was thinking the same thing hoping I had a stretched cable that needed adjustment but once I saw all the movement I knew I wasn't so lucky.

PO did just contact me and said pilot bearing was also changed at time with other clutch parts. I will drop the motor to investigate. Any other thoughts of what the issue may be if not pilot bearing? Of course I will inspect.....just wondering what else to look for?

[aeromech]

Does the pedal feel normal? Sometimes the throw out bearing fork breaks in the bell housing. You'd still have visible movement but the pressure plate wouldn't fully release
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Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
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[OldFL1970]

Aeromech
In that situation would the clutch feel normal or would I get a very loose "no resistance" feel?
The clutch does feel normal from top to bottom

[rottenkid]

Sounds exactly like the clutch in my 78 bus. With the clutch depressed and in gear, the bus would jump forward. I replaced the clutch cable and had the same results. I finally changed the clutch. Everything is fine now.

[aeromech]

Then probably not the fork. You'll need to drop the engine
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[AB westy nut]

What's the free play measured at the clutch pedal?
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[skills@eurocarsplus]

check for a cracked clutch lever where the cable passes thru. your clutch will feel normal but as you watch it you will see a crack open up. look at the whole shebang while someone in the cab operates the clutch.

the Bowden tube holder likes to crack as well. also check the clutch tube for any kind of break at the weld on the torsion bar
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[Tcash]

Clutch Free Play

Clutch Failures