Omega Spring Hell! Please check me on this.

[lespaul]

78' SC. I believe I have my Omega Spring and levers all set up correctly but it does not seem right. The Omega Spring does not seem to put any leverage on anything once attached to the clutch cable and wants to easily snap back in the relaxed position. Nothing seems to be preventing it from snapping back. Do I have something on upside down or backwards???

Here is a picture of my present set up. The only things not done are the hooking of the clutch cable end to the lever and an adjustment. My clutch pedal is on the floor. To me, the picture is a 100% reproduction of the picture of this set up on page 37 of 101 Projects so it seems like I have it set up correctly.




Help/Advise appreciated.

Brad

[Tim L]

looks correct to me. the clutch pressure plate will pull the Omega spring back to the relaxed position.

[lespaul]

Thanks Tim. I think I was expecting to see a lot more motion in the set up. Given that the cable throw should only be 25 mm, I realize now that I may be ok. But, I tell you -- cramped on the concrete floor under the car and trying to figure this out was driving me nuts last night.

I am going to set it all up again and see what happens.

[lespaul]

So do I understand correctly that the only travel the Omega Spring does upon engagement and release of the clutch is to open and close the tiny gap circled in red?

[DRACO A5OG]

The gap on the clutch arm appears to be too big. You need to insure it is 1.20MM ( tight when feeler is slid back and forth ), If the gap bolt is maxed in, then re-position the clutch arm.

Loosen the jam nut on the cable until you can put the cable onto the helper arm. Then tighten until you get 1.00MM ( again tight with the feeler gauge ). no more adjustments below.

Next measure the pedal throw, making adjustments at the floor board to 25.0MM +/- 0.5 below at the cable end

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by lespaul

So do I understand correctly that the only travel the Omega Spring does upon engagement and release of the clutch is to open and close the tiny gap circled in red?

No it does not close the gap there at all but actually pivots at the pin circled in your pic.

[lespaul]

Ahh, now I am seeing it. My sense it was not set up right was based on not having the small lever adjusted properly and the cable not attached. Once those are in place, I think the tendency of the Omega to go out of tension position will be resolved. Thanks Draco.

Also, now that you mention it, the 101 Projects picture that shows where to measure the 25 mm travel at the transmission is a bit unclear. Between what points is it best to measure that travel?

Thanks again.

[DRACO A5OG]

I like to measure at the end of the eye loop where the cable is bonded to and the end of the opening of the adjustment threads for the jam nuts. You need to pull back the rubber boot ( squeeze ).

You really need a helper to do this.

Take measurements and give her a test drive and measure again to insure it had not moved.

Also, it is just my OCD but I like to lower the engine so the motor mounts are in there proper resting position. I know I know a bit over kill but hell it could mean 1.00-0.50MM due to angle of the engine position.

[lespaul]

Thanks Draco. So all I am looking for is a point on the cable from which to measure the movement when someone else pushes the clutch pedal to the floor?

Also, can you explain what you mean about lowering the engine? My engine is in and locked down to the motor mounts.

Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks.

[DRACO A5OG]

Yes, really any point of reference will do just fine as long as you have a starting point and depressed end point to measure the difference i.e. 65.0MM at rest 40.0MM pedal pressed to stop = 25.0MM

Others will laugh at me but I was thinking about this. When we raise the car at the engine, you will see the motor mounts raised about 1/2inch off of the resting position of the mounts. So I deduced that must effect ever so slightly the angle of the motor/trans ergo stretch the cable ever so slightly. I figured it would not hurt to lower the engine until the mounts are close to where they would be when the car is on the ground. I know I am crazy but 1.00 MM in throw can make a big difference where the clutch engages IMHO but again I have OCD so you can ignore this. Sowwy.

Jim

[lespaul]

I get it and it makes sense. However, my car is sitting on jack stands under the torsion bar covers and the engine is also slightly supported with a floor jack, so I believe it is all nearly the way it would be on the road.

It sounds like the best time to do a clutch adjustment is to have the car on a standard lift or driven over a pit and get underneath with all four wheels on the ground.

[DRACO A5OG]

I would think so but what the hell do I know. That is why there is 0.50mm margin of error +/- = 1.00MM :-P I must have been German in my past life with Clint Eastwood Eyes >-)