Clutch adjustment problem found and repaired

[crustychief]

I was a little unhappy with the way the clutch felt on my 79SC, so I adjusted it to Pcar specs. it was ok for about 50 miles then it was back to the old " disengage right at the floor" mode. Well , I thought, the adjustment didn't take due to a loose nut or something.. THE LOOSE NUT WAS ME! I thought about it for a while and checked the clutch throw, there was not enough again. well this is what I found..

[crustychief]

first picture is where the clutch pedal attaches to the shaft, the second is the clevis pin that holds the cable on. The third is a close up of the bell crank the clutch cable attaches to. and the fourth is the pedal assembly on my garage floor. complete with the broken spring.

[crustychief]

Here are some of the re-assembly .

[crustychief]

first is new throttle bushing, second is old throttle pivot bushings and new ones, third is of course the spring, fourth is the replacement clutch shaft. I ordered all the parts except the shaft from our host and am very happy at the speed of delivery and the cost. I didn't realize I needed the shaft until I took it apart. I found one here in San Diego at Black Forest.

[glewis80SC]

Great job, i just had to do the same on my 80sc. Installed a new cable and helper spring but it turned out to be my peddle assembly.

[crustychief]

I read a lot of grief about the spring on the clutch pedal itself being very difficult to install. I didn't have any problems with it, I just used a small door panel trim button tool and popped it right on.

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by crustychief

I read a lot of grief about the spring on the clutch pedal itself being very difficult to install. I didn't have any problems with it, I just used a small door panel trim button tool and popped it right on.

I used those hand-hook tools used to pull cowboy boots up onto your feet!

[afterburn 549]

I had the same problem last week...the brass or bronz bushings do not last long on the clutch arm...so I drilled and put in a bigger O/S from local hardware store. Drilled the clevis to fit a 1/4/pin. Made a pin that is 1/4 and welded it to the oem keeper tab. Installed 2 grease zerks in the pedel assy. Now I have a real smooth operation too.
These bushings do not las long W/O lubrication....limited TBO

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by crustychief

Crap! I forgot.

Crusty,
In my '83, this unit sheared off/broke where the hole exists. I would recommend replacing it (if in the remote chance you are not done yet!).

Search the archives......there are numerous threads about this unit failing.

[crustychief]

That is a new one in the last picture. The original one is in the top picture ( close-up) it was ready to let go anytime.

[ramonesfreak]

is there anyway to know if you have the condition shown in the first picture developing without taking the cluster apart?

[crustychief]

Not that I know of unless you have one of those fancy cameras they use to look.... I would guess no. But it really isn't difficult to remove the cluster, it takes about 15 minutes.

[afterburn 549]

Hmm...maybe, when your clutch release feels like it has lost that crisp doing something feeling.
I can guarantee this is going to be pretty much a problem for everyone as these parts are too small for the job in stock form esp if you went to a bigger clutch