Rather than reviving someone else's old thread that we had hijacked, I figured it would be better to do this one.

Here's the beef again and the new "glitch" I discovered this weekend.

104k miles on truck, 6 mo old South Bend multi friction clutch setup, new clutch slave cylinder setup (master & slave w/ line = one replacement part from DC).
Tranny fluid changed every 25k miles (or less in some cases) using Amsoil after initial 25k miles.

It's been an issue since the truck was new, not just for me, but for a lot of guys here.

Problem that a lot of guys here have had. Hard going into gear!

Fluid changes don't seem to help much. Syncros may be part of some people's issues, but not easily tested.

Now, on mine, I have no leaks in the engine, so no contamination of clutch.

NEW - This weekend, the clutch didn't want to release when I pulled into a parking place. I had to kill it to keep from rear ending a vehicle. The clutch is engaging only about 4" off the floor.

This has made me to wonder if the stock clutch master/slave cylinder setups may not be building enough force to operate our pressure plates. And, when we change to an after market setup (read - higher weight pressure plate) it only compounds the problem.

So, does this sound reasonable? Any other idea? What do racers use? Is it possible I have air in my system and it just needs to be bled?

I haven't checked to see if I have developed a leak, I'll do that this week if I can.

I'm getting soooooo tired of this that I'm starting to think a new Chevy looks good.....

 

To me it sounds like you have the ultimate truck with a master/slave cyl issues.

I had to replace the slave on my chevy after the shop said all was good to go. I drove thru town starting and killing the motor in 2nd gear.

Also, hard getting into gear has got to be a separate issue. I also have that issue with the chevy. A work around was to shift into first before reverse. This seemed to get the syncros to work better.

After fixing the master/slave issue try this: pick a gear easy to get into then throw it into the hard to get gear.

 

Heavier pressure plate with stock hydro. system is not wise. I would upgrade the Master and Slave cylinder. South Bend offers one. Had this happen to me before with different brand vehicle.

 

Ahhh, I was wondering if there was an after market alternative.
Off for some shopping!!!!!!!
Thanks.

The question still remains for all the other guys though......

 

My brother had a GM truck with an upgraded pressure plate& clutch, and he went threw 3 to 4 master plastic master cylinders until he found an aluminum master from another vehicle , he than had it machined to fit his truck, problem solved. I leave all my stuff stock now, I look back at all my cars I modified, and can't see where I spent 20yrs. of wages.

 

Had the same problem with mine, thought it was the master or slave going bad.....no help and a waste of 250.....so i pulled the tranny and found the 3 mth old pilot bearing was completly gone....replace it with new one with adding allitle more grease than what the factory had in the 3mth old one when i installed it.....and all has been great now for over a year .....My sig says the rest.
Good luck

 

Easiest thing to do would be to replace your hydraulics.
That does sound like what the problem is.
My oem hydro's failed a miserable death several years back.