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Posted by: anthony Aug 23 2016, 01:23 PM

I just called a tow truck which is an hour away.

Any words of wisdom? Any chance I could fix it before they get here?

Posted by: SirAndy Aug 23 2016, 01:25 PM

Clutch tube broke lose either inside the center tunnel or at the rear firewall or both ...

Posted by: anthony Aug 23 2016, 01:29 PM

Crap! That doesn't sound like a quick fix.

Posted by: SirAndy Aug 23 2016, 01:32 PM

Or maybe your clutch cable just snapped. But they rarely do ...

Posted by: bretth Aug 23 2016, 01:38 PM

I would have thought the clutch cable snapped or cable pulley let go on the trans but I haven't had enough experience with mine to be sure. If the cable has snapped you may want to look under the car and see if the cable end is still there to see if you can pull it off to keep the end pieces from falling off and getting lost while being towed.

Brett

Posted by: falcor75 Aug 23 2016, 01:39 PM

If the cable snapped you probably lost the wedge piece that connects the cable to the throwout bearing arm.

Posted by: Tom_T Aug 23 2016, 01:41 PM

They will snap the cable with age &/or if the transaxle's ground strap or lugs are bad connections or missing. Either way, it's not an easy on-the-road fix.

Anthony, you can drive your 914 short distances with minimal stops by putting it into 2nd or 3rd gear with the engine off, then start the motor (it will buck until up to speed, & then cruise in that gear until you must stop again (some folks will blip the gas & try to shift up, but that can grind the synchros, so I wouldn't).

PS - I'd done that a few times in the decade & 132k miles that mine was my DD, so they do snap clutch cables sometimes, & you can get to a shop if close enough with that start-in-gear technique. When my clutch tube broke loose, it was more a matter of a sloppy & only partially disengaging clutch - rather than complete loss, although mine didn't completely break free & run out the back of the firewall (& it is an in the shop fix for the tube also).

If you're close to your shop, then try that, otherwise wait for the tow service, & hopefully you've asked for a flatbed, so that your front valance or spoiler won't get buggered up. Take pix of the car's condition before the tow for your records, in case of any damage by the tow.

Good Luck!
Tom
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Posted by: Montreal914 Aug 23 2016, 01:54 PM

Seems like what I've lived about a year ago.
Cable snapped pulling out of drive way.
Replace cable, adjust clutch, good to go
Might have to readjust the clutch after a few days.
Good luck with your repair.

Posted by: Andyrew Aug 23 2016, 02:04 PM

I've snapped 3 clutch cables. They snap and that is what happens. When the tube breaks loose your clutch will have SOME feel to it but wont do enough.

Posted by: The Cabinetmaker Aug 23 2016, 02:07 PM

Tom nailed it. Drive it home.if you shift at just the right moment it will up shift without grinding. Engage clutch, blip throttle, and shift. I've driven home 5 miles in traffic this way.

Posted by: tbox56 Aug 23 2016, 02:08 PM

I have had the cable sheath pull out of the holder by the pulley in the back. This had exactly the same symptoms.

If this is it, it's your lucky day, throw a zip tie around it and drive home!

Good luck!

Posted by: SirAndy Aug 23 2016, 02:14 PM

Nope, not if it comes lose on the rear firewall. Your pedal will go to the floor with no usable clutch. Been there, done that ...

Posted by: anthony Aug 23 2016, 02:15 PM

It looks like the cable frayed and snapped right at the pulley wheel.

Posted by: anthony Aug 23 2016, 02:28 PM

I have to say that you guys are brilliant as usual. I was able to back the car up by starting it in reverse and then restart it in first and drive it home. Fortunately I was only a mile from home.

I even have a spare clutch cable so I should be back on the road this afternoon.

Posted by: The Cabinetmaker Aug 23 2016, 03:33 PM

Outstanding

Posted by: jim_hoyland Aug 23 2016, 05:40 PM

Put a spare in your front trunk for the next time; also helps to have a couple of tools handy;some bunji cord, latex gloves, flashlight, and any other tools that are needed.
The hardest part can be reaching into the pedal cluster area to change the front attachment point.

Posted by: Valy Aug 23 2016, 05:47 PM

Check your ground strap at the transition. A bad one will cause grounding through the clatch cable and you know how that ends.

Posted by: BeemerSteve Aug 23 2016, 06:28 PM

Undeniably clutch tube woes! Happened to me and had to put new metal back on the firewall. Also, tacked back in the front for prosperity purposes,.

Posted by: BeemerSteve Aug 23 2016, 06:31 PM

Well, bloody hell....maybe I should've read further before I posted. Good that it was the cable!!!

Posted by: rgalla9146 Aug 23 2016, 09:08 PM

The first thing to do when the cable snaps is to crawl under the car and retrieve the loose cable end which has the trunion and the two impossible to find 11mm nuts on it.
Was there boot on there too ? Extra points.
Oh, if your shift linkage (and battery) is better than the average 914 you could drive the car across the country, no clutch cable necessary.

Posted by: anthony Aug 23 2016, 09:28 PM

No end boot. I never had one as long as I've had this car. Also, only one 11mm bolt installed back there. Should I add another? Will I find an 11mm at the hardware store?

New clutch cable is now installed. I had no problems threading the cable. Reattaching at the pedal cluster was a big PITA. I "lost" the clip down the tunnel at least 4 or 5 times until I got it.

The white pulley was essentially frozen and gummed up with road gunk. That is the point where the cable shredded and snapped.

I noticed that the speedo cable doesn't look so hot either. There is always something on a 42 year old car....

Posted by: Krieger Aug 23 2016, 10:57 PM

Add a second nut and lock that cable down. I have always had two nuts

Posted by: euro911 Aug 24 2016, 03:03 AM

Carry a spare trunion block (or whatever they call that piece) and two 11mm nuts with your spare cable.