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Clutch Problems


alanrichey

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Having thrashed the car a bit over the last 2 weeks (Huntingdon, Kimbolton and numerous mini-runs so well over 250 miles) I am finding that after an hour or so I have great difficulty selecting the gears. When I press the pedal I feel a resistance when the pedal is about an inch off the floor and I cannot select a gear. If I press really hard then the pedal goes to the floor and then I can change gear.

 

I am assuming that this excessively hot weather is causing the engine bay to heat up a lot more than normal and the clutch cable is stretching with the heat (Although the cable is routed through the exhaust outlet I have cable ties that ensures it is well clear of the pipes). So I have tightened up the cable so that the bite point is higher than it was previously. Taking her out for another couple of hours tomorrow so I will see if it helps, although the air temperature has now dropped to something a bit nearer normal, so I might not notice.

 

However, a couple of questions:

 

1. Is this a sign the cable is getting old ? It has been in for almost 5 years and unlike most Superspec cables it hasn't snapped :) So should I be thinking of replacing it ?

 

2. I can't see how the cable would cause the restriction so I am wondering if the clutch release bearing is sticking. We know the engineering of the Superspec clutch release arm and bearing was a bit suspect, so I am wondering if the extra heat the clutch is now experiencing could cause the symptom.

 

Any thoughts ?

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Just a thought. I had problems with alignment of my clutch cable in the pedal box. The outer cable was fixed at 90deg to the front wall of the box but the inner cable bent up at an angle inside the box to align with the clutch pedal fixing. Not only was the angle causing roughness and fraying, but it was causing the plastic inner lining of the cable to be pulled out causing extra resistance.

 

When I changed the angle of the outer cable fixing to match the the alignment of the inner cable, it became a lot smoother.

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I've had many woes like this, does sound like the cable. Get it routed away from the exhaust. Don't know if they fit the mt75 but the sierra (auto adjust) or escort (manual adjust) cosworth cables fit the t9.

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Replace the cable with a good quality one(ask Derek why) and check its routing and alignment, I doubt it would be the bearing.

 

I bought one from EBay and having replaced the broken cable the clutch jammed solid.

 

Thought I must have damaged something in the clutch itself, engine out ; no problem found.

 

Turned out the new cable would move freely until the outer was put under pressure and then the cable jammed.

 

Called the supplier who gave me my money back, no apology just "we have had problems with our supplier".

 

Was not a happy bunny for several days!!! Ask Kerry!!!!!

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+1 for wearing clutch cable at the pedal end (biting into the nylon bush). If you want it, when I had to replace mine, I somehow managed to find out the Fiat part number (ducato cable). I'll have a look when I'm home.

-steve

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It's OK, I already have a spare and they are all over E-Bay. Having wound it up a bit she behaved flawlessly today during 2 x 1hr drives. But then again the engine bay didn't get as hot today as it was previously. I will probably change it anyway as a precaution, it is 5 yrs old.

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Mine is a pinto/type 9 but i really noticed that when cold the cable had enough pull but after driving it it would just clip reverse sometimes to the point of having to stop the engine engage reverse and starting up again.

 

I've just switched to the cosworth longer cable and couldn't get enough pull so had to enlarge the diameter of the clutch quadrant and also there was a squidgy rubber part which i switched for a solid piece which makes it a much more positive feel not sure if the ducato one has similar but would prob be worth switching it out.

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No, unfortunately we don't have anything clever like the Sierra quadrant. The only adjustment we have is the nut on the threaded end where it goes through the clutch release arm. The Superspec clutch has always been heavy, and the fact that the cable is over 6ft long probably doesn't help.

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