how many people here have had the clutch tube let go on their beetle?

Just had the clutch tube let go on the buggy. As I was welding it back in, I realised it was dejavu. I've done this before to my other beetle.

How common is this fault?

BTW, driving a buggy home with no clutch was interesting. :o

Where does it let go?

I've had a cable let go but not the tube.....

I had the tube break off the bracket at the front near the pedals on my mother's beetle, it was a bastard to fix😬

inside the tunnel at the front...and as I just found out on a test run, at the back where it comes out of the chassis. 🙁

and yes, it is a b...., one of them to fix. In both places. 👎

Its also attached in the middle just below the handbrake lever, that one usually breaks after the other two.....:o

I am experiencing some clutch trouble myself. The cable is being held by half the threads that it should. Can't wait for my favourite VW workshop to open after the New year break so I can fix the damn thing! I would have done it earlier but my job restricts the amount of time off I have this time of year. Bugger......:bounce
-Adam

I've never had a tube come adrift....
My Son has, but it was at the rear of the tunnel, and the chassis was originally an auto....

I haven't heard of anyone else have that problem...

I do remember reading of it happening somewhere as the owner cut great big holes in the tunnel to fix it...
I think it was the UK or USA..

Lee

talk about syncronicity (sp?)
i know of a couple of cases of it happening and one was to me a fortnight ago
my orange 75 beetle had some bad clutch shudder happening and i knew the clutch i'd put in it was good, cable was ok, tube sag was fine
when i put the pedal assembly in, the front weld was attatched and when i conected the gearbox coupler the rear weld was intact
it was the god damn middle weld
i managed to get the stick welder in thro the seatbelt mount hole and get a few tacks on there - pronblem gone
but its usually the front weld that lets go and requires a hole cut in the tunnel

best way to tackle it is to either cut 3 sides of a sqaure with an anlge grinder so u can bend it up then reweld it (altho some ppl leave them for easy cable replacement)
or put a 2" hole saw thro on an angle so it leaves a flap and do the same thing...

-Joel

Had it in two bugs.
The worst part about it is not everyone welds up the tunnel again after welding the tube.
Biggest section of strength in the car, have heard it happening lots.
You can usually hear when the tube has come free, awful noise.

in my kombi someone had rewelded the tube back but letf a weld inside the tube which cut through the brand new clutch cable in a matter of months ,enter new clutch tube👎