Need Help Replacing Clutch Helper Spring

CarreraS2 · 08-08-2003, 09:05 AM

I'm replacing the clutch helper spring. Read the Tech article on PP and have Bentley.

I'm having trouble removing the main arm assembly (the long piece that the helper spring is attached to). I removed the circlip and the small arm, no problem, just comes off.

But, the Tech article and Bentley both say that the main arm assembly should also just slide off. Mine won't slide off, and appears to me to be held on by a retaining pin. The arm moves freely on the shaft, and moves up and down about 1mm, but it seems like the pin is holding it in.

Here's a pic of the pin I'm talking about (top center of pic):

I assume I need to drive the pin out, and that there must be 2 different types of arms (some cars held in by pin, some not). But I'm not 100% sure, since the Tech article and Bentley don't say anything about the pin. I also gave the pin a few light taps with a punch, and it seems pretty tight. I don't want to just start banging it.

So, what's the deal??

Finally, I'm doing a new cable, too. This is the correct routing, right?

CarreraS2 · 08-08-2003, 09:07 AM

Oh, another thing. The tech article says to cut the old spring off to remove it. Is there a more elegant way of getting the thing off?

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

That's about the cleanest SC tranny I've ever seen!

Sorry, can't answer your question.

Jdub · 09:29 AM

The 1978 version includes a pin about midlength up that you must remove to release the arm from the trans. This is only covered in the Haynes manual believe it or not...put a note in your Bentley about this (I already contacted Bentley about this errata).

Cutting the sheaves of the spring is the best way. It means you don't have to bang on anything. You can hacksaw the sheathes and then do the bend and back repeatedly to break the last sheath from the body.

John

CarreraS2 · 08-08-2003, 09:39 AM

The pin is the one in my pic, right?

It seems pretty tight. I guess the only way to get it out is to bang it out with a punch and hammer? I just don't want to damage anything.

Jdub · 08-08-2003, 09:43 AM

Yes, you have it spot on. If you don't own a set of pin tools I'd purchase them now at Sears.

It does seem tight, and I went through this exact thing, scratching my head and wondering why the heck the item didn't just slide right off as all the manuals told me (except Haynes as noted in reply above).

Put the pin tool to the pin head, either side, and give it a whack. If you met resistance, maybe spray a bit of silicone-based release agent like PB Blaster and try again. Also juggle the arm up and down to be sure the midbody of the pin is not hanging up on the shaft (very, very unlikely).

Give it a good whack. It'll come out and it is supposed to.

Best of luck,
John

Groesbeck Hurricane · 08-08-2003, 01:16 PM

Brian,

Do you have the spring off the car? If not, use a pry bar against the exhaust pipe to push the spring towards the front of the vehicle. The small arm should be removed. Keep ALL body parts out of the way as the spring is under great stress and pops when you relieve the stress in this fashion. The spring will then fall off the car. Make sure you have on gloves and wear protective goggles!

c2 rower · 08-08-2003, 03:39 PM

That is one friggin' clean tranny! Do you drive the car?

mr.bch · 08-08-2003, 04:38 PM

The whole dand car (from what I can see in the pic) looks as clean as the tranny. Do you park above a steam vent every night?

CarreraS2 · 08-08-2003, 04:54 PM

Yeah, I got it finished.

It was like John said - the pin (see pic above) has to be removed to get the main arm off.

Kind of a pain. That pin was REALLY in there. From the fact that the ends of the pin were unscratched (and from my service records), I'd guess the helper spring was original, if that is possible.

My clutch action is better. Not a night and day difference, but better.

No, I don't drive the car very much. For the last few years, its been around 300 miles a year, at most.