Just driven the van from Dorking in Surrey to campsite near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, took the scenic route in Wales through the Brecon Beacons, stunning. Great drive but....the clutch was dragging and getting worse as the journey progressed. Got to the point where I can only get it into 1st or Reverse from a stop by turning the engine off, sticking it into gear with clutch down and then starting. Even then I could feel it dragging a little, with the van trying to inch forward. Changing gear on the move is okay,but much harder than normal. I 'think' it's been getting very gradually like this over a year or two but never been like this. So had a cup of tea and now taken a look at it and a bit confused. It seems like the wing nut needs tightening up to help engage the clutch more fully but it is already screwed in to it's maximum adjustment and there's no free play at all at the clutch as there should be. Bit odd. Is this a sign of the clutch needing replacement? In my rather tired state I would think that it would be slipping if worn out and yet this is the opposite? I have never adjusted the clutch before as it's always been good. One thought, the Bowden tube mounting broke 8 years ago on a holiday in Germany. I bodged it at at the time by attaching it with a jubilee clip and meant to sort it properly but my local vw guy doesn't do welding so I have never sorted it. But checked now and it's still fixed tight and the bend looks ok. Should I be adding some washers to the rear mount? Worried about making it tighter when there's no free play. I've attached some pics, including one of my shameful bodge! Am going to take a walk to the pub now but will look again tomorrow, any ideas? No rush but would be good to have a plan. Cheers guys and happy bank holiday! 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
Classic clutch cable-on-its-last-legs symptoms. Dunno what's happening with the jubilee clip botchery but it won't be helping... Tighten up the adjuster a few turns and cross everything Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
If there really is no free play but the clutch is dragging, something must be giving that shouldn't be. Get an assistant to operate while you observe.
Is it too obvious a question, but do you have a spare cable with you? Prob one of the 3 essentials but it's always something you haven't got How long are you in Tenby, could maybe get one delivered. It's not a difficult change to do with a basic tool kit..
Mine was one adjustment them bang it broke before I got another chance. I had a spare with me, no tools required. edit - might need tools to get your front pan off assuming you have one.
Had to make a clevis pin in New Orleans when our clutch fell to the floor on a busy intersection. That was a fun half hour on the central reservation! Carry a spare one of those as well now
As you have a jubilee clip doing the job of a welded bracket, is it slipping? You need a slight curve in the outer from the torsion tube to the bracket on the side of the gearbox, or the clutch may be difficult.
It's adjusted to its max already so thought about adding some washers on the Bowden tube to pack it out a bit. Will take a look in the morning when it's light and the blurry beer effect has worn off. 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
That's what seemed to be happening.... Wondered if there's something wrong with the clutch itself but will see in the morning. 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
Think I've for a spare, tucked away somewhere. Whether it's the right one is another question. 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
Wow, sounds like maybe I should do it. Got some spanners with me. Will see if I do actually have the cable. 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
It doesn't seem to be slipping when willing Mrs gives the pedal a shove, but I do agree that that is the most likely explanation. Guess it's time to find a welder and replace my cable.... 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
8 years isn't bad for a 20p jubilee, and it does seem rock solid plus still has the right curve on it, I think. But bodge is a bodge. 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
Replaced the cable and Bowden tube and all is now perfect. Ended up driving the 250 miles home first as didn't fancy doing in a field but that was okay, just avoided stopping and having to engage first! Strangely the old cable looked in perfect condition (other than very rusty screw thread so a PITA to remove) and seemed to be same length but clearly it was on the way out. I now have the easiest to operate gears I have had in 8 years of van ownership - thanks all! 1976 2.0 FI Westy Berlin Weekender with Riviera poptop
