4 Terrain Clutch review

[BillMcQuade]

Hey Bill,

Can you pm me (i have no idea how to do it) - as I have a question?

PM sent

[RHKTriton]

Hello Bill

How's the clutch going?

Mine must be nearing the end of its normal wear (210k) - peddle free play just exists.

I'm also considering having a new flywheel on hand, so I can simply disassemble and reassemble over a weekend.

[BillMcQuade]

Hello Bill

How's the clutch going?

Mine must be nearing the end of its normal wear (210k) - peddle free play just exists.

I'm also considering having a new flywheel on hand, so I can simply disassemble and reassemble over a weekend.

Not happy Jan!

The new clutch has started to slip. I was out getting some firewood (alone), and got bogged. Really, really bogged. Stupidly, I went down a track that I had been down the previous weekend, and went through a puddle and immediately ended up 50 - 60 degrees down on the passenger side, with mud half way up the doors. The Triton was sitting on the diffs on the centre "peak". Irritatingly, someone had got bogged during the week, and made a mess of the puddle, which looked deceptively shallow. Yes, I should have checked before going through, but my previous week traversing the thing had made me over-confident. This was pre-winch fitment, so after over 2 hours of digging and rocking, I finally got it out. The clutch took a real pounding. Have to do some investigation, but I suspect there will be a new one going in soon.

[RHKTriton]

So there's the motivation for the winch!

Did ingress of muddy water possibly help kill the clutch?

I've never had the sensation of my clutch slipping and only apply the power after its fully engaged.

I've only got a small amount of pedal travel to disengege it now - so not much left.

Just keep an eye on the tacho and make sure speedo is rising as revs rise.

[BillMcQuade]

Yes, I reckon the muddy water probably caused some of the issue. When mine is in 4th or 5th, with cruise engaged, it will go to power up a hill and slip badly. Sigh. More $$$.

[RHKTriton]

Probably saturated the friction surfaces with grit - ouch!

Or you really flogged it and glazed it!

I've been contemplating the process of sliding the gearbox/transfer unit back on a frame. This to keep the
Engine and box in alignment and allow easy reconnection of the units. Tilting the assembly is going to be the interesting bit.

[BillMcQuade]

I reckon it's a combination of grit and flogging.

I've done a lot of boxes on the garage floor, but I no longer have a proper area to do this. I paid someone to fit the clutch, and it was done and dusted in a day. Money well spent.

[srb]

Bugger, Bill.

Well I definitely won't be replacing my clutch with one of those. Should be able to handle submersion and mud.
Mine has only now just started slipping after 130k kms.. only slips if I really drop it hard though so still has a bit of life left.

[BillMcQuade]

I think it was more the duration of the submersion. It was one of the worst bogs I have been in. I was alone, and still hadn't fitted the winch. Only the pasdenger side wheels were on the ground (3 feet under mud), until I was able to dig out under the rear diff pumpkin and get the back wheel grounded. It is a testament to the ESC that I was able to get out. Ended up using the chainsaw to cut some logs to get the PS wheels onto something solid. A lot of rocking and throttle was required. Also destroyed my side steps, hence my recent purchase of some sliders.

I only ducked out for a half hour to get some firewood.

Most expensive load of firewood. Ever.

[srb]

Yep is always the way when you least expect it. Good work getting it out on your own.. I've been in similar situations and gone for the winch and found winch won't work. So is good to be able to improvise.

Your clutch might come good once it beds in again.. I've had mine completely seized up over night after drowning it in mud and water the day before.. Muddy water ingress into cab the whole bit.
And another time when my rail limiter was pissing diesel and it found its way onto the clutch surface.. Lots of slipping then Eventually came good.

[RHKTriton]

Ahh....the hidden costs of wood heating!

That's the dilema, chance it and hope it regains friction but faced with the prospect
of further damage if not opened up for at least an inspection and possible clean.

I'm always amused on the 4x4 shows how everyone has to drive their rig through the biggest bog hole, when there's a perfectly good track around it!

The thoughts - shit in the bell housing, clogged radiator and condenser, busted alternator, etc, etc, just pour through the brain.

[BillMcQuade]

I'm always amused on the 4x4 shows how everyone has to drive their rig through the biggest bog hole, when there's a perfectly good track around it!

The thoughts - shit in the bell housing, clogged radiator and condenser, busted alternator, etc, etc, just pour through the brain.

Spot on! Alternators are particularly averse to muddy water.

I've always been in the "avoid the puddle" club. Now I'm also in the "check every puddle with a stick, no matter what it was like last week" club.

I have to take off the bash plates to do the timing belts this week, so I'm going to see what I can see in the bellhousing.

[RHKTriton]

Do you take out the radiator when doing the timing belts Bill? Assume it would provide more room.

[BillMcQuade]

Do you take out the radiator when doing the timing belts Bill? Assume it would provide more room.

No. Plenty of room once the fan and shroud are out.

[BillMcQuade]

Update, clutch is now sorted. Turned out to be a boatload of mud in the bellhousing, which provided endless fine dry dust to upset the cultch.

Removed the box, cleaned everything, even had the flywheel lightly surface ground for the hell of it.

Works just like new again.

Note to others, if you get bogged in slurry, pull the cover plate and give the bellhousing a hose out. Will save a lot of hassle in the future!

[Toddyh]

Good to hear all is OK Bill. I've just installed a 4Terrain Ultimate in my Challenger. Factory clutch was worn but not slipping at 185,000km. Replaced due to a big trip coming up this year and better to be safe than sorry. Got it on special for $650 so jumped at it. Done about 1,000km and so far so good.

[RHKTriton]

Good to see all turned out OK Bill.

So you'll hook up the swamp dozer out back for the next bog hole adventure?

[BillMcQuade]

Good to see all turned out OK Bill.

So you'll hook up the swamp dozer out back for the next bog hole adventure?

Maybe a tow bar mounted backhoe


It makes me appreciate the engineering in my old Land Rovers, where the bellhousing was well protected against this sort of thing.

[RHKTriton]

Didn't the axles twist up like licorice before you got into any trouble?

[BillMcQuade]

Didn't the axles twist up like licorice before you got into any trouble?

Just the usual driver side rear, but that still leaves the front axle operational, which (on a Series IIA cab/chassis) is still better than 4x4 on most other vehicles

[RHKTriton]

So how is the clutch hanging in Bill?

[BillMcQuade]

So how is the clutch hanging in Bill?

No problems now. Goes like new.

[RHKTriton]

Glad its ended on a good note.

[Ray57MQ]

[BillMcQuade]

Glad its ended on a good note.

Yes, me too!