968to986

Hi all, I'm cleaning things up to install my new clutch in my 87 951. When I went to clean the shift fork, the bearings were completely gunked up and wouldn't move. After blasting them out with the some carb cleaner then cleaning more with engine oil, they started moving pretty well. After applying some white lithium grease, they move nicely and fit well around the shaft. My question is, when do you know you should replace them? It seems some people have a hard time getting the old ones out and I don't want to risk damaging the fork.

V2Rocket

there's a guy in TX (David Barbarian if you're on the FB groups) who swaps the bearings for oilite bronze bushings for ~$50 IIRC, believe he fixes the clutch fork tips too.

I think his username on RL was "AK951" too.

dr914

we ALWAYS replace them when doing a clutch job. They are cheap, and the job is so labor intensive that it is not worth trying to reuse them!!!!

PetePorsche

I'd just go for replacing it. One way or another. You've got it all apart now. I usually replace every bearing and seal there.

968to986

Yeah, I figured that was going to be the consensus. Receipts grow, cash diminishes...but I see light at the end of the engine out reseal tunnel!

Zirconocene

You can order some oil impregnated bearings from McMaster that have the right OD and ID; that's the route I went. I can provide a part number if you're interested.

However! I tested the bearings on the shaft of the clutch fork pin prior to inserting the bearings and all was good. Once I inserted them, the ID was just a touch too small. I ended up having to hone the inside of the bearing surfaces a little bit to get the shaft to go through. It was like butter once it did, though.

It's not a hard procedure to install them, or to remove the old ones. I took some pictures intending to post a procedure but never got around to it. If you can get it done for $50 I think that's a pretty good deal.

Cheers

Glenn

Dan Martinic

I second the refurb fork with new (different) style bearings. $50USD? I paid three times that! But.. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I got Marcus Blaszak to do mine (he's in Ontario). He heat treats the fork and it's pretty nice plus superior bearings--looks like the pics in this thread https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turb...utch-fork.html

For $50 USD without question ship it out immediately

odonnell

David and I do the Oilite mod. You also need to send the fork pin you will run (it's sent back) as the bushings are reamed to fit it. New pin is recommended as grooves develop from the old roller bearings. PM me here or join Texas 944 Enthusiasts on facebook - David does the work out of his garage for this one.

Van

I always replace them. Press them out with a socket and a vice. Press them in with just the vice.

jimbo1111

I just did the job last month and just changed the bearings. The old ones were free moving so I decided to just replace them anyway. The clutch fork was in good condition so I just reused it.

I went with the kep stage 1 and there improved disk which has similar properties to the cup disk.

I'm more worried about the clutch fork braking than the bearings honestly. The added pressure from the pressure plate does do that. Ive seen it first hand.

I also hear that new manufacturing methods with bearings are better than years ago. So just change them for peace of mind.