Heavy clutch pedal
Heavy clutch pedal
Hey guys i was hoping someone out there could help diagnose a problem. In my spider the clutch pedal is quite heavy to press down i know it is nothing to do with the spring, but i am wondering if perhaps there is something wrong at the clutch end of things the issue has become a real pita as i have broken a brand new clutch cable AHHH and had to drive home in 1st gear last night to the dismay of other motorists. In my coupe the clutch pedal is nice and light and is comparatively a dream to use. any help would be much appreciated thanks guys.
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- Posts: 3959
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
- Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
- Location: Naramata B.C.
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
When was the last time it was changed??
A couple of thing perhaps..... Make sure you have a really good ground from the engine to the body of the car, There is usually a heavy green ground from the bell housing to the body. Many will add another ground as well. If the ground is compromised (sounds like it), the ground goes through the clutch cable pooching it in short order. When this happens the cable travel can be taken up in the fire wall eventually causing the fire wall to fail, then you have a whole bunch of things to fix....
Change the cable asap and check the fire wall for any tears where the cable passes through.
A couple of thing perhaps..... Make sure you have a really good ground from the engine to the body of the car, There is usually a heavy green ground from the bell housing to the body. Many will add another ground as well. If the ground is compromised (sounds like it), the ground goes through the clutch cable pooching it in short order. When this happens the cable travel can be taken up in the fire wall eventually causing the fire wall to fail, then you have a whole bunch of things to fix....
Change the cable asap and check the fire wall for any tears where the cable passes through.
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
- focodave
- Patron 2018
- Posts: 704
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
- Location: Fort Collins, CO
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
Good advice from narfire.
If you check all of the things narfire has suggested, and it all looks good, you may only simply need to lubricate the cable.
It is easy to do if you get up under the dash with a can of WD-40 spray lubricant.
Use the little red extender tube on the nozzle of the spray head and direct the spray right into where the cable enters the cable housing.
The lube will go into the cable housing and will quickly run down into the cable innards.
Within minutes, you will feel the difference.
I did this on mine a week ago and it made a tremendous difference.
After lubricating the cable, it took half the force to depress the clutch.
If you check all of the things narfire has suggested, and it all looks good, you may only simply need to lubricate the cable.
It is easy to do if you get up under the dash with a can of WD-40 spray lubricant.
Use the little red extender tube on the nozzle of the spray head and direct the spray right into where the cable enters the cable housing.
The lube will go into the cable housing and will quickly run down into the cable innards.
Within minutes, you will feel the difference.
I did this on mine a week ago and it made a tremendous difference.
After lubricating the cable, it took half the force to depress the clutch.
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
thanks guys ill give lubrication a go when i get the new cable. the annoying thing is that the cable that broke has been in there less than 2 months i think it might also be due to the rhd conversion as well... anyway thanks for the suggestions ill give it all a go cheers
- divace73
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
Hi Jamesjamesrobert wrote:thanks guys ill give lubrication a go when i get the new cable. the annoying thing is that the cable that broke has been in there less than 2 months i think it might also be due to the rhd conversion as well... anyway thanks for the suggestions ill give it all a go cheers
Don't forget on our cars the clutch cable runs over the Exhaust (assuming you are driving a RHD car) and the lubricant inside dries out much quicker. I have to oil mine every so often when it get a bit tight. Once my clutch does need replacing I'm biting the bullet and going to a hydraulic conversion.
I know a guy in Sydney who have done the conversion on his car and it is really neat and the pedal has a much better feel to it.
Do both thing, ensure you earth wire is in place and lubricate the cable, also ensure the pedal fork is not twisted. It is common for these cars to crack the fire wall in these places. Sorting some bracing when the cable is off wouldn't go astray.
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
- fiasco
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
- Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
- Location: Ontario, CA
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
Is it possible to lubricate the cable in place, or do you take it out, lube it and reinstall?
Thanks,
-- se
Thanks,
-- se
Steve Eubanks
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1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
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1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
- divace73
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
unless there is one of those grease nipples installed, for me it's a takeout job, stand on something tall and slowly pour oil in, it is a bit tediousfiasco wrote:Is it possible to lubricate the cable in place, or do you take it out, lube it and reinstall?
Thanks,
-- se
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
Labor day, I drove my spider to Minneapolis at the behest of my daughter for pictures at her wedding, it's 400 miles from the home base. Anyway, since AI had duty as father of the bride I gave my nephew the keys to run errands for me. "Unk, there's something wrong with the clutch". I babied it home and when I got it to the barn there were 2 strings left on that cable! One more small town!! By the way the newlyweds looked GREAT in that Fiat.
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
So a bit of an update Uni has been getting in the way of car fun. I recently got a new clutch cable and i have decided not to install it until i have made a better method of connecting it to the pedal. In my car the clutch pedal has been modified so it is a pita to properly connect the cable. Essentially it uses a block connected to the pedal via a metal pin that slides through a hole drilled through part of the pedal which is not really working. This holidays i intend to rebuild my engine and if i have time my gearbox as well. Whilst i have the car in bits im going to try and sort the clutch pedal once and for all will keep everyone updated if they want. thanks for all the help
- divace73
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
if your box and engine are coming out, you may want to seriously consider the hydraulic option....jamesrobert wrote:So a bit of an update Uni has been getting in the way of car fun. I recently got a new clutch cable and i have decided not to install it until i have made a better method of connecting it to the pedal. In my car the clutch pedal has been modified so it is a pita to properly connect the cable. Essentially it uses a block connected to the pedal via a metal pin that slides through a hole drilled through part of the pedal which is not really working. This holidays i intend to rebuild my engine and if i have time my gearbox as well. Whilst i have the car in bits im going to try and sort the clutch pedal once and for all will keep everyone updated if they want. thanks for all the help
Something is seriously wrong for clutch cables to snap that often.
Where about's in Sydney are you located? If you not doing much on Sunday, myself and some other Fiat boys (including another spider) will be at the South Circuit at Eastern Creek for a track day.
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
Re: Heavy clutch pedal
1978 spider. Pulled the engine, installing new HP pistons! While doing the work decided to change out the clutch cable thinking it was bad because so heavy, mechanic agreed. When I got down under it isn't the cable at all, moves freely but the spring at the transmission seems very stiff and I think that is where most of the problem stems. The current configuration is about a 6 inch spring attached to the lever and the other end attached to a 3 inch link hooking to the transmission. Does that sound like a stock configuration? Has anyone found a good spring modification? psg