Clutch pedal sag

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
Post Reply
zachmac
Posts: 1278
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider [1979 2 ltr engine]
Location: Aiken, SC

Clutch pedal sag

Post by zachmac »

I swear I read through all 14 pages of clutch cable posts before asking this! My pedal (only had car few weeks) hangs lower than the brake or gas pedals. I did learn that my 1980 is NOT an auto adjuster from my reading! However, I fear that this is most likley a sign of the dreaded pedal fork failure? What I don't get is why the big pedal spring wouldn't still pull the pedal back to the full up position?

BTW, clutch works but you have to be very dilligent about FULLY depressing the pedal so adjsutment is probably also in order.
Jeff Klein, Aiken, SC
1980 FI Spider, Veridian with Tan (sold about a year ago), in the market for another project
1989 Spider, sold
2008 Mercedes SL65
2008 S600 Mercedes V12
User avatar
perthling
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:04 pm
Your car is a: 1974 124 Spider
Location: Western Australia

Re: Clutch pedal sag

Post by perthling »

If you adjust the nut at the gearbox end of the cable to tighten it you will most likely cure both ills - the additional pull from he cable when returning to engaged position will probably have the pedal at 'rest' past the 'sticking point' of the pedal return at present. At least, that's what mine did.
_______________________
Perthling
1974 Fiat 124 Spider (blade bumper 1756cc)
1974 Fiat 124 CC (same family since new)
1975 Fiat 124 CC (project)
1969 Fiat 124AC (project)
1997 Coupe Fiat 20VT (daily driver)
http://www.fiatlancia.org.au
adrians
Posts: 851
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:07 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider Turbo - missing the turbo
Location: Sydney - Australia

Re: Clutch pedal sag

Post by adrians »

Perthling,

Which way is tightening it , moving the nut forward or backwards along the thread ?
THE FLEET
2014 Abarth "SS"
1981 Spider 2000 (Legend Industries Turbo - minus the Turbo)
1978 X1/9 1.3 Dual IDF 40's, Coupe Cam, Allison Header/Exhaust
1971 128 Sedan 1100cc, Coupe Cam/Headers
Motokhana Special 127 rear engined Rail 903cc
mbouse

Re: Clutch pedal sag

Post by mbouse »

forward or backward are relative to which way you look at things. reduce the amout of cable/stud between the fork and the pedal, or lengthen the stud length behind the fork.

that mighty spring does not do near as much "return" on that pedal as you think. some folks don't even bother replacing it once it comes off the pedal.

do you have a spring on the other end of the cable?
Brian

Re: Clutch pedal sag

Post by Brian »

When my pedal failed, it wasn't like that. It was instantaneous and my foot and pedal slammed the firewall hard.
zachmac
Posts: 1278
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider [1979 2 ltr engine]
Location: Aiken, SC

Re: Clutch pedal sag

Post by zachmac »

And the winners are perthling and mbouse! No spring at the tranny and out of adjustment!

Thanks to both for the advice.
Jeff Klein, Aiken, SC
1980 FI Spider, Veridian with Tan (sold about a year ago), in the market for another project
1989 Spider, sold
2008 Mercedes SL65
2008 S600 Mercedes V12
mbouse

Re: Clutch pedal sag

Post by mbouse »

super... it is always nice to find the solutions that cost little to impliment.
Post Reply