Clutch howl after getting wet?

[audiocontr]

Did some nice muddy off roading for the past couple of days... The clutch will howl when depressed after getting wet. Bering? It's silent when it dries.

[McCall Pinz]

You were probably pretty deep and got something in through the inspection cover. Make sure the cover is still there. I don't know if that would actually damage anything because it would sling off the clutch and pressure plate while you were driving.

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[Heinkeljb]

I don't know of any "inspection Cover" on a Haflinger that allows you to view the clutch - there is a drain plug at the bottom of the bell housing which if left open when fording water / muddy water would allow that liquid into the bell housing and so contaminate the clutch plate, fill the clutch release bearing full of grit.

John

[audiocontr]

That... Was never plugged when received. No issue after a day of road driving.

[Garrycol]

When you are going to be wading, then put the wading plug in - do it before you leave on a grip and take it out when you get back. However unless you were stopped in the deep muddy water I doubt you would get much crap in the bellhousing area with the wading plug not in.

Last year I waded this pool near home and spent some time stopped in the middle waiting for the wheels to gain traction before exiting was greatly relieved). The muddy water was well over wheels and came half way up the engine and I got nothing in my bell housing.

20160725_144138.jpg (1.29 MiB) Viewed 9568 times

My guess is that instead of getting a full dose of muddy water you got and little bit in there that has got on hot warm areas and the vapour" circulated around causing the issues you got - however of course if your vehicle sat in deep water or you managed to get an unlikey big squirt straight up the hole things might be different - but as the noise has gone as soon as the car gets hot I would say you just got a little bit.

I would continue to drive it and if you start getting similar noises in normal use then you will need to start looking further - it will most likely be the clutch withdrawal bearing and or the spigot bush.

Garry

[audiocontr]

Thanks all. No issues driving it yesterday and today.

Fording plug??? The small hole at the base off the bell housing? I see it's threaded, but I do not have the bolt. I'll find one that fits. Thank you!

[Garrycol]

As John mentioned the hole is there to allow any oil that gets past the seals from either the gearbox/diff or engine to drain away and not soil the clutch. Normal road vehicles may not have a plug to go in there but most proper 4wd vehicles do (dont know about a Pinz). Certainly my 101 and series landrovers have the plugs that are stored in a threaded hole in the bell housing next to the drain hole and are inserted when wading is required.

Now on the Haflinger I have not found a storage hole nearby and I dont have a plug to go in but I will find something to fit. It is important that the plug/bolt not be left in as it could cause issues. As you can see the little drain hole is quite small and is somewhat shielded by the exhaust so not much chance of water splashing in and what ever did get in would, only be a very small amount, probably drain out straight away. Stop for a while in 2 feet of water - different proposition.

As all is OK then I would not worry about it and just put in suitable size bolt in the tool kit for when you go wading.

garry

[McCall Pinz]

I don't know of any "inspection Cover" on a Haflinger that allows you to view the clutch - there is a drain plug at the bottom of the bell housing which if left open when fording water / muddy water would allow that liquid into the bell housing and so contaminate the clutch plate, fill the clutch release bearing full of grit.

John

Sorry I replied from Tapa talk before seeing this was in Haffy forum and not Pinz forum.

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