McLeod RXT - Clutch drag due to installer error?

[SD_GT]

*Continuation of this thread - http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1427877#post1427877

Hey guys, I recently had a McLeod RXT/steel flywheel combo installed in my '15 GT. As soon as I picked up the vehicle, I noticed that shifting into first and second was extremely difficult. The vehicle would even lock me out sometimes. All other gears were perfectly normal. Also, I noticed that the shifter would not move freely to the left (1st/2nd) as it would to the right (5th/6th).

Long story short - I dropped the vehicle back off at the mechanic's shop last night and I called to follow up a couple minutes ago and was told that the clutch simply needs to be broken in. He said that the pressure plates are too tight or something along those lines. The unit came in one piece from Lethal Performance. According to him, the clutch is dragging in first and second gear and I should be waiting for a second in neutral before downshifting or upshifting into those gears. He said he tried bleeding the system again and everything checked out.

I told him I would bring the car back in a couple hundred miles if it doesn't get any better and that's when he told me it wasn't installer error and to contact the manufacturer if the problem persists. Now I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't want to ruin my expensive new clutch set-up but according to my mechanic, I have to drive the car more for it to get better.

I'm beat at this point. I've barely driven this car in the last two months.

*Edit - For reference, the car was locking me out of gears when the OEM clutch kicked the bucket. It almost feels like that again when it rejects my gear selection.

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[mustang1]

Do you have a performance shop nearby to get a second opinion ?

 

[SD_GT]

Do you have a performance shop nearby to get a second opinion ?

I have a few but none that I've worked with directly. Nor have I been recommended any local shops. I just don't want to be coaxed into anything now that I'm in a vulnerable position with my only car. :frusty:

 

[whatsup62]

I will say this, when did my RXT it did take some time to break in. I had a lot of chatter for the first couple hundred miles then it started to settle down. After that and some abuse it drives better than ut did with the stock one. In all fairness I also did a MGW shifter at the same time and experienced no lock out at any time.

 

[mustang1]

I have a few but none that I've worked with directly. Nor have I been recommended any local shops. I just don't want to be coaxed into anything now that I'm in a vulnerable position with my only car. :frusty:

Look at the S/C websites, such as Whipple, Paxton and Procharger, for Authorized Dealers anywhere near your zip code. Then call them up and ask if they have much experience installing McLeod RXT in Mustangs, and then go to one of them for a second opinion. They may charge for a couple hours of labor but it will be worth it.

 

[mustang1]

how about this shop. I looked at the Paxton website, and are listed authorized dealer. There may be others, if you look through the various S/C websites for Dealers.

http://jbaspeedshop.com/p-30871-installation-parts.html
...
DRIVETRAIN
Our drivetrain specialists can service, repair or upgrade your vehicle’s transmission, differential, driveshaft and just about any other component of your drivetrain.

 

[SD_GT]

I will say this, when did my RXT it did take some time to break in. I had a lot of chatter for the first couple hundred miles then it started to settle down. After that and some abuse it drives better than ut did with the stock one. In all fairness I also did a MGW shifter at the same time and experienced no lock out at any time.

I haven't experienced any chatter yet, which is awesome. How long did you wait till you started pushing the car again? I know the break-in period is 500 miles but most of my driving is on the highway. I noticed that the car needs more throttle coming from a stop, have you noticed this?

how about this shop. I looked at the Paxton website, and are listed authorized dealer. There may be others, if you look through the various S/C websites for Dealers.

http://jbaspeedshop.com/p-30871-installation-parts.html
...
DRIVETRAIN
Our drivetrain specialists can service, repair or upgrade your vehicle’s transmission, differential, driveshaft and just about any other component of your drivetrain.

I spoke to them about installing the clutch. Maybe I can get them to check the car out this week. I might even stop by a dealer and just sit in a 6MT 5.0 on the lot to feel how it shifts and compare it to mine. That should be able to confirm whether or not my shifter is acting up or not.

Would any of you 6MT guys be willing to post a video wiggling the shift knob in neutral to the left and right? I want to see how far it moves compared to mine.

 

[SD_GT]

At the 3:35 mark you can see how I hit a wall when trying to shift into first and really have to force it in -

 

[whatsup62]

I drove for about 250 miles in town with a lot of stop and go. I did not expierence havingvto rev higher to make it go. I started beating on it hard after 300 miles. Its been awesome. I did have someone install it that had done several before. I do not know what happens if disc are reversed. Its strange to me that it doesn't happen in all gears which leads me to thinking its a shifter issue.

 

[SD_GT]

I drove for about 250 miles in town with a lot of stop and go. I did not expierence havingvto rev higher to make it go. I started beating on it hard after 300 miles. Its been awesome. I did have someone install it that had done several before. I do not know what happens if disc are reversed. Its strange to me that it doesn't happen in all gears which leads me to thinking its a shifter issue.

Yeah, I just spoke to Lee at McLeod's HQ and he said that if I was experiencing clutch drag that the car wouldn't go into first or reverse. So, that rules that out since it goes smoothly into reverse now.

Still at a loss for now. He recommended a shop to me but they're about an hour and a half away. That's a bit of a drive and I'm worried about the potential damage that could occur on the way up. So I'll be going to a local performance shop or even the dealership to see what they say.

Does anyone know for sure if the clutch will void my transmission's warranty if it turns out to be the synchros?

 

[mustang1]

Doesn't look like a bad synchro since the shift problem exists while sitting still.

How far is jba speed shop ?

there may be other performance shops. Search Whipple, Paxton, and Procharger websites for Authorized dealers in your zip code. If they install superchargers, chances are they have experience installing McLeod.

 

[SD_GT]

Doesn't look like a bad synchro since the shift problem exists while sitting still.

How far is jba speed shop ?

there may be other performance shops. Search Whipple, Paxton, and Procharger websites for Authorized dealers in your zip code. If they install superchargers, chances are they have experience installing McLeod.

JBA's not too far, I'll be swinging by there tomorrow and picking their brain a bit. . Can't wait till this is all sorted and the break-in period is done. I had a pack of AMG's and M's surround me on the highway last night. I couldn't even play. Haha. :/

 

[SD_GT]

I went on McLeod's website and noticed they had a section titled - "What can cause poor shifting?" and apparently these are the common issues:

1.Shifter installed improperly or shifter linkage improper adjusted or damaged.

2.Misaligned bellhousing.

3.Wrong fluid type used in transmission.

4.Worn transmission parts i.e. synchro gears and/or bent shift fork.

5.Pilot bushing worn or binding on input shaft.

I also got in a touch with another mechanic (recommended via local GT owner) who told me to bring it over tomorrow and he'll take it for a drive and see if he notices anything funny.

 

[SD_GT]

Well, I took it to another shop and he said that while he noticed the issue, it could be something as simple as the first shop using the incorrect transmission fluid. He noted that the clutch pedal feel and everything else felt great. He said to just rip it and that 250 miles was enough to break her in. His logic seems to be that some abuse will set everything straight. I'm not sure I agree.. Nor do I want to shell out another $1,300 for a replacement clutch kit.

So, I drove the car back to my mechanic and after discussing things. He agreed to open it back up and take a look but insisted that it's a clutch issue and not an install issue. According to him, they didn't drain any of the transmission fluid during the clutch job. I'm not sure how that works, once it's opened up won't fluid drip out on its own? He also said that the pressure plates are too tight on the clutch discs (unable to fully retract) because the clutch discs are too thick and that this would cure itself over time as it breaks in. That doesn't sound right either. When I asked him to just loosen the pressure plate a tad he insisted that the clutch wouldn't work at all. He flat out told me again that the clutch is dragging, that it's normal, and that it will get better over time. Doesn't seem that way.

I'm at just over 250 miles on the break-in and all the gears are harder to shift smoothly now. I don't want the car back till it's fixed. If it's a clutch issue then I'll take photos and have it warrantied through McLeod. If it's an install issue, then I'm expecting my mechanic to do right by me and either fix it or give me some type of refund. Full, partial, whatever. I'm not sure how much I could get back at this point.

 

[mustang1]

I doubt the first mechanic needed to do anything with the transmission fluid.

You take it to JBA speed shop? Performance shop should know McLeod and whether there is anything different with yours.

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