Clutch replacement 870 without help

[Hammerhead]

(08-27-2019 )Signature620 Wrote:  I always put the clutch on the input shaft. That way you only have to line up the tip of the input shaft and the spigot bearing, not the entire assembly. You also need much less clearance behind the box to do it that way as it won't have to come back so far before it's clear to lower.

(08-27-2019 )tree98 Wrote:  So you unbolt the clutch from the flywheel before you slide the trans back to disassemble as well as assemble? That sounds good to, less weight to have to wrestle down by hand.

Yes and Yes.
Step 1: Mark the bolt holes with the pattern #/order before you put the clutch shell onto the pilot shaft! Trying to figure out the pattern order through the inspection hole sucks when you're both barring and watching...cause you can't do both at the same time!

I have done it both ways, and unless I'm doing it on a 379 long hood, which has prolly the most back of tranny underside room, I prefer to put the clutch on the input shaft and put it in all together. You may find that you have to go "a little higher" than you think to get the pilot to slip into the pilot bearing because the weight of the clutch will pull the input shaft lower.
Start the bolts, but don't quite bottom them as you're going. Once all the bolts are in, I like to bar the motor 2 complete revolutions to make sure that the clutch centers nicely. After the first, I finger tighten them, then one more full rotation. Torque in sequence as per procedure.

I'm a short armed fat bastard and I can do it myself, so you got this. Some of the bolts are a PIA because of my reach limitations, just need to use a little grease in a socket with an extension and develop patience, or curse like mad. I do both.