I'm getting tired of replacing the clutch linkage parts (mostly the bellcrack, upper and lower rods) every 4 to 5 years. A Google search found a company named tellico4x4 that claims to sell a heim joint clutch linkage assemble for CJ's that should completely eliminate the joint wear in the OEM linkage. Does anybody have any experience (good or bad) with either this company or their products ?
Jerry McG ( snipped-for-privacy@frontier.net) wrote on Monday 11 October 2004
06:54 pm:
Yeah, but beware if you ever have to return a defective product to Tellico. They never return calls (still waiting after leaving three messages and talking to a rep twice a month and a half ago) and their web site is usually busted, so you can't contact them via that either.
After buying about $1000 worth of stuff from them, they're now at the bottom of my list of places to buy from. I don't care if it costs more - the only time I'll buy from them now is if I can't find it anywhere else. This over a $15 turn signal switch that wouldn't work in the "lane change" position. I keep it in my Jeep as a reminder not to buy from them. I curse their name every time I change lanes.
Try Tri-County Gear in Pomona CA. Jason has been manufacturing and marketing a heim-joint replacement clutch rod for years. I have had one since 1988 - no problems at all.
I have no experience with the company you asked about, but I made my own heim joint clutch linkage and it works really good.
I bought a piece of stuff called all-thread. It's like a bolt, but 3 or 4 ft long and has no head, just threads. I bought the fine-thread version. Then at the same hardware store, I found a heim joint that mysteriously had the same thread as the all-thread. I cut the all-thread to the desired length, and presto chango, clutch linkage that has never broken again.
My application is the '81 CJ5 with the 258 and mechanical clutch linkage.
Interesting option. Did the all-thread rod just happen to allow attachment of the jamnut adjuster ? If not how did you (1) adjust the length and (2) connect to the throwout arm ?
Amen, brother. I have never been more disappointed with any business, ever, than with Tellico 4X4. They have the sorriest customer service I've ever had the displeasure to deal with. They do not stand behind defective products they sell. In my case, they advertised falsely, sending me a different brand product, then would not take it back or make it right when I discovered it was defective, saying it was advertised as a "factory second". I sent them the very e-mailed ad they sent me proving them liars about the brand and the "free shipping" that cost me $32 and the factory second status. None of that was true.
1)False advertising - brand of product and shipping cost.
2)Defective product they wouldn't take back or make right.
3)Lied about it. It was not advertised as a factory second.
4)Customer service did respond to my e-mails but obviously didn't care about their reputation or my customer satisfaction. I wouldn't buy from them again if they were the only supplier of what I needed. I'd do without. The OP needs to find another supplier if he decides to buy the clutch linkage, just in case there's a problem with it. Any decent business wants satisfied customers to come again and spread the good word. TrailMarker.
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