Clutch Problem, Adjustment Changes Options

[Bruce Hinds]

I reinstalled the engine after a rebuild and for some reason that I can't figure out the clutch seems to go out of adjustment when the car warms up.

I park it and let it cool, the clutch works just fine. Pedal play and everything is normal until it warms up again. Seems to be a bit more play but when warm I can't get first or reverse with grinding. Starting in gear with the clutch in, the car still moves.

How can this be?

[914Sixer]

Bushing tends to crumble under heat. I do not know personally but I have heard the new clutch cables are not what they used to be. Perhaps some stretching is starting to take place.

[Bruce Hinds]

Bushing tends to crumble under heat. I do not know personally but I have heard the new clutch cables are not what they used to be. Perhaps some stretching is starting to take place.

But here again, I go out the next day to do the adjustment and it's fine, shifts like butter. 10-15 miles down the road its "like" the cable stretched, but wait a few hours and it's fine.

The old cable didn't have too many miles on it but replaced it anyway. I got the one from 914 Rubber, made by GEMO. That doesn't appear to be the problem though,

[Superhawk996]

Bushing tends to crumble under heat. I do not know personally but I have heard the new clutch cables are not what they used to be. Perhaps some stretching is starting to take place.

But here again, I go out the next day to do the adjustment and it's fine, shifts like butter. 10-15 miles down the road its "like" the cable stretched, but wait a few hours and it's fine.

The old cable didn't have too many miles on it but replaced it anyway. I got the one from 914 Rubber, made by GEMO. That doesn't appear to be the problem though,

Sounds an awful like you’re right in the cusp of not having it adjusted tight enough. When clutch, pressure plate, and linkages and cable get warm it becomes no-go situation until things cool a bit.

Have you tried tightening the cable more?? There is a lot of room between just barely working (as you describe) and it being so tight that you’re preloading the throw out bearing, partially loading the the pressure plate and beginning to slip the clutch

The other thing is to make sure the stop bumper on the plywood floor board isn’t preventing you from getting full clutch pedal travel.

The other thing to consider is that shifting ease will change based on the temp of the gear oil in your trans. When oil gets hot, and things expand, the synchros become less effective. I’d tighten the cable more. If the issue continues and you’re convinced you have the linkage adjusted properly, it may be time to consider looking in the transaxle at synchros.

If it was perfect before the cable swap and then went to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) then focus on the cable adjustment and disregard the synchros.

[Bruce Hinds]

Bushing tends to crumble under heat. I do not know personally but I have heard the new clutch cables are not what they used to be. Perhaps some stretching is starting to take place.

But here again, I go out the next day to do the adjustment and it's fine, shifts like butter. 10-15 miles down the road its "like" the cable stretched, but wait a few hours and it's fine.

The old cable didn't have too many miles on it but replaced it anyway. I got the one from 914 Rubber, made by GEMO. That doesn't appear to be the problem though,

Sounds an awful like you’re right in the cusp of not having it adjusted tight enough. When clutch, pressure plate, and linkages and cable get warm it becomes no-go situation until things cool a bit.

Have you tried tightening the cable more?? There is a lot of room between just barely working (as you describe) and it being so tight that you’re preloading the throw out bearing, partially loading the the pressure plate and beginning to slip the clutch

The other thing is to make sure the stop bumper on the plywood floor board isn’t preventing you from getting full clutch pedal travel.

The other thing to consider is that shifting ease will change based on the temp of the gear oil in your trans. When oil gets hot, and things expand, the synchros become less effective. I’d tighten the cable more. If the issue continues and you’re convinced you have the linkage adjusted properly, it may be time to consider looking in the transaxle at synchros.

If it was perfect before the cable swap and then went to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) then focus on the cable adjustment and disregard the synchros.

It was perfect before the engine rebuild, BUT even though the tranny had a recent rebuild prior to being parked. It had been parked for 14 years in the garage. I'm embarrassed to admit, I've not changed the gear oil, my reasoning that warmer oil should shift easier not harder. I have adjusted the clutch tighter a few times, my next step is to change out the oil, almost afraid to see what comes out if that's the problem.