but arent all parts of the throwout bearing assembly aft of the pressure plate? i guess i could see a part being stuck to the fingers, but that still wouldnt explain why the clutch wont engage....would it?

http://i55.tinypic.com/2qbwtig.png

based on this photo, i think that ring is just the front part of the throwout bearing (actually i guess its supposed to be called the release bearing?). i'm assuming it just was stuck and never came off, and that still doesnt explain why the thing isnt engaging

I am out for the night... will try to get my manuals out tomorrow if you are still needing the diagrams...
In post 29 I proposed that...
later,Greg

Yes, all parts of the t/o bearing are aft of the pressure plate. It would be like you have an extra thick t/o bearing. It could cause your clutch to be partially engaged at all times.
It's just that I've never seen something like that ring on any clutch, not just on a Mercedes.

well assuming its just part of the bearing that stayed stuck to the fingers, it should still fit back together the same, right?

i guess i'm just going to have to pull the damn transmission out and fiddle with everything a bit. UGH right after i finished messing with the driveshaft i have to pull it back out again.:mad:

Compared to many things, pulling the transmission on a 240D is fairly easy, plus it's light enough that you don't need a transmission jack.
You don't really need to pull the driveshaft out. Just loosen the big nut on it and you can push it back far enough to for the transmission to clear it once you disconnect it from the flex disc.

In the 240d there is enough room in the engine bay for a tea party for 4. I can drop the trans in a 240d in under an hour. Not so much on the 617 or 603.

Yeah yeah I know but I've been under the car all day for several days so I'm still not excited.


In class now, going to drop the transmission when I get home

Maybe Iam not looking at this right, but that ring to me looks like one side of the throw out bearing. Iam thinking it is turned around. that ring should be the side towards the pressure plate fingers?

the left picture shows the fingers the ring side of the T/O bearing rides against when the clutch peddle is depressed..

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/liv...1610784SAC.JPG

The left picture is the side that is to face the pressure plate

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/liv...1606273SAC.JPG
Charlie

Well you usually find an automatic behind those engines.;)

So from charlie's post I know I put the clutch disc in correctly. Ill take pictures this time and see what you all think before I try reassembling.

Back to work now!

here's the clutch slave. does anything look wrong?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_K...331_133622.jpg

http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_Kw...331_133605.jpg

I don`t think that rubber gasket is suppose to be sticking out like that. and as wet as it is, looks like it is leaking. it should be dry. I don`t remember if you said you replace this or not. lookes like maybe you have an old one?

Charlie

well i guess the thing to do is to go try starting it in 1st gear to see if the clutch is engaging when the slave cylinder is out :eek:

or maybe put it in 1st and see if i can push it backwards right now?

edit: facepalm. i already have the shift linkages and driveshaft detached from the tranny. i guess ill go throw it in gear and see whether i can turn it by hand with the flex disc and then decide whether to try mounting everything back up for further testing. sound good?

ok so with the transmission in gear, i can turn the output shaft via the flex disc with my hand. its really tough, but with a rag wrapped over the flex disc i can slowly turn it like 1/8th of a turn at a time. the engine is not rotating with it, but i'm wondering if that is normal or not.

i'm assuming it should be impossible for me to do that if the clutch is properly engaged.

just to recap, this was done with the slave cylinder totally removed. if my assumptions are correct, the issue is now narrowed down to the bearing, the clutch disc, or the pressure plate.