I think I upset some guy

[martyn williams]

Had an email from the editor of CPM, he said he had a phonecall from a guy that was upset about the way I adjusted an engine clutch in a recent article .
I have done many clutch changes and adjustments over the years as a job and a hobby. I have the arthritus and a bad back as proof.
I guess he was on about the quick adjustment job I had to do on my BTD6 at Crynant. I even double checked my BTD6 manuall after the email that I had done it the correct way, which I had. The only problem I had with the adjustment was the adjusting ring was a little stiff to move around,this was sorted with a copper drift and a hammer to rotate it three notches.The clutch lever then had the right feel, it should snap over to engauge the clutch. It was not a nice job in rain stretched over the bonnet with my head down the inspection hole.Thankfully it was before lunch as its not a job to do after a breakfast roll
Removing the air filter and precleaner makes it a bit easier. I then re fitted the lock tab and bolts, boxed up the machine and give it a bloody good testing for an hour. All was fine as it behaved the rest of the weekend.
The machine is the same age as me but in better condition
A hammer is my favorite tool
Martyn

[martyn williams]

The BTD6 enters the ring at Crynant following a JCB 3C

[romneyman]

How does this guy think the clutch should be adjusted then?
It was only on a new clutch that the adjuster ring could be pushed round, most times it was adjusted exactly as you describe.
Peter

[widget]

If all fitters had every specialist tool for every job ever done on every machine they had ever worked on throughout life, I guess they would have a toolbox the size of a 40ft container.
A 2 1/2 lb hammer in a good fitters hands IS a specialist tool....with so many varied uses from fettling to being a torque wrench!!
Mine is precious to me, it is balanced well and has the right feel....all good fitters im sure will understand what i mean

The most important tools are a good selection of hammers and the knowledge of how to use them.....Keep doing what you do Martyn

I wonder if the complainant was a chippy??

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi,
The right tool is the one that does the job
I dont suppose your complainant would be very pleased with me either.
I've had to use a 5 foot bar to knock the ring round on some of the bigger clutches, (old BTD 20s,Fowler 33s and old D7s to name a few).
The adjuster ring can get pretty tight on those old dry clutches, the wet variety were usualy a bit easier.
The round bar with a curved pointed end that Cat provided for the job was worse than useless even on a wet clutch.
They were always painted bright blue, probably so you could find them after you'd thrown them into the long grass after you jambed your fingers or skinned your knuckles.
Fred

[martyn williams]

Dead right there Fred, I have put a few tools in orbit. In the early 1980's I was working on a JCB 3C gear box fault after a very good night out.I removed the gearbox lid and threw up in the gearbox.
Martyn
PS How is the TD18 going ? I am up Mountain Ash in the week , may pop into Barry's if I get time. Did Barry get the fuel pump timing info ?

[Jeremy Rowland]

Hi,
The right tool is the one that does the job
I dont suppose your complainant would be very pleased with me either.
I've had to use a 5 foot bar to knock the ring round on some of the bigger clutches, (old BTD 20s,Fowler 33s and old D7s to name a few).
The adjuster ring can get pretty tight on those old dry clutches, the wet variety were usualy a bit easier.
The round bar with a curved pointed end that Cat provided for the job was worse than useless even on a wet clutch.
They were always painted bright blue, probably so you could find them after you'd thrown them into the long grass after you jambed your fingers or skinned your knuckles.
Fred

Spot on Fred "the right tool is the one that does the job"

You would not adjust the rarer Spicer clutch on a 400 series Sed Atk without a big bar and a hammer and even on the regular Lipe Rolway clutch you would still need a hammer and a large screwdriver to move the hollow tube on which the release bearing was fastened.

Jeremy

[FOWLER MAN]

Dead right there Fred, I have put a few tools in orbit. In the early 1980's I was working on a JCB 3C gear box fault after a very good night out.I removed the gearbox lid and threw up in the gearbox.
Martyn
PS How is the TD18 going ? I am up Mountain Ash in the week , may pop into Barry's if I get time. Did Barry get the fuel pump timing info ?

Hi Martyn,
I havent had time to do much on the 18 for the last couple of weeks.
Don't know why you thought we were looking for pump timing info, that's straightforward enough.
Maybe Barry gave you the wrong impression. What we are looking for is the correct callibration vollumes to set up the injector pump.
Fred

[martyn williams]

He rang me last Monday looking for info, he found a fax I sent him a couple of years back on injection pumps.Guess you have got the mag back by now.I took it to Bristol for him a few weeks back for checking.It was damp within the mag.. If you need more pump info let me know I will aske I guy I know in the US.
Hope you are keeping well Fred
Martyn