James_Douglas Posted April 23, 2007 Report Posted April 23, 2007 Sometimes in your own back yard... I looked in the local yellow pages and found a clutch place in the hart of San Francisco. Off one of the little allies just south of Market street. I walked in the door and it was like walking back in time 30 years or more. Every kind of equipment you can imagine to do clutch work and brake shoes. Although her does not do brake linings anymore. The man that runs it is 75 years old. I spent about 2 hours with him. Along with lots of tech and no-tech conversation we (and I do mean we) rebuilt my clutch disk. Using the rivet machine was fun. He explained the details about what kind of rivets to use and also looked over my NW trans rebuilt pressure plate and just shook his head. He explained that the bolts and nuts used on the Borg & Beck plates were very special. He then proceeded to walk down an pull a big box of originals and pointed out the difference in them from the ones that some shops use in their place. He was concerned that the staking would not hold on the rebuilt one and the levers would get loose. He told me to use the NORS pressure plate I took along not the rebuilt one. He also told me to use as a core the older disk as the one NW trans re-lined had the metal plates between the linings bent far too much for anti-jitter. The clutch disk when done was a work of art. All the rivet heads were parallel to disk and sunk below the relief cuts in the lining. When all was said and done he charged me $42 cash. I am going to take him all my clutch parts for the Desoto and have him do a top notch re-build while he is still working. He has no apprentice and once his knowledge is gone it is gone forever. Back to putting my new transmission in. Best, James Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 23, 2007 Report Posted April 23, 2007 James; It must have been a real treat to spend time with a true old craftsman. Quote
marfulle Posted April 23, 2007 Report Posted April 23, 2007 Sounds like a place I need to go to. Can you please give name of business, address and phone. Thanks Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 23, 2007 Report Posted April 23, 2007 For grins did you ask the man if he was interested in reling a few more...would give him work, bail out the group and if he is in agreement, those of you with old disc about..prime time to get them done. (right the first time) Quote
James_Douglas Posted April 24, 2007 Author Report Posted April 24, 2007 Hey, If you guys want to get a batch of disks and pressure plates together, I would take them in to him and get them all done in a batch... James Quote
marfulle Posted April 24, 2007 Report Posted April 24, 2007 Yes, I am interested on the batch thing. Keep me posted. I live in Sacramento CA and visit San Fran once a month. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.