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Lost clutch pedal?

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paslow22 Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined Oct 2015 ·

#1034155
Hi,
My 71 bug lost the clutch the other day, went for a short drive, reasonably warm weather, short trip at freeway speeds both ways, 10 minutes each way.

No problem until I pulled up at the lights off the freeway, pushed in the clutch and there was a noise, and then nothing, no clutch pressure.

I was able put it in 1st then the used the starter to get home.
I checked the cable at the pedals and it was still attached.

I noticed that the gearbox arm shaft has a small amount of movement where it comes out from the box, and a bit of movement side to side when the clutch cable was removed and with no pressure on it.

Start the motor and no odd noises.

So I adjusted the clutch cable at the box and it went right up to just about the full length of the thread near the cable and I had pressure on the clutch. So I spaced the lever and a locknut to just about upright and have about 20mm free play at the pedal.

Checked the car, pushed in the clutch and had pressure, started car went back and forth in the driveway all seemed normal with no odd noises.
Went out on the road with lots of gear changes, all ok, clutch felt normal, no unusual mechanical noises.

Box is a Scat pro street, car has only 2000klms on it everything is new, (not by me, previous owner)

I suppose I am hanging off doing what I must eventually must do and that is pull out the motor.

All ideas will be welcome.
Thanks
Darryl

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1034157
Did you pull the cable out and have a look at it? It could be that some of the strands are broken and the few left are stretched and about to break.

It could be the clutch tube has broken the welds in the tunnel.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#1034164
AA003 wrote:Did you pull the cable out and have a look at it? It could be that some of the strands are broken and the few left are stretched and about to break.

It could be the clutch tube has broken the welds in the tunnel. [/quote
If it is not the cable it is internal,possibly one of the release bearing arms has broken off at the weld.

bevoracing Officially Full-On Dubber

327 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1034173
Interesting one. Lack of noise and some clutch feel would seem to exclude a broken arm. Broken strands don't last long and often jam. I'm with the tube coming away. Please let us know what you find.
Country Buggy King & Link Pin Overhauls, Type 1 & 2 King Pins, General Machining.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=74138
My car is KO813

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#1034179
bevoracing wrote:Interesting one. Lack of noise and some clutch feel would seem to exclude a broken arm. Broken strands don't last long and often jam. I'm with the tube coming away. Please let us know what you find.
After re-reading the post I agree with Tony,particularly as since you adjusted the clutch cable it is working.

paslow22 Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined Oct 2015 ·

#1034206
grumble wrote:
bevoracing wrote:Interesting one. Lack of noise and some clutch feel would seem to exclude a broken arm. Broken strands don't last long and often jam. I'm with the tube coming away. Please let us know what you find.
After re-reading the post I agree with Tony,particularly as since you adjusted the clutch cable it is working.
I have the feeling and with the information I received that it must be the clutch cable tube in tunnel, I have spaced the box arm to near vertical and the cable is nearly touching the engine firewall, where I'm sure that it wasn't that close previously, I've only had the car 3 months.

Ok, now I have clutch pedal pressure and have driven it around using the clutch as much as possible and the clutch works as normal.
So how do you go about inspecting it for a start and what about repairing it.
I imagine I'll have to check in the tunnel at the pedals end and maybe at the gear lever hole, and at the rear rod linkage cover plate under the seat.
I have my brothers little spy camera probe so that will come in handy.
Find out where it's broken away, cut into the tunnel and reweld
How many welds is it attached at???

Does that sound right???

Thanks
Darryl

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1034213
paslow22 wrote:
grumble wrote:
bevoracing wrote:Interesting one. Lack of noise and some clutch feel would seem to exclude a broken arm. Broken strands don't last long and often jam. I'm with the tube coming away. Please let us know what you find.
After re-reading the post I agree with Tony,particularly as since you adjusted the clutch cable it is working.
I have the feeling and with the information I received that it must be the clutch cable tube in tunnel, I have spaced the box arm to near vertical and the cable is nearly touching the engine firewall, where I'm sure that it wasn't that close previously, I've only had the car 3 months.

Ok, now I have clutch pedal pressure and have driven it around using the clutch as much as possible and the clutch works as normal.
So how do you go about inspecting it for a start and what about repairing it.
I imagine I'll have to check in the tunnel at the pedals end and maybe at the gear lever hole, and at the rear rod linkage cover plate under the seat.
I have my brothers little spy camera probe so that will come in handy.
Find out where it's broken away, cut into the tunnel and reweld
How many welds is it attached at???

Does that sound right???

Thanks
Darryl
Pull the cable out and inspect that first. I have driven long distances with broken strands and it felt normal once adjusted.

Get underneath and watch above the gearbox with someone operating the clutch. Look for any movement.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#1034214
Always check out the simple fix first!

Do what Phill suggests...pull the cable out, and if it is partly unravelled, chuck a new cable in. Job done!

Don't worry if fitting the new cable takes a long time...the first time always does. 👍
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

paslow22 Seriously Crusin Dubber

109 posts · joined Oct 2015 ·

#1034215
Ok,
I'll pull out the clutch cable and check it out first and hope that's all it takes to solve the problem.
Thanks for the advice.
Darryl

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1034227
HappyDaze wrote:Don't worry if fitting the new cable takes a long time...the first time always does. 👍
After you have done it 20 or 30 times you become quicker at it.

It's even better when you find out why you break cables annually.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#1034239
don't resort to cutting holes in the tunnel, that the sissy way to do it. Have a good look at the hook on the pedal as well