308QV Clutch Pedal Travel Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Edit Profile

FerrariChat.com » Technical Q&A » 308QV Clutch Pedal Travel « Previous Next »

Author Message
steve wilcox (Stevew)
New member
Username: Stevew

Post Number: 33
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 7:04 am:   

Verell

Thanks for the the info.The procedure is pretty much how I thought it would be.

I've not had chance to adjust the clutch yet,where I live in the UK the gritters have been out so the 308 stays in its Carcoon.

Thanks again Steve

Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell

Post Number: 1287
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:29 pm:   

I suspect the following procedure would get the job done:
(I'm doing this from memory, so comments are welcome)

CLUTCH CABLE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE
----------------------------------
- Adjust pedal to the proper height using the clutch adj procedure.
- Disconnect both ends of the old cable
- Trim any loose wires off of the pedal end of the old cable, degrease it, & tape a long piece of wire, nylon cord, or a small diameter fish tape to the end.
- Pull the old cable out the back of the car.
- Attach the new cable to the wire/fish tape/cord
- Pull new cable thru
- Attach rear end of cable to clutch linkage.
- Remove wire/fish tape
- While holding pedal at same height as brake pedal,Attach new cable to pedal (A cut to length wooden block under pedal would be a good idea.)

- Re-adjust clutch linkage as necessary
steve wilcox (Stevew)
New member
Username: Stevew

Post Number: 32
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 7:40 am:   

Verell

I have checked the archives,and can't seem to find anything related to this.I've tried a few different searches,all with negative results.

It would be nice to find out the procedure for future reference.

regards Steve
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell

Post Number: 1276
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 8:14 pm:   

I'm pretty sure there are 2 or 3 posts on clutch cable changes in the Tech Q&A Archives.

If you come across them, post the URLs here for future reference.

steve wilcox (Stevew)
New member
Username: Stevew

Post Number: 31
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 4:49 pm:   

Verell,John,Phil

Thanks for the input guys,

There are no signs that the cable is stretching or fraying,it feels smooth not notchy.I think as Verell sugests the cable has been badly adjusted in the past.I found that the throttle cable was poorly adjusted along with the mixture,and I only purchased the car about a month after it had had a full cambelt service at a Ferrari specialist.
I dropped a plum line from the centre of the top pivot bolt and measured from this using a template 42.5mm wide.

I'll get the car in my workshop in the next few days and adust the cable.

Out if interest does anyone know the procedure for changing the clutch cable.

Thanks again Steve
Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarifixer

Post Number: 246
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 7:36 am:   

It's possible that a poorly adjusted clutch may feel normal, but will "over throw". This deflects the diaphragm spring too far which weakens it, which promotes slip.

Check the picture in the owners handbook to clarify, or take it to your local friendly dealer/specialist and he'll point you in the right direction.
John Wise (Jwise)
Junior Member
Username: Jwise

Post Number: 71
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 6:31 pm:   

Verell is right about making sure you are looking at the right pivot points. Don't make the mistake I did and look at the wrong one (middle vertical) and think your clutch is way out of adjustment. Once we figured out we were looking at the wrong one, the adjustment went perfectly. This was when the clutch had just been replaced.

Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell

Post Number: 1262
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 4:43 pm:   

If the pedal position is off and the lever pin centerline is in position at ~42.5mm, then you can adjust the cable length to line the pedal up.

Just be sure you are lining the lever pin up on the pivot bolt's centerline.

Either the clutch cable was miss-adjusted at some point in the past, or else the clutch cable is stretching. Something to keep an eye on. Clutch cables won't start stretching until most of the strands are broken at some spot. So you could be facing imminent clutch cable failure.
steve wilcox (Stevew)
New member
Username: Stevew

Post Number: 30
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 3:50 pm:   

Sorry to drag this topic on,but I would like to clarify some points if I may.
I have just checked the adjustment on my 308QV and found the pedal to be about 10mm higher than the brake pedal(no gearchange problems,just routine check).I then checked the 45mm dimension on the lever,this was way out so I adusted the lever to give me 45mm.
I then checked the pedal,this was now about 25mm BELOW the brake pedal.
I have now adjusted the lever so the pedals are level but the lever dimension is now about 55mm,so therefore out of the tolerances given.
Again there is no gearchange issues and the clutch is biting at the correct point.
My question is this:-
Is there any reason why I cannot adjust the lever to the 45 mm dimension and then adjust the pedal height with the cable adjuster.

I'm sure that I am not the only person wondering this.

Cheers Steve (BTW car has done 33000 miles)
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell

Post Number: 1174
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 11:17 pm:   

BTW, the template was just a ~8" long strip of cardboard cut to 42.5mm width & held vertically.

Really helps to have 2 people to check the alignment, 1 to look verticly along the template to check the throwout lever pin's position, & the other to hold the template vertical & align it's edge with the reference bolt's centerline.

Now, where do John & I pick up our tickets to sunny FL?
Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarifixer

Post Number: 209
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 11:08 pm:   

To help clarify.....

308 QV's and 328's all DO NOT have freeplay. In fact, they have the opposite....preload.

Carb cars/GT4's have a helper assembly which goes over centre to provide a freeplay range and then assistance when pressing the pedal down.

The QV's have a spring on the pedal that actually pulls it down..like resting your foot on it. I know it sounds bad, but it is only a light spring.

As the clutch wears on a carb car, the freeplay diminishes, and without adjustment the clutch can be forced to have very high preload and/or slip much earlier than it otherwise would. On a QV, the pedal simply raises higher and higher, making driving awkward, but allowing larger errors in adjustment without causing clutch preload/slip.

It's important to adjust the lever and not the cable on both types. The cable should only ever need adjusting when replacing the clutch or skimming the flywheel or some other major clutch component alteration. Observing this means that there is always the correct leverage ratio and adjustment travel available....it makes a big difference to feel.

The lever has 11mm spanner size nuts, the cable is all 10mm.

Most 2v injections have the QV type, but some early ones slipped through the quality control filter with carb car helpers.

John Wise (Jwise)
Junior Member
Username: Jwise

Post Number: 67
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 9:03 am:   

Sure-
What time should I be at the airport?

Seriously- if you want to adjust it first from the description link posted earlier- that would be the first step. When you look at the clutch cable end- there is two adjusters. One is for the cable length- the other (with the lock nuts on both sides and the actual adjuster in the middle) is used for adjusting pedal height. If the pedal height is good and adjusted to specs, but the clutch release is still high- new clutch or worn flywheel is probably in the future. Unless the cable has streched, there should not be a reason to adjust the length of the cable. At least that's what I've been told. When replacing my clutch- the cable length adjuster was not touched- just the pedal height adjustment.

There is a dimension (40-45mm) you need to measure between pivot points on the clutch arm when the pedal is in the relaxed position. When Verell B. and I adjusted it, he just made a 45mm template because the points don't line up horizontally. Once you look at the book description, it's easier to understand.
Ken Sullender (Sulley)
Junior Member
Username: Sulley

Post Number: 92
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 3:31 pm:   

John, how do you feel about spending a weekend in sunny south florida?
Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Intermediate Member
Username: 91tr

Post Number: 2141
Registered: 1-2001
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 2:22 pm:   

Go here:

http://ferrari.jenkins.org/books/308QV_328_workshop.pdf

page 81 of 115

for the 308QV clutch linkage and pedal adjustments.
John Wise (Jwise)
Junior Member
Username: Jwise

Post Number: 66
Registered: 4-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 2:19 pm:   

You might be able to adjust that release down, but that doesn't change the fact that you have a 18 year old clutch with 30K. You don't want to push the limits of the clutch disk because you could damage the flywheel- very costly. Since your clutch is original- you should have plenty of material left on your flywheel for machining.
I did my clutch about a month ago and it's not a very tough job.

There's lots of info on this site to help with a clutch replacement. I could be done in a weekend as long as all the parts, tools, and shop materials are available. I would be glad to help any way I could.

The job was actually a lot of fun.
Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Intermediate Member
Username: Vwalfa4re

Post Number: 1310
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 2:11 pm:   

How do you adjust a clutch on these cars?
Ken Sullender (Sulley)
Junior Member
Username: Sulley

Post Number: 91
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 1:25 pm:   

It has 32,000 miles on it with original clutch. Sounds like we are talking about the same thing.
Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member
Username: Darolls

Post Number: 106
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 1:18 pm:   

Let the clutch out very slowly, and see if it doesn't actually start to engage at a lower position. The car should just start to move.

My clutch doesn't fully engage until it is almost at the full out position. I think we're talking about the same thing.

How many miles on the clutch?
Ken Sullender (Sulley)
Junior Member
Username: Sulley

Post Number: 90
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 12:30 pm:   

The clutch and brake pedal at rest are in very close position. What happens is after I depress the clutch pedal and I put it in gear, and when I release the clutch pedal it travels almost back to the 'at rest' position before the clutch engages. In other cars I've had the clutch would engage in a mid travel position of the pedal as opposed to the pedal almost being back to the 'at rest' position.

Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member
Username: Darolls

Post Number: 104
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 12:22 pm:   

As the clutch wears, the pedal becomes higher, allowing the clutch to engage higher in the pedal travel.

The clutch pedal height is adjustable. At rest, it should be at the same height as your brake pedal.

If it's higher than the brake pedal, adjust it.
Mitchell Le (Yelcab1)
Member
Username: Yelcab1

Post Number: 687
Registered: 11-2001
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 12:19 pm:   

that sounds more like excessive freeplay to me. Which means:

1. your clutch is almost worn out
2. Your flywheel is too thin
3. your clutch cable needs serious adjustment

one or all of the above is true.
Jerry Fisher (Emtrey)
New member
Username: Emtrey

Post Number: 46
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 12:05 pm:   

Don't quite understand what you are asking?
If the clutch requires pushing all the way
in for engagement, that is not unusual> My 77GTB
has always been like that. However, if you clutch
has no "free play" get it in ASAP and get it fixed. Limited freeplay/Ferraris will guarantee
a new clutch sooner than you want.
Ken Sullender (Sulley)
Junior Member
Username: Sulley

Post Number: 89
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 11:45 am:   

This is my first Ferrari and I notice that the clutch engages when the clutch pedal is almost at the complete engaged position. I am use to the clutch engaging earlier in the pedal travel on other vehicles I've owned. Is this normal for this car? I searched the archives and couldn't find anything on this topic.

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration