Strange Clutch Pedal Travel when on ???

[DRACO A5OG]

While off, the clutch travel is nice and smooth.

When I turn her on, put into gear, and slowly lift off the clutch pedal, it will start to feel "SHAKY/Studdery" thru out the travel. When I press the pedal same thing it starts to studder down. I have no problems getting in to gears and she pulls in all gears very well.

Thinking it was my worn out needle bearings on my Clutch Helper arm to the Omega ring. I swapped to new ones.

It was the only component I did not replace but it needed it. The old bearings were rough and marred the new pin . Prior to changing the pin the old bearings were so bad it actually put grooves into the pin. I cleaned and re-packed it but still felt loose and rough.

So I swapped the bearings, no change.

Then I pulled out the Bentely Manual and I am now suspecting the upper/middle/lower bushing on the shaft with the fork or maybe the Thrust Bearings?.

Last year, I replaced the clutch, fork and trans re-build. I can't imagine the THrust Bearings not being replaced but the 3 bushings, if the wrench replaced the fork would he not also replace the bushings? I know don't assume

Anyone else have this symtpom from the pedal, and if so what did you find?

TIA,

Jim

[Flieger]

Hydraulic clutch, yes?

[DRACO A5OG]

Mines a 915 Cable Clutch.

So the G50 has shudder feel? Never noticed that on my buddy's 87???

[DRACO A5OG]

I posted this issue because I drove Joe Bob's 83 3.6 and his clutch felt smooth all 10 hours of driving down from Reno to OC.

Then when I jumped into my baby, "SHUDDER" at the clutch pedal

[crustychief]

Were the pressure plate bolts torqued to specs? I had that problem on a VW Rabbit. Also check the transmission mounts.

[E Sully]

Did you have the flywheel faced when you did the clutch?

[DRACO A5OG]

Flywheel, looked good to the wrench as he showed it to me before re-install.

I believe he torqued everything down to spec, he is pretty maticulous about that.

I chatted with him and will be bring it by his shop. Before checking it out he suspected Clutch Chatter or Wish Bone Spring ( Omega Spring ), but the spring is about 2 years old from PP.

Well, I will see how he feels about the chatter/binding feel.

[moneymanager]

Jim, I can't imagine that the bushings supporting the fork would ever wear out. They just don't get used enough to rate high as your culprit. Sounds to me like something is loose. Jim

[cjmurph]

Jim

I'm watching this post closely because the symptoms you describe resemble our clutch release from first as well.

You helped me with the clutch adjustment in a previous post. Thanks.

Given any thought to trans mounts?

Curt

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey Curt,

Well, I do have the Cabroilet Mounts but I had this symptom before the swap and it appeared to have gone away when I serviced my helper arm.

But when I drove Joe Bob's 3.6 I realized that it is not normal. In fact I just checked the pedal by hand, lubed it and when I turn her on, the pedal is definitely, sticky/binding/rough.

Will know in about an hour when I visit my wrench that did the trans and clutch work. Hope it is not major.

Will update.

Curt, check if she will do it in all gears, release the clutch slowly or at a stop. If only 1st it may be something else for you, maybe the band inside the trans???

MM, I hope that is all it is "something" loose

[john walker's workshop]

may well need a flywheel resurface if it actually shudders as you start off from a stop. usually, you just feel it in 1st.

[DRACO A5OG]

Thanks JW!

To be clear, while moving off of first she does not shudder or slip in any way. In fact she drives very smoothly.

It just the clutch pedal travel feel. During the travel she is very rough and shaky but has no effect on drive. It seems like a worn out bearing lacking lube. Simply rough.

I did not have a chance to go to my wrench to show him but will do on Monday and report.

While driving to PREH20's wedding temps got pretty hot with stop and go traffic on the freeway the clutch felt better but still a bit of residue stickiness.

Jim

[DRACO A5OG]

Well, I rebuilt my cluster with brass bushings, hoping this may cure the stickiness.

Nope, she is still sticky only on the pedal travel at the middle up or down. Very annoying!

I need to stop by the wrench and ask him to feel the pedal while she is on.

[DRACO A5OG]

Update: Had Tyson Schmidt, OC have a feel of the Clutch Pedal off and with her on:

OFF: He felt it may need a bit of adjustment and asked where it would engage. I stated in the middle but will check the settings, just incase.

ON: Tyson, turned her on and right away he felt what he termed as GRITTINESS, I said "yeah!, that is the word I was looking for!" it feels gritty, liken to sand/dust in a dirty bearing.

He felt it may be the Bowden Tube, but he checked below and it was fine. And we determined if it was that it would show binding when off as well.

Then he suspected possibly the flywheel or pressure plate may have been bent during installation, or even the Throw Out bearing and or T/O Guide maybe even the Pilot Bearing.

Bottomline, engine drop.

A Thousand Thanks TYSON!!!

OK, fellas, what is the easiest way to go about dropping both trans and engine or can I just drop engine and leave the trans so I can inspect the clutch area?

[motogman]

I had a very similar gritty/sticky feeling on my 81 SC when I got it. It was more in the action of the clutch mechanism that it was in the engagement of the drive train. I wanted to start out simple in tracking down the issue.

After checking out the pedal pivots which did not appear to be the problem I went to the trans end of the cable.

On mine it turned out to be lack of lubrication on the pivot for the large C shaped helper spring. The lubrication had gotten dry and dirty. A little bit of clean up and oil and a short drive and the clutch pedal was depressing smoothly and not giving the gritty sticky feel I was experiecing.

[DRACO A5OG]

MGM, Thanks for the post.

I wish mine was that simple, I did have that symptom as you described at the "C" or Omega spring. It would be gritty when off or on. That was an easy fix.

But my grittiness is only apparent when she is under load.

Jim

[RWebb]

drop both trans and engine as a unit - there are a thousand posts on how to do it

just have a friend help and have them keep a cell phone on them in case anything does go wrong

post what devices you have available- lift; m/c jack; floor jack; etc. etc.

[motogman]

Jim.. Bummer. I was hoping for your sake that it was as easy as mine was but it sounded like you had probably been through the easy stuff.

Good luck. The motor drop is not too big of a deal but there are lot's of things that can be done once it is out which can add up to lots of $$$s.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by RWebb

drop both trans and engine as a unit - there are a thousand posts on how to do it

+1 as one unit.

I use the write up from Bentley (double check with Haynes).

With the lift it was quite easy.

Its going back up next week-end.

Change pretty well every thing from the pedal bushing to the flywheel.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by motogman

... there are lot's of things that can be done once it is out which can add up to lots of $$$s.

Oh Yeah