'67 1600 single port bug clutch problems

The patient: 1967 Bug, Nermal The problem: Clutch has always been "wierd." Engagement has never been smooth and over the last few months the action of the clutch has been sliding further and further up the pedal. This week there's almost nothing left, so I decide it's time for a new clutch. This one is 60k miles old, installed by my old mechanic Robert down in Florida.

So, dropped the engine out real quick and I found something very unusual. At first, I didn't see anything wrong. The clutch had plenty of thickness left - I was baffled. Had figured the spring had been sticking or a weld had come loose, causing the rough action and that the clutch had worn down causing it to climb the pedal.

Took a closer look and here's what I found:

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The ring on the teeth of the pressure plate was off center and the metal of it was tearing. You'll notice that the input shaft from the tranny was obviously wearing on the edge of that ring:

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So I took a look back at the tranny housing and noticed that the throwout bearing is riding off center on the shaft as well:

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Thought that perhaps this had caused it, so I put the new bearing on to see how it fit and it was off center too:

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So, what caused what here?

Did the bearing being off center cause the pressure plate ring to work itself loose? Was the pressure plate defective and the ring slipped out and caused the throwout bearing to sit off all oddly?

And perhaps more important, how do I fix it?

The arm that the throwout bearing rides on feels tight. There is some play on the passenger side, but it is minute. The new bearing is riding just as off center as the last one, which I don't care for.

How do I go about fixing this?

Help!

IIRC the release bearing fork will/should have a circlip #2 to position it correctly. I am not sure if I see one on yours near the bearing.

Description goes something like this: circlip..arm...return spring..washer...bushings...trans...circlip #2...release bearing arms/fork...trans small end

I hope the above makes sense. The circlip #2 fits in the groove of the fork shaft just inside of the trans at the bushings. If it slipped out of the groove then you willl have your release bearing misalignment problem. I would suggest you take the fork assembly apart to see what is at fault. Or at least see if you can push the fork further into the trans and look for the groove that circlip #2 fits in. You might have a weak circlip though! Carefully use a big screwdriver and leverage the fork arms over to the passenger side of the vehicle (LHD cars)

Good luck! :-)

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris