Clutch pedal adjustment, How often is normal? Implications? |
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Clutch pedal adjustment, How often is normal? Implications? |
BigDBass |
Jun 23 2006, 04:45 PM
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#1
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Dumb Question Champion Group: Members Posts: 1,438 Joined: 11-January 06 From: Chicago (south 'burbs) Member No.: 5,405 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Last Friday I learned about clutch adjustment. Woohoo... I put on 250-300 miles between the Tri-State 914 gathering and tooling around town here and there. Yesterday, we took the 914 to the obstetrician. (Is that wrong? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) ) On the way home, I noticed the same symptoms. Sure enough, clutch pedal play was back where it started last week, after only 250-300 miles. The 2 11mm nuts spin loose enough that I could do it by hand. This time, after I adjusted, I slightly backed off the first, while tightening the locking one behind it. Hopefully this will keep it in place, but is there anything I should watch out for that could be causing this to loosen up so quickly? Thanks. Time to go for a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) drive. Maybe this weekend preggers will learn to drive manual trans?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) I'm scared. |
Brad Roberts |
Jun 23 2006, 05:32 PM
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#2
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 19,148 Joined: 23-December 02 Member No.: 8 Region Association: None |
I can go for months and months without adjusting the clutch (and this is daily driving with stop and go traffic too and from work for months on end)
I'm betting the clutch tube is starting to break at the firewall (which is the last line of defense) They break first at the front and then proceed back until the firewall weekens and cracks from trying to handle all the stress. B |
Brad Roberts |
Jun 23 2006, 05:35 PM
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#3
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 19,148 Joined: 23-December 02 Member No.: 8 Region Association: None |
Lots of factors actually:
1.pivot ball on clutch arm breaking/worn 2.bushing in clutch arm w/pedal assembly breaking/worn 3.cable stretch/breaking 4.tube broken and or breaking 5.clevis at clutch arm breaking/worn B |
davep |
Jun 23 2006, 05:35 PM
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#4
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914 Historian Group: Benefactors Posts: 5,143 Joined: 13-October 03 From: Burford, ON, N0E 1A0 Member No.: 1,244 Region Association: Canada |
Usually once every clutch change. Sounds like you have clutch tube problems. Everyone gets that eventually. Check the firewall where the tube exits. It is probably tearing there. If it has already broken free there, then the strap in the tunnel near the gearshift is still tearing. Only held in two places, and it is under a lot of stress. Be very careful welding near the fuel lines. The fix is not done until both locations are rewelded.
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wbergtho |
Jun 23 2006, 05:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,314 Joined: 28-April 03 From: Roberts, WI Member No.: 623 |
ditto what Brad said. Maybe time to break out the welder? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)
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Bartlett 914 |
Jun 23 2006, 05:47 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,216 Joined: 30-August 05 From: South Elgin IL Member No.: 4,707 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
I agree with all the replys above with one exception. Your description almost sounded like the nut was not secured tightly. Keep it simple first.
Mark |
BigDBass |
Jun 23 2006, 06:00 PM
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#7
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Dumb Question Champion Group: Members Posts: 1,438 Joined: 11-January 06 From: Chicago (south 'burbs) Member No.: 5,405 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
The clutch was replaced in '03 by the PO if that matters.
I'm hoping it's the simple explanation. What causes the clutch tube problems? Is it a rust thing or wear or just age? Good god, I am not touching a welder anytime soon. For everyone's sake! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
swl |
Jun 23 2006, 06:07 PM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,409 Joined: 7-August 05 From: Kingston,On,Canada Member No.: 4,550 Region Association: Canada |
Yesterday, we took the 914 to the obstetrician. (Is that wrong? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) ) Perfectly acceptable. Mounting a a baby seat to the roll bar - not so much. |
Joe Bob |
Jun 23 2006, 06:12 PM
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#9
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Retired admin, banned a few times Group: Members Posts: 17,427 Joined: 24-December 02 From: Boulder CO Member No.: 5 Region Association: None |
First make sure the double nut is not backing out....get it good and tight and run it again....mark the thread with a sharpie.
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wbergtho |
Jun 23 2006, 06:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,314 Joined: 28-April 03 From: Roberts, WI Member No.: 623 |
It can be a rust thing and definitely an age thing. The "bowden tube" or clutch tube is welded in place in two locations, as said before. After a few thousand cycles of repetitive stress, the tube slowly starts to break or tear away from it's mounting locations. A decent welder will have this fixed in less than 30 minutes. There's a sure fire way to determine whether or not the Bowden tube has broken. Peel up your carpet, grab a flash light, sit in the car and push the clutch pedal up/down repeatedly...at the same time point your eyes and the flashlight along the entire path of the Bowden tube. (a friend looking for you is easier) If it has torn away, you will see the tube flexing like a live snake when you push up/down on the clutch pedal. There should be no movement on this tube. If it moves noticeably, you have a little welding project in your near future. Ask Kelly...he just had this happen to him.
Bill |
Andyrew |
Jun 23 2006, 08:41 PM
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#11
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Spooling.... Please wait Group: Members Posts: 13,376 Joined: 20-January 03 From: Riverbank, Ca Member No.: 172 Region Association: Northern California |
Also.. your PP might be going out.. your clutch might be going out...
When I put a new clutch and pp in my car (switching to a v8) I had no clutch problems at all.. before... I was adjusting 2x a week... Good luck. |
Dave_Darling |
Jun 24 2006, 09:52 AM
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#12
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,986 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
The 2 11mm nuts spin loose enough that I could do it by hand. Uh, you do realize that the point of having two of them is so you can tighten the "rear" one against the "front" one, right? That tends to lock them in place pretty solidly, so they cannot back themselves off. If you omitted this step, then there's a very very good chance that the adustment nuts simply started unscrewing themselves. --DD |
Red-Beard |
Jun 24 2006, 10:23 AM
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#13
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"Ya canna change the laws of Physics" Group: Benefactors Posts: 1,124 Joined: 11-February 03 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 288 Region Association: None |
I would replace the clutch cable now. Clutch tube failure is usually sudden. A lot of times, if you are re-adjusting the clutch often, it means the cable is stretching. This happens just before it breaks.
The Terry cable is better, but requires the use of a spacer or extending the threading. |
Cap'n Krusty |
Jun 24 2006, 10:44 AM
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#14
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Cap'n Krusty Group: Members Posts: 10,794 Joined: 24-June 04 From: Santa Maria, CA Member No.: 2,246 Region Association: Central California |
13 replies, and only Z and DDD got it right. Don't you people READ the questions? More bad info for the archives.
The Cap'n, shaking his head in dismay |
Bleyseng |
Jun 24 2006, 10:57 AM
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#15
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Aircooled Baby! Group: Members Posts: 13,034 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Seattle, Washington (for now) Member No.: 24 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
The 2 11mm nuts spin loose enough that I could do it by hand. Uh, you do realize that the point of having two of them is so you can tighten the "rear" one against the "front" one, right? That tends to lock them in place pretty solidly, so they cannot back themselves off. If you omitted this step, then there's a very very good chance that the adustment nuts simply started unscrewing themselves. --DD (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) |
iamchappy |
Jun 24 2006, 11:19 AM
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#16
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It all happens so fast! Group: Members Posts: 4,893 Joined: 5-November 03 From: minnetonka, mn Member No.: 1,315 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Bill we have both seen the underside of Dans car so I highly doubt the tube is rusted or cracked, remember I did a little adjusting to it before it left Mpls. I may have not backed up the nuts tightly against each other.
Dan I think your situation is the nuts not tight against each other. |
bob91403 |
Jun 24 2006, 11:55 AM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 618 Joined: 15-September 04 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 2,763 |
Loose nuts? Sounds like his car needs a jock strap. If it has a bra, he's driving a transvestite. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
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BigDBass |
Jun 24 2006, 12:59 PM
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#18
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Dumb Question Champion Group: Members Posts: 1,438 Joined: 11-January 06 From: Chicago (south 'burbs) Member No.: 5,405 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Thanks for all responses.
I am pretty confident that it was a case of loose nuts. (No bra or jockstrap for me please! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ) When I readjusted the clutch cable last night, I paid close attention to the manner in which I tightened them, and I think/hope they'll be ok now. The reason I asked about the clutch tube reasons was the same thing Chappy pointed out. This is a relatively low mileage car (55k) and most of the problems I'm having seem to be related to it having sat, rather than rust or excessive wear and tear, so I would be surprised if the clutch tube was the culprit. I appreciate all the suggestions of other things to consider, so I am more educated about what to watch out for relating to the clutch system. |
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