Misplaced clutch alignment tool, crazy to expect to find a replacement?

Since I took a day off work to put my E46 back together (rear main seal), it stands to reason that an hour in, I can't find clutch alignment tool. But what I didn't expect is that every auto parts store, dealer parts department, and even two Indy BMW shops (knew those shops were long shots), all acted like I was asking for a tool I'd just made up in my head. Am I crazy to have expected to find one somewhere? 

Local-ish (about to leave for my 55 minute trip there) German race shop said "bring your disc, we've got a big pile of the plastic ones, I'm sure we have the one you need, and you can have it". So, my day is hopefully salvaged, less my 2 or 3 hours lost to this errand, but I just was struck by how bizarre my request seemed to sound to a bunch of places that I thought would have either had one, or at least been familiar with them. 

I have had great success just centering the Disc with my fingertips on the outside edge of the Disc while tightening the diapragm bolts.

No, you are not crazy.

Recently, I started using an old input shaft for doing this (since it's handy).

That's crazy cause even cheap clutch kits come with one.  I happened to have one from my 1985 200SX that fit. 
 

Small socket that fits inside the pilot and flares out to self center

Longish 3/8 extension that fits the socket.

Stick the socket in the pilo and mark on the extension where it passes the pressure plate fingers.

Wind duct tape around the extension ( where it passes the clutch fingers)  until it matches the diameter of the clutch fingers.

There is your clutch alignment tool.

As best I can recall, I have two, and I'll trip over both of them... tomorrow. 

NOHOME said:

Small socket that fits inside the pilot and flares out to self center

Longish 3/8 extension that fits the socket.

 

Stick the socket in the pilo and mark on the extension where it passes the pressure plate fingers.

 

Wind duct tape around the extension ( where it passes the clutch fingers)  until it matches the diameter of the clutch fingers.

 

There is your clutch alignment tool.

I thought about making something. Didn't brainstorm up anything that simple. 

Next time!

When I did the clutch in the wifemoble a while ago, I bought all OEM Ford-I-Mean-Mazda parts for it and there was no clutch alignment tool provided or available.  So I got a Performance Tools W1158P Metric Clutch Alignment tool for around $25.  It's got a bunch of different sizes - I assume all metric, given the name - and it does what it says it'll do.

Lisle makes one that is universal.  It's basically what nohome described but as a kit.  It works passably.  I'm very surprised one of your FLAPS didn't have this in stock.  I'm not surprised they don't have a specific one for your application.  

Amazon has a bunch for $6.  I ordered a Nissan one the other day and had it delivered next day.  Just put BMW clutch alignment tool in the search box.  Verify it fits your car and go.

I also just shoved a screwdriver handle in the hole once, mostly worked.

I just eyeball it and lucked out when I installed the transmission laying under my car with the trans laying on my chest with the car up on jack stands just enough so that all I had to do was inhale a lot to bring it up to height and slide the shaft splines into the disk while rotating the output flange to line them up. 40 years ago before they had plastic clutch alignment tools.

nocones said:

Lisle makes one that is universal.  It's basically what nohome described but as a kit.  It works passably.  I'm very surprised one of your FLAPS didn't have this in stock.  I'm not surprised they don't have a specific one for your application.  

The closest location of every color flaps didn't have that universal kit. Checked that online before I put myself through talking to someone on the phone. 

I would bet if I expand it my radius I could have found it in stock. The universal kit, I mean.

For those with a 3d printer, we went that route for a Miata.  I think there is a parametric model on Thingiverse that my son figured out.

Buy generic FLAPS clutch kit, use tool, return kit?

Hell, when I was a counterman I would sell the tool, yank it out of a kit for the customer and drop the replacement back in the kit when the order came in. 

Had about 30 to choose from. Very kind of them to hook me up. 

I have a small stash of them, having kept one from most every clutch job I've ever done. Unfortunately, I haven't labeled them. If I ever need one, it'll be trial and error. I did make one that sorta worked with a wooden dowel once. 

Spearfishin said:

I can't find clutch alignment tool. 

It's in the kitchen. You know that drawer with all the batteries (half of them dead), odd-ball USB-Micro chargers that don't have devices anymore, and the trio of flat-blade screw drivers (all the same size)? It's in there. Under the stash of five-year-old holiday cards that you kept because you felt weird throwing them away. You'll see a receipt from Marshall's from 2016 where you bought that pair of shoes that you threw away four years ago--it's right on top of that.

Go look there. We'll wait here while you do.

A broom stick or dowel has worked out for me 

Motojunky said:

Unfortunately, I haven't labeled them. 

The Datsun boys are marked with their name.  
 

Spearfishin said:

NOHOME said:

Small socket that fits inside the pilot and flares out to self center

Longish 3/8 extension that fits the socket.

 

Stick the socket in the pilo and mark on the extension where it passes the pressure plate fingers.

 

Wind duct tape around the extension ( where it passes the clutch fingers)  until it matches the diameter of the clutch fingers.

 

There is your clutch alignment tool.

I thought about making something. Didn't brainstorm up anything that simple. 

Next time!

I did omit the second roll of duct tape to match the ID of the clutch plate. But you seem to have the gist of the matter. 

I live in Canada, Red-Green all the things!

Here's today's lesson: I can't be saved from myself. 

Dropped trans off lift-height trans jack in a moment of stupidity and broke one of the mounting ears off the back of the trans. 

So, clutch alignment didn't turn out to be my final stumbling block. Now, to find a guy willing to TIG cast Al. 

pilotbraden said:

A broom stick or dowel has worked out for me 

Get a dowel that's close to the proper size, and wrap it with duct tape until it's snug in the center of the clutch disk.

Spearfishin said:

Here's today's lesson: I can't be saved from myself. 

Dropped trans off lift-height trans jack in a moment of stupidity and broke one of the mounting ears off the back of the trans. 

So, clutch alignment didn't turn out to be my final stumbling block. Now, to find a guy willing to TIG cast Al. 

Well, that sucks.

In reply to Spearfishin :

Oh damn!  Good news, though:  You broke the transmission's case, not yours!

In reply to Spearfishin :

Ouch, sorry dude. There'll be somebody around who can fix it.

When my E36 clutch didn't come with an alignment tool, I was able to improvise with a stack of sockets.