transmission probelms after clutch install. Help please

[thewhiteknight]

So I recently purchased a 1998 328i and as soon as i brought it home i ordered the sachs clutch kit because the car was in dire need of a new one. When i brought it home from buying it the clutch would barely hold 5th gear on the highway while cruising.

Everything went fairly smooth for the clutch install, but when it came time to start it up and test the clutch i ran into a mess.

The car will not go into gear while it is on and I noticed that the motor/tranny was shaking a bit (I cant remember if this was already an issue before i did the clutch or not). The car WILL go into gear while its off, but if you start it while in gear it lurches forward and does not come out of gear until you shut it off.


Things that may help:

1.) I took the tranny off again last night to ensure everything was installed properly and it was. the clutch disc itself is facing the right way (labeled "this side gearbox"). The throwout bearing is seated on the fork properly and the pivot pin is in place.

2.) the hydraulic system seems to be fine as the car will go into gear while it is off as long as the clutch is pressed. I never cracked the lines so there should be no reason for air to be in the system. Clutch pedal feels fine, as it should for an oem replacement.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[JDStrickland]

Do you have the clutch fork and the slave cylinder aligned? Did you put the throw out bearing in the right way? There are so many things, all I can think of is that you must have done something wrong.

[thewhiteknight]

my fork is in place with the pivot pin, so i assume that it is correct. It looks exactly like this

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Clutch_Replace/pica7.jpg

[Sprouty88]

Heres a dumb question but you can't leave anything out at this point.

Is there enough fluid in the transmission or any at all?

[thewhiteknight]

yes i drained and filled during the clutch install.

[Sprouty88]

I honestly can't think of why it wouldn't be working. Unless there's an issue with your pressure plate or there is a problem with your hydraulic system...

did you double check the part numbers of the kit you ordered?

[freddybeemer100]

I just did this on my '94 a few months ago. I replaced all shifter parts, fork pin, fork, all new clutch parts and all new hydraulics, both master and slave cylinder and power bled and flushed the system. I also changed the pedal bushings. You should replace the hydraulics as part of any clutch change, I would check that out as a possible source of your problems.

Did you replace the fork pivot pin?

[thewhiteknight]

Problem solved. I tightened the pressure plate to torque spec without the center lock tool, leaving a gap. Should have tightened them all the way down to begin with haha