1922 Essex Clutch

Jay_G

Well I found the problem that is the root cause of by clutch issues. NO PLUG! No plug=
no fluid! Does anyone have a spare plug? Or know what the size and TPI it is so I can find one? Strange that no fluid is just like a slipping dry clutch, but then again maybe not!

Thanks for the help, Jay

[Deleted User]

HI Jay,

Which plug are you missing? The pipe plug w/female square socket in the outer edge of the flywheel, or the larger one on the backside of the clutch cover (approx. 1 1/4" hole)?

The small one in the edge of the flywheel is a 1/2" pipe plug w/square "slot" for a 3/8" socket wrench extension so it is flush fitting when installed. Might be easier to find a replacement one made for an allen wrench hex.

The larger clutch cover plug is 1 1/4" with 20 U.S.F. Thread. The copper gasket for this measures 1 1/4" X 1 1/2" X 3/32".

I have some extra new copper gaskets if you have trouble finding one, but sorry to say, I can't help with the large plug.

If you need a sample to help find the large plug, it is the same as the drain plug in the bottom of the transmission.

Hope this is a help.

Jay_G

It is the larger plug in the flywheel / engine side. The trans side looks good with all bolts and plugs in place. It was just a surprise to see such a large hole as it went by the access hole on the passanger side.

Jay

[Deleted User]

Looks like you've got me stumped for that one. The Combined Parts Book for the Essex 4 only shows the two plugs I mentioned in the previous reply, though I'm not too shocked. Essex thought it was their mission to make way too many running changes to most parts on these cars, which can make it a real picnic to sort out at times. I swear they had an engineer locked in a closet who's sole mission was making changes!

That said, the 1919-21 cars with the Delco Starter/Electric system used a different flywheel & crankshaft than the later 1922-23 cars that used the Bosch Starter/Electrical system. Obviously the flywheel in your '22 with the Bosch Starter has a filler plug on the front side, and is one of these "new improvements" over the flywheel in my '20 with Delco Starter which has no plug in the front side. Afraid the parts book makes no other reference to the one on the front side you are missing.

Does it appear to be the same size as the large 1 1/4" plug on the backside of the clutch cover?

Jay_G

It does look to be that big and it is a fine thread, I was thinking 18 or 20 TPI. I will try and take a picture. Unfortunatly it has a lot of gray dust around the threads, cooked cork I would speculate. Since I have a 37 and 46 at the house I will check the size of the plug in them for reference. My first thought is that the 22 has a larger plug but given the small access hole on the front side it may just look bigger.

I will have my son slowly turn the crank this evening (coil disconnected) while I look at the front and back of the clutch assembly. I am just not seeing the plugs you described on the back (trans side). But then again finding an accurate wiring digram and other pictures of the starter and generator is a little more difficult with the Delco system. The mauual writers seem to have used a lot of old illustrations from previous manuals.

Jay

[Deleted User]

Hi Jay,

Here are a couple pix of the clutch plugs on my 1920 SX4 if it may help. Both pictures taken from under the passenger side. Again, your car will have a different flywheel as the 1922 cars used a Bosch Starter, and may not have the flush pipe drain plug in the edge adjacent to the ring gear.

First one shows the flush fitting pipe plug w/female square socket that is in the outer edge of the flywheel adjacent to the ring gear for draining it.




The second one shows the large 1 1/4" filler plug w/20 U.S.F. Thread size on the backside of the clutch cover. Also can see that the transmission drain plug is the same size & type.

Clutchguy

Off the subject but about the '22. I finally got to ride in Dave's '22,in Shipshewana at the Central Regional! Wow,what a find. It fit right in with the whole community,thanks Dave CG

Jay_G

Essex 4,

I tried to measure the hole for the pulg and it looks to be a 3/4 by 18 or 20 TPI. As you can see but the pictures, one is of the engine (cute little thing), second is of the plug hole it self, third and forth are of the trans side of the clutch housing. Nothing but bolts. I rotated the engine 180 after each picture.

The threaded hole is set an an angle for better access during filling. Also it looks like it is inset slightly to allow the top to pass without interferance. Well I will keep looking but it looks like 22 is when Essex switched to a single plug in the flywheel for filling and draining of the clutch.

I looked at the plugs for the 37 and the 46 they are all much smaller than this large hole in the flywheel.

Jay

[Deleted User]

Clutch guy wrote:

Off the subject but about the '22. I finally got to ride in Dave's '22,in Shipshewana at the Central Regional! Wow,what a find. It fit right in with the whole community,thanks Dave CG

Hi Clutch Guy,

Took us a while to be at the same meet where everyone didn't have you all tied up working under their hoods!

Glad you enjoyed your hair-raising ride in the SX. Maybe next time we can go "uptown" Shipshe & drag race some of the Amish horse & buggies at the main stop sign for a real thrill!!:woohoo:

Tried to get Gus Souza to go for a ride, but he turned me down........ Said he was afraid that if he rode in it, he would have to buy it, and he had too many #@$?% Hudsons in his garage as it was!