70 clutch problem (deja vu all over again)

[campbellcj]

Hohum, another problem with the bizzare 70 clutch setup...aren't I like the 3rd or 4th one this month?

Well, I *finally* got around to digging into the clutch problem on my 70E (901 5spd trans, early "pull" clutch). Quite a few weeks ago, the clutch pretty suddenly lost almost all free play, i.e., the pedal was close to the floor and there was no usable clutch release motion left.

I was convinced that the infamous "roll pin" had broken -- again -- having had this happen a couple times in the past. But I didn't hear/feel a "pop" like I did last time that broke.

Turns out that, somehow, it seems like I just lost cable adjustment, i.e. gained a bunch of slack in the cable. Really weird. The motor & trans mounts are quite new (doesn't mean they didn't break I suppose), the cable seems OK, the pedal box seems OK, the pedal-end clevis thingie is the metal kind and is OK too. The clutch itself isn't brand new but was replaced in 97-ish, and I drive very low miles so it should have lots of life left on it. I haven't checked my papers, but I figure it's got 25K on it at the absolute most; maybe more like 15K.

After I adjusted the cable free play (at the trans end), the car seemed to drive as it did before the weird problem. No grinding in 1st or reverse.

Any thoughts on what could cause the clutch to suddenly lose several turns worth of free play adjustment? Did my cable stretch, or maybe a bent release fork? Could it be the trans mounts?

I am puzzled, but very relieved that *hopefully* it's just a linkage thing and not the clutch itself! Any tips greatly appreciated!

Cheers,


------------------
Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

[Don in Redondo]

Hi Chris, my bet is that the release fork pivot bushing has disintegreted and you were able to take up the material difference of the space that the bushing accounted for, with the adjustment of the cable adjuster. You may now be running a metal to metal contact between the fork and pivot, this probably wont be a big deal over the short haul, but over time will deform the bushing bore and pivot, I would think. So you probably want to get it fixed before any deformation occurs.