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Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal
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vridaw
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2024 10:34 pm    Post subject: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

So I decided to change out my roller pedal for a fancy chrome one and now I am regretting all my life decisions.

After doing the swap, something isn't right with my clutch. I have the cable tightened all the way and it still feeling loose. I can hear it engage so I know the pedal is still hooked to the cable, although I do hear some weird clunking which means something is def. not right.

Any ideas what I did wrong here? Embarassed

A pic for the hell of it:

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runamoc Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 8:52 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

Quote:
wrong here?


The clutch cable 'runs' through a metal tube that is welded to some cross members inside of the tunnel. A common occurrence is these welds break loose and make the sounds you hear.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 9:15 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

1) how the heck would that even happen?

2) is there a way to make sure that's actually what happening? Do I need to get a cable camera?

3) if that's actually the case, how do I fix it?
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runamoc Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 9:23 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

Quote:
how the heck would that even happen?
if that's actually the case, how do I fix it?


How old is your car? How many times has the clutch pedal been used. Well, metal flexes and then it breaks. There are many post about how to do it, just do a search of the forums with 'clutch cable tube repair' or similar wording. It is involved but..... Cool
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:00 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

The car is 61 years old this year! And I drive it a lot so maybe that's why.

But I also have a feeling that my 20 lb weight that I had used to keep the clutch pedal in place as I was screwing it at the back might have been what did it.

Before I go cutting into the tunnel, is there a definite way to tell if that bracket is broken inside?
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:06 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

Quote:
definite way to tell if that bracket is broken inside?


Under the car where the clutch and throttle cables come 'out' of the body and into the bowden tubes the clutch pipe will slide in and out. Maybe. The noise is usually a good indication the tube has come loose in the tunnel
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my3bugs
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:14 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

i had a clutch cable feel weak or spongy once . when i went to replace the cable it was frayed with a just a few strands left holding on . it was right near the pedal .
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:17 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

here is a TIP i do . when doing the clutch cable replacment i ZIP TIE the clutch pedal to the brake pedal so it cant fall down and release . keeps it upward .
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 11:26 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

Pull the plate under the back seat and check the tube just aft of the shift coupler. I had a ʻ63 with the same symptoms and the clutch tube had broken loose there. I was able to get it welded back up without cutting any holes.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 1:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

I think I am in the clear with the clutch tube - I checked it and it seems to be pretty solid by the entry point and by the shift coupler.

The noise I was hearing was actually a clicking noise at the Tranny. Here's a video of it:


Link

I've disassembled and put things back together three times and every time the pedal feels squishy and soft. And as you can see the wingnut is all the way down.

Any suggestions? Replace cable all together?
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 1:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

i can see your clutch arm move in out sideways , i dont know the fix but its not suposed to do that .
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 2:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

i went n looked at a used trans here , i dont KNOW for sure but it kinda looks like you can loosen the bolt near the shaft and maybe push the shaft in a little deeper then re snug the nut .........thats what it looks like BUT im no tranny mechanic ??? those parts aren't supposed to be so loose . just forward n back not suposed to be sideways movement .
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 3:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

If the tube is solid you may have a more serious problem. Your throwout bearing may be coming apart or the retaining clips or throwout fork may be bent or broken.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 3:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

Yes, it is the spring "clicking" when the shaft moves out. The spring tang at one end usually is in one spot but gets pushed out of alignment with the loose shaft. When it reaches the point that the spring tang cannot withstand the torque the tang slips sideways.

When you remove the lever and inspect the bedding point for the spring end you may see some wear mark where the spring is sliding sideways. Maybe.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 3:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

is it as simple as loosening that nut/bolt n re adjusting it ? i dont think i have ever needed to remove one to know .


so this will get rid of the click but still not sure about the mushy pedal .

anything loose in the cable system will give you a lose or sloppy feel , could that be all it is ? im still concerned you have the wingnut all the way down , that doesnt sound right . i just did one and the wing nut wasent exactly in the middle a little closer to the cable end but i still have adjustment .... with your wing nut all the way in you have no adjustment .

just watched your video again , you do have a lot of movement there .
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 3:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

my3bugs wrote:
im still concerned you have the wingnut all the way down.


Yeah me too - just doesn't make any sense. Thinking of putting some washers before the wingnut to see if I can at least get the clutch to engage.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 4:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

OK we cant see it in your video , do you have a bowden tube in place back there ? the cable runs thru it , it has a bow or bend in it and will take up some of the cable length , there is a set amount its suposed to bow , i had to add some washers under the bowden tube to take up some of the extra lenth and give it the BOW it needs . like in my bug there is so much bow i cant change the clutch cable with out removing the bowden tube first , that threaded end of the cable cant make the bend thru my bowden , its a pain to swap cables in this bug .

so you got a bowden tube ?

trivia - the split window bugs didnt use a bowden tube Smile they came later .
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 4:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

look over this maybe , just to see how a bowden works LOOKS LIKE HE BROKE ONE END OF HIS BOWDEN TUBE IN THE VIDEO Smile LOL dont do that !!!

the bowden takes up the proper amount of slack so you would have adjustment still in the cable .... follow me ?

this is all i can think of your problem might be ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NeXfqQzmQM
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 8:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

Thanks for sharing that video my3bugs! I did exactly as instructed and added a washer. You can see the before and after below.

Doing this along with replacing the cable, I can now get the cable to tighten up only going half way down with the wingnut.

Pedal feels a bit better but the car jumps and stalls as soon as I put it in gear.

Any ideas? I feel like I am so close just missing something stupid.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 8:54 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch Cable Feels Loose After Changing Pedal Reply with quote

did you address the wonky clutch lever action . need to get that sorted out now . that movement is not letting your clutch work right , like slips n then grabs . im no expert just trying to help .
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