HTOB's and Tremec Transmissions
 

After reading this thread on Clutch Salve Cylinders ...

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...hreadid=107205

That leads me to this question ...

There seem to be a number of different Cobra manufactures that either use, or recommend the use of Hydraulic (Concentric) Throw Out Bearings (HTOB) with TKO transmissions (TKO 600 for example).


Is there something inherent about the TKO 600 that warrants this preference?

Or to put it another way, are there incompatibilities with external slave cylinder setups and the TKO 600?


Not trying to ruffle any feathers here :), just trying to understand the underlying principles involved.

Any thoughts ?

Thanks.

Tim, if I'm not mistaken, the Kirkhams recommend and sell an external slave cylinder setup for the TKO600 (and Toploader too). I have one installed on my car for the same reason everyone else does. I didn't want to remove the tranny (and engine) to repair or replace a HTOB.

There are no incompatibilities between a conventional clutch actuation and the TKO transmissions.

I would never recommend a hydraulic throw out bearing to anyone...from my experiences and customer testimonies, they are nothing but heartaches.

Unless there is insufficient room for a clutch fork, I always advise the use of a fork and a slave cylinder.

External actuating deviced, machanical & hydraulic have been applying pressure to clutches successfully doing the job for decades on millions of cars. When some of the external components wear out, replacement and adjustment can be simple & quick. So there are some advantages and if you have the space for the external components it could be a wise choice.

On the other hand, Internal HTOB's have also been successfully doing their job of actuating clutches. And I understand that many car manufacturers use the system. I'm not a mechanic, so I can't vouch for failure statistics on production cars. Or for that matter how many million units are in service.

The installation of the HTOB however, needs to be accurate. The system is intolerant to incorrect spacing. No external adjustment is possible and if you get it wrong you have to pull the transmission to correct it. If the hydraulics wear out on the HTOB the transmission needs to be pulled to repair it. That's a lot more work than the external system.

If the throwout bearing fails in either installation the transmission needs too be pulled to replace it.

I tried very hard to get an external system to work in my limited space on my Cobra, but gave up and opted for the HTOB. I was not happy with the design of the shimming system that came with the HTOB. I accurately took all the measurements and made a custom spacer to exactly suit my situation. Net result is that I'm pleased with my HTOB installation. As I do all my own work single-handedly, I'm making sure the transmission removal is made as easy as possible when the inevitable happens.

If you are interested in seeing photos of my installation you can do so in my Profile Album.

Arthur