Clutch Cable Problems

[duke3282]

I rebuilt my transmission, replaced the clutch, clutch cable and all the springs this past winter. Then the car sat not being driven but four or five times. When I go to get in today, after having engaged and disengaged the clutch a couple times through my neighborhood, I come to a stop sign, engage the clutch, and then it makes kind of a cracking noise and the pedal goes to the floor. It appears that the screw that attaches the cable to the pedal lever got ripped out of the thing it screws into. I removed the cable back at the clutch, screwed it in another half to 3/4 inch and reattached it to the clutch arm. After that everything appeared to work fine, and It hasnt happened again. My question is whether anyone else has had a similar problem or if anyone has any idea what, how or why this happened. Also do you think that I fixed it permanently or is this going to happen again. I looked in there and nothing appeared to be broken. Any help or input would be appreciated

[no substitute]

Not sure what you're asking, or on what year. I believe most the 911s are the same though. End of cable is threaded, and screws into a fork device. There is a nut that holds the fork in position on the threads. The fork is held to the pedal assembly by a clevis clip. There is a tutorial here at Pelican parts.

[duke3282]

Sorry if I was veg. It is an 81. What happened is that the clutch was adjusted, and then it made a noise and the cable was loose so it was not adjusted properly. Screwing the cable in more appeared to fix the problem. What I think happened is that the cable was either caught on something and popped off, or the place where the casing of the back part of the cable fits into the car was not seated all the way and suddenly seated itslef. Does this sound like a reasonable hypothesis?

[no substitute]

It seems unlikely the threads on a new cable and fork would allow a sudden separation. I thought they had ripped apart, but apparently the cable just went somewhat slack. Yes, if the sleeve on the cable wasn't seated over the firewall tube it could have been your problem.

[Early_S_Man]

Duke,

Sounds like the Bowden tube [plastic-covered flexible tube the cable rides in between firewall and transaxle mount] wasn't properly seated in the 'dimple' at the firewall.

[duke3282]

Good, thats what I was hoping the problem was, I just wanted to get some confirmation that it sounded feasible. Thanks

[bigchillcar]

guess it sounds to me like the fitting at the clutch pedal simply worked itself loose over time. the adjustment of the cable is performed at the tranny end. if it was adjusted properly prior to this happening, it should still be within specs after reattaching cable at the pedal end.
ryan

[Gunter]

Warren said it.