Clutch Alignment
 

I'm trying to re-connect my gearbox to engine and I'm struggling to get the clutch plate aligned correctly so that the gearbox slots in nicely (currently seem to end up with a cm gap between the engine and bell). Is it worth buying one of these tools or is there a more locost way to do it?

Have you take the clutch assembly apart? If not you should not need an alignment tool. It sounds like the bell housing may just be caught up on the dowels. Try putting the bolts through the two dowel positions and do them up to pull the engine and box together.

I had to do this on mine the first time. After that when it came to the final engine fit it went together easy.

Yes I took the pressure plate and friction disc off the flywheel to mount my engine on a stand so I could strip it down and clean it up. Just thought maybe I've not got the friction disc lined up correctly which is causing the gap?

I had the same problem trying to line my new clutch up by eye, after many attempts I gave up and brought a cheap laser one from halfords was only £13 something with a trade card and well worth the money!

Well some articles I've been reading where suggesting using a 1/2" socket wrench and then wrapping a load of tape around it, wondering how well this will work.. Also does anyone have a good picture of which way round the friction plate should go? the picture I took hasn't come out that well so its hard to tell now if I've got it on the right way round :S

Is the friction plate not marked for which way round it goes? Im sure the one ive got is.

Not sure what you mean by marked?

I think mine has which way round it goes stamped into it.

I'm using the dohc and my clutch had the projecting torsion spring hub on the opposite side of the flywheel, hope that makes sense.

If you can get them with a gap of 1cm to each other I would say that the gearbox input shaft has already gone into the friction plate.

I'd give the bolts a go at pulling them together. Nothing to loose.