I changed the clutch cable on my Golf Mk2 a few months back and thought that would do the job, but I am finding that the clutch is automatically adjusting itself - only it is not meant to as it's supposed to be a manual adjustment.
It is adjusted by turning a nut along a bolt to tighten or slacken the cable, but the nut seems to be making its own way along the bolt over a period of weeks (more like the bolt pulling itself back and the nut winding down along the bolt). Does anyone know if this means my clutch is on the way out?
I could try putting another nut on it to jam it in to place, but I am reluctant to even drive it now as the last time I had a problem with the clutch cable it snapped and I had to pay to have the car towed.
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franco
Vibration will indeed move the nut on the adjuster. As you say; fit a locknut to keep it in place.
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Cheers for that. Maybe that's why the cable came with 2 nuts on it - silly me. Anyway, I would hope the clutch would make some other fuss prior to it going completely.
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stick a dab of paint on the side of the thread where its undoing or some nail varnish if you cant find tother nut,this will stop it threading down the thread thread
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Are these lock nuts meant to be very hard to run along the thread?? I measured the non locking nut at 6mm internal diameter so bought an M6 lock nut, but it just won't go along the thread once the nylon bit becomes involved. Maybe this bit should be M7 or M8. Dumb question I know, but I'll have to keep ordering different sizes off ebay until I get the right one.
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franco
A Nyloc nut is designed to be tight; you'd have been better off with a plain nut.
If it takes a 10mm spanner, then it's a 6mm thread.
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Thanks for that. I'll just try the nail varnish trick then. Why don't I listen and do it the cheap way.
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and next time the cable breaks dont pay for a tow!
It is quite possible to drive without a clutch, it just takes a little pratice. Make sure the car is warmed up in neutral first, stop the engine, restart in first gear and drive away. Change gear by getting the revs almost correct, and ease the car between gears feeling it mesh correctly. It will also give the chance to practice thinking ahead, as the last thing you want to do is come to a halt.
Dont try it it in heavy traffic or rush hour and it is more sutied to cross countryt driving than urban, but still possible. I remember in my young days driving for a week like this while I sourced a secondhand clutch operating rod.
It may cause some long term problems if the starter motor or engine mounts are already knackered, but mk2 golf spares are cheap to come by.
Just get 2 plain nuts and lock them up tight. Nail varnish will work for a limited period so keep an eye the nut to may sure it is not moving. Altho I would expect a nyloc nut to probably outlast the car!
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pmh (was peter)
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Ha ha, good to hear your thoughts on that - and I thought my dad was clever when the accelerator cable snapped and he had me driving on the choke. I was in a bit of traffic and on a slight hill when the clutch cable snapped so was panacking like mad. Still, good to know these little tricks for future reference, although I hope not to be in the same situation.
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Nail varnish??Go to your local accessory shop/Halfords/B&Q/Screwfix and get some studlock.
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Also think about changing the cable as a service item,I've taken to renewing mine every year or so.only £8 and better than waiting for it to snap,they rarely give warning.
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Golf cables in particular seem to have a habit of going stiff (sticky). The trick is to take of at gearbox end and trickle very thin machine oil down the the inner cable. Then good for another year. Worked well on the 1998 Seat recently and transformed the driving experience. Probably because on rhd versions thaere is afarly tight bend in the cable.
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pmh (was peter)
Edited by pmh on 19/10/2007 at 11:12
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Tight bend!!-developed for LHD and forced into RHD.
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>>Tight bend!!-developed for LHD and forced into RHD.
Yes! Have you seen the 'quality' of the routing on some Renaults!
Typically, the clutch cables begin to wear through their plastic protection in the corners. Because this wear is a gradual process, most owners don't realise their clutch pedal is feeling heavier.
When Vauxhalls were predominantly cable operated, I used to report back to customers as part of a service road test if I thought the pedal was getting a bit stiff. Typically, this meant that most 4-5 year old cars were needing a new cable - they were both cheap and really easy o fit (once you had developed a knack for the spring retainer on the top of the clutch pedal)
Number_Cruncher
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