Need tech help!!

[lateralfx]

Hey guys I was helping my friend change the clutch on his 2001 Z3 2.5l and i came across something I'm not familiar with.., the fingers on the pressure plate had a little ninja star looking piece holding it down. I aligned the disc and bolted in the pressure plate. Then I removed the ninja star piece and the fingers on the pressure plate stayed down but their was pressure on the disc. I called another friend who said I should be ok so I bolted the trans up. Now I ask my friend to start the car and see if it works but when he pushed in the clutch the slave blew out. I'm thinking it because the fingers were down and there was no pressure on the fork. What's your guys take on this?

Here's a pic of the old one and new one


New clutch installed fingers down


old one fingers up

[z3540i]

Did you also install a new disc and if so was it the same thickness as the old one?

[BenFenner]

Looks like the pressure plate has been over-centered. I've never actually seen that happen before, but have heard stories. The fingers have been pushed in so far that they have gone beyond their return point and have locked in an extreme "release" position. I'd have returned the PP for a replacement as soon as I saw it, but it is possible to restore it maybe with a press by pushing the fingers back. Watch out for that pop when they spring back.

That's my theory anyway.

[lateralfx]

Did you also install a new disc and if so was it the same thickness as the old one?

Both clutch kits are identical in brand and part number, and I installed a new everything.

Looks like the pressure plate has been over-centered. I've never actually seen that happen before, but have heard stories. The fingers have been pushed in so far that they have gone beyond their return point and have locked in an extreme "release" position. I'd have returned the PP for a replacement as soon as I saw it, but it is possible to restore it maybe with a press by pushing the fingers back. Watch out for that pop when they spring back.

That's my theory anyway.

This is what I was afraid of. I guess the trans has to come back out again.... Sh*t

[rf900rkw]

Looks to me that the adjusters are tripped to the max position. When did you remove the throwing star?


Edit:

Yes, the adjusters are dropped. Those three small springs should be fully compessed, the nylon guides in the grooves, and the wedges plainly visible. The throwing star was removed before the pressure plate was bolted down solidly allowing the adjusters to shoot out.