Over the last week or so, I find it difficult to slip into first or second. With a bit of crunch every now & then as well. The clutch pedal is going all the way to the firewall. Do I need to adjust (tighten) the nut at the gearbox end? The clutch is about 10,000 klms old
Raf

how much play is in the pedal?
yOU SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 20mm free play.

Mine always crunches....oh well

Don't know, have to check. Does it make a difference? If it has too much play, what does it mean?
Raf
BTW I will call you about the muffler tomorrow
Raf

If it has too much play when you press your clutch in you are not releasing it properly. So you could get some crunching.
Same thing as if you had a properly adjusted clutch and only pressed the pedal 1/2 way.

Press the pedal untill you first feel clutch resistance (the distance it moves is how much play there is)

It has about 80mm play. time for adjustment?

Ummm....like yesterday

Should only be tike 20mm. Just turn the wing nut (hopefully you have this. The old double lock nuts are a biitch)

Just make sure when you turn the nut it winds down and doesnt just spin the cable. I have seen that happen.
Adjust it up so as there is a bout 20mm needed of light pressure on the peddle before there is resistance.

might as well check that ur bowden tube has enough sag as well. its about an inch minimum

Does anyone actually understand what the bowden tube does ?

What you dont know what the bowden tube does...........either do i - heh hehh ehe

Seriously i am guessing but it is the "slop holder"
if the cable was taught all the time it would be too tight. There needs to be some built in slop. Anyway - That is why i call my wife "Bowden"

The kink in the cable is there to help stop "shudder" when releasing the clutch pedal.

but "why" does it stop shudder? :jesus

Cause of the "built in slackness"? cause it is kinked?

TO be honest i understand how to set it etc. I just doont understand the reasoning

Must be one of life's litle mysteries like sock goblins

:vader

I read literature a while a go on Bowden tubes, and I'll try to explain it as fully as posible. Here goes.

Make two gun like figures with both hands. Index finger pointing, thumb up.
Point your index fingers at each other, like both hands are going to shoot each other.

The Bowden tube would go from one thumb to the other. So one thumb is the trans, and one is the firewall.

When the engine is engaged, the torque turns the trans (just enough to be painful) so the clutch disengages momentarily.

With your fingers, twist your right hand down, so it is at right angles to your left. The distance between thumbs has increased. Hence the clutch is disengaging again.

Now twist it back. Keep doing this at smaller and smaller angles.
This is what creates clutch shuddering.
Due to the clutch engaging, disengaging yada yada yada, due to the cars torque.

Therefore, it is imperitive that you have at LEAST an inch of play in the pedal when adjusted.

Did you get that, or do I have to keep going?

Cheers
Tnate :thumb

Wow !

Somone not only understands it but is able to explain it too ..... (pelase excuse the satire)

Ta Tnate
:vader

Geese TNate - the simple explanation for the bend in the bowden tube is...

It allows the engine/tranny to rock on it's mounts without yanking on the clutch cable - can you say "kangaroo hops" :-)