I changed the bearing retainer on my 4 speed last week, it had some wear grooves at the throwout bearing flange and I want a silk smooth clutch. Installing the new reatiner the trans will not rotate. The input bearing nut is riding on the retainer nut race.
My old retainer has clearance between the two. I installed a new nut and am using a good wrench so there are no burs on the nut.
Could my new retainer be out of spec? It is a original GM part.
Anyone have any ideas? I don't want to order a new retiner to have the same result.

Todd

Is your nut installed correctly? The side of the nut with the wrench flats goes toward the bearing, and the oil slinger side goes toward the bearing retainer.

A new retainer gasket should be used to maintain the proper clearance between the retainer and the nut.

Does the old retainer clear the new nut?

Steve;
Nuts on correctly and new gasket on retainer. Weird though I put the old retainer back on and no interference. I just hate to order a new retainer with the same result. Looks like machining error on retainer race (not enough mat'l removed to spec) Any ideas I thought about stacking gaskets but that would be a mickey mouse fix.

Todd

After you solve the nut clearance problem be sure to test fit the bellhousing to the transmission on the bench. The last new bearing retainer I bought was slightly bigger than the original one. Instead of a nice “slip fit” it was a "press fit" in my bellhousing. A bearing retainer with a press fit into the bellhousing is the last thing you want when you are under the car installing your Muncie.

Steve;
Nuts on correctly and new gasket on retainer. Weird though I put the old retainer back on and no interference. I just hate to order a new retainer with the same result. Looks like machining error on retainer race (not enough mat'l removed to spec) Any ideas I thought about stacking gaskets but that would be a mickey mouse fix.

ToddDon’t stack gaskets to make it fit. This will allow the front bearing, input shaft, and the nut to move forward and backward in the case. You need a new bearing retainer.

Steve;
Good put I'll check it.
I just can't believe I sprung $70 and bought a genny GM part thats
not up to par. My thought was that the GM ones would be a better product and not to skimp. Guess that backfired! Hows the quality of the repo retainers I see for $25-$35 bucks?
Guess I'll just have to order one.
Aaaargh!
Todd

I figured the problem out.
I squirted machinist steel blue on the machined flanges of the part and I found the following the retainer has a third machined flange on the original that the new old stock doesn't its the machined flange for clearance of the input shaft counterclockwise threads, I radiused the part and voila it worked!

Todd