Clutch issue

ecdez · Post by **ecdez** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:50 am

It's a 69 bus with a stock 1600.

I was sitting at a light one day with the bus in gear and the clutch in when there was a snap and no more clutch. I took it apart yesterday and both throwout bearing retainer springs were broken so I replaced them and still have the same symptoms. While it was apart, I looked at everything and saw no obvious problems.

Here's what it's doing.

With the engine off, it goes in each gear just fine.

If the engine is started with the tranny in N, it's very difficult to get in any gear.

If I put it in gear, press the clutch and start the motor, the bus inches forward a few with the clutch in, but other than that works fine in that gear. It extremely difficult to get it out of gear and near impossible to get into another.

This caused me tot ighten the clutch.

With the clutch tightened it's still very difficult to get into any gear while the engine is running, but if I press the clutch and start the motor, the bus still inches forward a few but when the pedal is let out it's almost all the way out before the clutch engages.

Any thoughts?

wildthings · Post by **wildthings** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:54 am

It could be that your clutch cable is only partially snapped, this will allow it to stretch a lot in use. Probably time for a new one anyway. You should also check your bourden tube. It may be falling apart.

Post by **Marc** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:18 pm

Also look at the Bowden tube bracket that bolts to the trans (watch it while a helper depresses the clutch).

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 6:34 pm

Sadly this happened to me once...

Replaced clutch and throw out bearing and installed new clips. Installed motor just fine... But no clutch action... WTF?

Take engine out and find that one of the new clips did not do its job properly and one side of the TO bearing was off its perch. Bent the new clips a little bit to add tightness and reinstall engine. No more issues.

Not sure this helps your particular situation, but it could be maybe.

... I suspect clutch cable.

ecdez · Post by **ecdez** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:06 am

Oddly enough, I never even considered the cable. I'll check it and the tube next. It's such a wierd combination of issues it almost has to be something stupid.

78kombi · Post by **78kombi** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:58 am

also check the holder at the end of the tube ( the part that anchors the tube end to the transmission) to see if it has slipped...
*edit, i think of this since one of the bolts on the holder on my bus is snapped off inside and i can only use one bolt!!!!