Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

[Wayne M.]

Installing NOS clutch bellcrank, and was wondering what and how much lube you guys/gals apply to the ball studs (one screwed into the block and the other at the frame bracket). I see the '65 AIM calls for moly di-sulfide grease at six locations on the clutch activation train [20 lbs per 1000 jobs (0.64 oz per car at six locations), so it must have been used sparingly].

I'm certainly not going to inject the whole inner tube with this grease, as would have been done (per owner's guide) "--- at 36,000 miles or sooner, if necessary, remove (red plastic) plug, install lubrication fitting and lubricate with lubricant specified in NOTE 1 [= water resistant EP chassis lube]".

So what are we talking here ? a dab (of what ?) the size of the tip of your middle finger, spread around the ball and seats (outboard) and the ball [or the inner tube surface ?] on the engine side ? I'll be pushing daisies before this car ever sees another 36K miles .

[Timothy B.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Wayne, Remember that brilcream (sp) commercial.

"A little dab will do ya" that's how I did mine.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

I use the zerk fitting to pump in more grease at every oil change/grease job, just as I would for all the other grease fittings on the suspension (until the old oozes out, etc. Have done this since 63 and it continues to work for me (but them I have not changed out the clutch as yet - soon perhaps).

Stu Fox

[Peter L.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Wayne - I'm with Tim. Too much and you'll have to clean up a mess when things warm up. You're only moving the Z-bar a bit. And BTW the original clutch shaft plugs were ORANGE and if you need a "correct" one which it sounds like you do, let me know. Pete

[Tom L.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

I bought a relatively low mile '71 about 22 years ago. A month after I bought it, I nearly rear ended someone at at red light because the clutch pedal dropped to the floor as I depressed it while slowing down to a stop in 4th gear. I couldn't disengage the clutch and couldn't slip it out of gear. After some uncomfortable bucking, I stalled it, just before impact, by braking it to a stop and turning the key off in while still in gear.

After some investigation, following a ride on a flat bed, I discovered that the ball stud that screws into the block snapped off. Although the action on the clutch felt fine before the failure, no grease fitting was ever installed in the Z bar and there was no appreciable amount of grease left on the friction points.

I'd much rather fill the tube up with grease and perhaps have to wipe up a few drops of grease from the garage floor than risk a clutch linkage failure that could cause an accident.

[Duke W.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

1963 models had a zerk fitting. You greased it along with everything else every 6K miles, so the tube was essentially full of grease.

Despite frequent grease jobs - more often than recommended, - my SWC clutch cross shaft ball stud broke off at less than 40K miles. It wasn't due to lack of grease. That ball stud was just not strong enough and fatigued.

Beginning in '64 St. Louis filled the tube with grease and installed a plastic plug in recognition that with the whole tube full of grease, it would never run out.

I think the ball stud heat treatment was improved because the replacement, which dates to circa 1966 is still there.

Duke

[Stuart F.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Duke;

Is that the whole story??? You sure you weren't using a white spring B & B?? Back in the day when we all thought pressure was the way to go, we all had these and experienced bent clutch forks, push rods, broken pivots and torquing dash boards (you could actually see them move).

Stu Fox

[Duke W.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

My SWC still had the OE clutch at the time. Possibly some of those ball studs did not get heat treated to the correct hardness.

It broke off flush with the block, but I was able to just turn the remant out with my thumb.

Duke

[Peter L.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Stu - I remember I put a heavy duty clutch in my '63 327 Impala and when you pushed in the clutch pedal the firewall moved. Pete

[Jim W.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

1963 models had a zerk fitting. You greased it along with everything else every 6K miles, so the tube was essentially full of grease.

Despite frequent grease jobs - more often than recommended, - my SWC clutch cross shaft ball stud broke off at less than 40K miles. It wasn't due to lack of grease. That ball stud was just not strong enough and fatigued.

Beginning in '64 St. Louis filled the tube with grease and installed a plastic plug in recognition that with the whole tube full of grease, it would never run out.

I think the ball stud heat treatment was improved because the replacement, which dates to circa 1966 is still there.

Duke

Should I remove the zerk fitting from my E64 built in Nov 63 and replace with plug (for show purposes)? Could this have been an original left over stock in Nov? I don't know if it was ever replaced. Would judges look for the orange plug regardless of Vin#. The AIM does not show a revision date footnote so I always assumed it was from the start of production. I know the TJG calls for a plug but just wandered if there is any leeway.

[Duke W.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

You'll have to ask the team leader for a ruling. I thought the plug started with the beginning of '64 production as you say is indicated in the '64 AIM.

Who knows. There were a lot of production variations that are neither in the AIM or JG, so some controversies will go on forever.

Duke

[Tony S.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Hey Wayne. FYI, in 65, the z-bar was delivered w/o a zerk fitting. Originally there was a red plastic cap. The zerk fitting was added at about 1,000 miles.
Tony

[Peter L.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Jim - Check the 1964 Owners Guide under RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE FOR PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION, CLUTCH CROSS-SHAFT. I don't have a 1964 Corvette Owners Guide but the 1964 CHEVELLE OWNERS GUIDE reads "Every 36,000 miles or sooner, if necessary - remove plug, install lube fitting and lubricate with lubricant specificed in Note 1, page 40." I'm betting the 1964 Corvette Owner Guide reads the same. Pete

[Michael F.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

My April built late 63 has the zerk fitting.

[Jim W.]

Re: Lube on clutch lever (Z-bar) ball studs on shaft ID

Jim - Check the 1964 Owners Guide under RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE FOR PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION, CLUTCH CROSS-SHAFT. I don't have a 1964 Corvette Owners Guide but the 1964 CHEVELLE OWNERS GUIDE reads "Every 36,000 miles or sooner, if necessary - remove plug, install lube fitting and lubricate with lubricant specificed in Note 1, page 40." I'm betting the 1964 Corvette Owner Guide reads the same. Pete

Pete, my 64 manual reads the same. Except it starts out saying "Periodic lubrication of the clutch cross-shaft is not required." I guess i'll need to get an orange plug also.