What does this dark ring in the center of my clutch mean?

robroy · Post by **robroy** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:30 pm

'Evening,

Last weekend my pa Hugh and I took my engine out. When we looked at the clutch we noticed a dark ring in the center. Hugh mentioned that it could be the transmission seal leaking fluid.

What do you think caused it?

Thanks!
-Robroy

fourtss · Post by **fourtss** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:31 am

I'm no expert on this, but I'd say not the tranny seal, I believe if it was, there would be oil around those springs and what not, it looks as though it may just be uneven wear, but like I said, I'm no expert

spartman · Post by **spartman** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:13 am

Kinda looks to me like that clutch has been slipped a time or two and its time to replace it along with the pressure plate.

Also would be a good time to have the flywheel resurfaced.

Just my thoughts on the pic posted.

floyd67 · Post by **floyd67** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:54 pm

i would say you need to replace your flywheel

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:28 pm

Looks like it got a little wet recently. Clutch friction material IS black. The red/brown stuff towards the outside I assume is rust.

Looks fine to me. Get another 100K miles out of that.

mcarlson11 · Post by **mcarlson11** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:41 am

more likely rear main seal than tranny seal. The clutch is against the flywheel... a lot closer to flinging oil from the rear main than a leaking tranny seal.

robroy · Post by **robroy** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:52 am

Good morning! Thanks very much for all the replies.

The engine seal is no problem since I'm popping a new engine in. If it's
the transmission seal that's the only thing I'm concerned about, since I
didn't plan on doing any work to the transmission at all.

floyd67, are you suggesting a flywheel replacement because of all the rust
in the photo? Previous to removing the clutch, it sat in its exact position for
five or six years, which explains the light surface rust. The flywheel actually
looks pretty good (I think); I'm guessing that rust would vanish with a few engagements.

*But*, I'm putting in a new clutch anyways to handle a much stronger motor. I was just curious if the looks were indicative of a transmission seal leak or not.

Thanks again for all the great responses!
-Robroy

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:12 am

mcarlson11 wrote:more likely rear main seal than tranny seal. The clutch is against the flywheel... a lot closer to flinging oil from the rear main than a leaking tranny seal.

Unless he's running magic oil that's able to pass through the flywheel I'm going out on a limb to say if there is oil there (which doesn't look like it) it's not from the rear main.

A really bad rear main will fling oil to the bellhousing and drip onto the pressure plate.

That looks like a perfectly normal clutch disc with some rust on it.

willowbilly3 · Post by **willowbilly3** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:19 am

You are putting an old clutch onto a new engine?
FWIW the rear seal has to be a real gyusher to get oil to the other side of the flywheel where the clutch is. Check your tranny input and replace the seal. Also just a thought, not sure on that engine but I just noticed on my 260 Ford that the flywheel bolt holes go all the way through the crankshaft flange. When I set it on end the oil ran out through them.

robroy · Post by **robroy** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:30 pm

Hey! Thanks very much for the great responses.

Willowbilly3, I'm not planning on putting an old clutch in with my new engine; I just wanted to know whether or not the dark ring meant that I should replace the transmission input seal or not.

If it's easy to replace I may as well do it! It's sure easy to access right now, being all out in the open. I can even sit on the crossmember under the engine to do it!

Thanks again folks,
-Robroy

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What does this dark ring in the center of my clutch mean?

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