Triumph Repair: Gear box/engine alignment, clutch slave cylinder, alignment tool

Question
I have a '79 Spit 1500 and I replaced the clutch.  I am having difficulty mating the trans to the engine.  It does not go in all the way and it appears to be off skew.  Any suggestions of getting both parts to mat?  The alignment tool I used for the clutch did not go in to the end of the grooves; should they have?
Ted

Answer
Hi Ted,
You need to check the alignment tool first in the pilot bearing in the crank to see that it is a good fit. Then you need to slide the alignment tool into the clutch disk to see that it fits the spline good. Then put the disk with the alignment tool on to the flywheel fitting the tool into the pilot bearing and slid the pressure plate over the alignment tool and lightly put the pressure plate bolts in and wiggle the alignment tool around so as to get the disk in the center. lightly snug up the pressure plate bolts and wiggle the alignment tool in a circle and as soon as the pressure plate in holding the disk in place see if you can remove and replace the tool with ease. If not, wiggle it in a circle motion until it has the disk in the center and the tool will slid in and out with ease. Then you can tighten the pressure plate bolts. After the bolts are tight recheck the tool to see that it slides in and out freely. If it don't, redo it until it does. It is no use trying to install the transmission if the tool will not slide in and out freely. Be sure the clutch slave cylinder is either off or retracted so as not to cause a problem installing the trans.
Howard