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Thread: Tight clutch on '68 911

  1. #1

    Tight clutch on '68 911

    I put a new TO bearing and tube in my 901 trans, didn't change anything else.

    Clutch is now "tight", meaning, engages at very top of pedal travel and I really had to fight to get the adjustment nuts on at the clutch fork. I also let the adjustment at the pedal out a bit, about halfway threaded into the pedal yoke.

    Car drives but clutch slips when I get on it a bit. Pedal is "tight" and there is no perceptable play.

    I was thinking either my clutch cable is too short or the bowden tube is somehow messed up, effectively shortening the cable.

    Everything worked OK with the old TO bearing and tube, well, except for the annoying grinding noises every time I pushed the pedal in.

    Anyone know WTF is going on here?

    Thanks!

  2. #2

    Tight clutch on '68 911

    One possibility is that when everything was slack the bowden tube came off its tube at the bulkhead. That would have the effect you're seeing.
    Early S Registry member #90
    R Gruppe member #138
    Fort Worth Tx.

  3. #3
    Ed, thanks for the tip. I checked and the bowden tube is seated on the firewall male piece. I have thought of two things now:

    1. I have the bowden tube improperly routed around all the bits. What is the proper routing? Over or under the rubber fuel line? Over or under the throttle bellcrank on the tranny?

    2. I have the improper clutch cable and or bowden tube, although this seems unlikely since the clutch engaged and felt fine prior to my replacing the TO bearing. My bowden tube is 21 3/4" long, is that the correct one for a SWB 901 application?

    Thanks and have a great memorial day everyone!

  4. #4

    clutch

    Though it is probably not related to your problem [unless someone shimmed it] I recommend putting a new ball pin in unless you know it has low miles. I had one break and now I make a point of using new ones.

  5. #5
    Could the tube be for a 915 which is longer?
    67 Normale, Old Rusty
    67 R Inspired and on a Diet
    73 T/ST Caged Beast
    RGruppe #383
    S Registry #739

  6. #6
    The ball pivot has a thick copper shim under it.

    Another thing, there is a white plastic sheath sticking out of the end of the bowden tube and into the tunnel tube. I think this is supposed to be inside the bowden tube.

    So...I am going to get a new bowden tube and clutch cable, install that, and see how it goes.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Fritter View Post
    The ball pivot has a thick copper shim under it.

    Another thing, there is a white plastic sheath sticking out of the end of the bowden tube and into the tunnel tube. I think this is supposed to be inside the bowden tube.

    So...I am going to get a new bowden tube and clutch cable, install that, and see how it goes.
    Mike,

    How was it working before you worked on it? This may be obvious: but if it was working OK before, then you have assembled something incorrectly. If it wasn't working OK, then you have to check everything mentioned. Good luck.

    -Allen-

  8. #8
    It worked "ok" before I put the new TO bearing and guide tube in. But the old guide tube and TO bearing were totally trashed, so that may have been compensating for wear in other parts. I am 99.9% positive I put it together right, not much to screw up on the early clutch assembly, but there is always a chance I guess....

    I don't think that plastic sheath is supposed to be sticking out of the end of the firewall side of the bowden tube, and the tube is pretty beat looking, so hopefully a new cable and bowden tube will do it.

    That bowden tube can really mess with your mind man.....

  9. #9

    Tight clutch on '68 911

    If the white cable sheathing has broken loose that will certainly not help things so the new cable will hopefully cure your problem, and for the reinstall the cable routes over the bell crank. Should come straight back from the bulkhead, doesn't wrap around any fuel lines. There should be a bracket off the side of the gear box that a fabric loop attached to to hold the bowden tube up.
    Early S Registry member #90
    R Gruppe member #138
    Fort Worth Tx.

  10. #10
    Thanks for the help guys. Can't wait to get this small clutch issue fixed, after that it's drive drive drive all summer.....

    Over the winter, I redid the underside of the car to the rear floorpan area, had carbs rebuilt, had cast iron distributor rebuilt, put new banana arm and torsion bushings in, new TO bearing and tube, and probably more I forgot.

    It drives tighter now, and without that TO bearing noise, I can really hear the intakes barking and the slight noise in the gearbox when going through the gears....

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