MC 1600 clutch ?

[milla85]

Last night i ordered a marlin 1600 clutch for my 85. The 1600 is the super heavy duty right? But its not cermanic? Is the marlin 1600 clutch ok for DDing? And is their a break in procedure for a new clutch? Sorry for asking so many dumb question!!! Thanks - Nick 

[blackdiamond]

It's a great clutch.  I had one in my 85 Toyota with 33's and I opted to step down to the 1200 with my 89 4Runner on 35's.  If I had it to do again, I would stay with the 1600.  No special break in required.

[BigMike]

Which p/n did you order?

MC-11005S comes with a semi-Metallic clutch disk
MC-11001C comes with a ceramic clutch disk

[Big Pap Dog]

The clutch will be fine on a DD.  I have the same one in my 83'.  I've read from a few members that have 1200 clutch say that they are just as good.  Either way, you will definately be very happy with your new clutch.

Noah

[Plekto]

Fantastic clutch.  About 1/4 inch play in it, IME.  Ie - tight but not on/off.  If you've ever driven a manual sports car, this is basically identical.

Honestly I can't imagine how people drive with OEM clutches - just nasty amounts of play.  That lack of precision and play/slop in it also would encourage bad habits and premature wear, I'd think, as opposed to a HD one where you gotta pay attention and shift properly.

[milla85]

Which p/n did you order?

MC-11005S comes with a semi-Metallic clutch disk
MC-11001C comes with a ceramic clutch disk

Mike - I got the MC-11005S.

Thank you all! I have a flywheel question to. On marlins site they sell flywheels and the say a special 0.26 step on the flywheel? I just hand my old flywheel ground at a local machine shop and i believe they ground it to a stock spec. Will this affect the Marlin clutch? What are the advantages to the 0.26 step? Thanks again - Nick

[jimbo74]

that step helps engagment

see if they can grind it to that, i use a semi-metallic 1600 in my dd, with the .26 step, and it rocks

[BigMike]

A looooooong time ago when Marlin bought his flywheel surfacer (late 80s?), he decided to play with the stepping to see if he could get more life out of a clutch.

Marlin realized that after many miles of service, that an old worn out clutch disk still had life remaining in it. Understanding that the clamping force of the pressure plate is related to the stepping on the flywheel, Marlin set off to find what the maximum offset stepping is achievable.

He tried 0.022", clutch worked fine, so he pulled the flywheel back out and repeated the process, trying 0.024", 0.026", 0.028", etc. until the clutch would in fact not engage even with the clutch fully engaged at the pedal!

I believe he found that some trucks would accept a 0.030" while others would only accept a 0.028".

So a safe number of 0.026" was used just to ensure compatibility with different cabs, pedal swing arms, clutch forks, etc.


So this increased difference in surface height across the flywheel means that a higher pressure plate clamping force is achieved throughout the entire life of the clutch disk: Its higher when the clutch is brand-new and its higher when the clutch has very high miles on it (ie. the disk has become thin).


In my opinion, a likely case as to why Toyota recommends a 0.020" step is so that the vehicle will become undrivable before the clutch disk wears to its rivets, which would prevent rivet-to-flywheel interference. It is a good precautionary measure, but Marlin has been resurfacing flywheels at steps greater than the factory spec for nearly 20 years and has never experienced a problem to this day.


The 0.026" step increases the force applied onto the clutch disk, allows you to get more miles on the same clutch disk while maintaining a solid disengagement on the disk, and yet with no side effects.


Excellent work Marlin. Another reason why you have been the leader in advancing Toyotas to a previously never before thought of level!

Regards,
BigMike