Clutch pedal spring pulls wrong way . . . HELP!!! | FerrariChat
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Clutch pedal spring pulls wrong way . . . HELP!!!

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by luckydynes, Jul 26, 2006.

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  1. luckydynes

    luckydynes F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    3,931
    CA and OR
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    pit bull
    #1 luckydynes, Jul 26, 2006
    Hi all,

    So I've got my rebuilt engine and gearbox running . . . on the final couple hours before going for a test drive, or so I thought . . . . I go to hook up the clutch cable to the bell housing lever and can feel a load pulling against the cable . . . look under the dash and there's a spring pulling the clutch pedal to the floor in tension . . . in the parts book it looks like the anchor point is on the opposite side of the clutch pedal pivot shaft which would pull the pedal up instead of down . . . also looks like some kind of "upper stop" (maybe neutral safety switch) has been busted off . . . maybe this is where a second spring attached to pull the pedal up????

    What's missing here? . . . the clutch pedal shouldn't be resting on the throw out bearing . . . but I guess if the "up" stop has been broken off, hooking a spring to pull the pedal up isn't a quick fix either . . . maybe the other thing is to just hook a spring on the bell housing lever???

    Suggestions please!!!!

    Maybe I need to run her as she is for a couple of days if it's going to involve removing the pedal assy to re-attach some kind of "up" stop and return spring?

    Sean
     
  2. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,232
    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap
    #2 PAP 348, Jul 26, 2006
    Just wondering, was it ok before? Why would it have changed while you rebuilt the engine and gearbox? :)
     
  3. jwise

    jwise Formula Junior

    Apr 2, 2003
    781
    Portland Maine
    #3 jwise, Jul 26, 2006
    What you are seeing sounds correct. I don't know what car you are working on, but on my 308, if the clutch cable is disconnected, the pedal goes to the floor.
     
  4. luckydynes

    luckydynes F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
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    #4 luckydynes, Jul 26, 2006
    Thanks for responding . . . it's an '81 308 . . . this is how it was when I took it apart and the broken ear on the pedal assy got my attention.


    It just seemed a little strange that the spring direction on the clutch pedal puts a little pressure on the throwout bearing . . . kinda like resting your foot on the clutch pedal lightly . . . just seems like most cars that I've messed with had a spring pulling the pedal (or linkage) back removing all load on the throwout bearing????

    The way it is, seems like the throwout bearing would be spinning/lightly loaded the hole time the engine is running . . . I thought it actually got pulled back a little from the pressure plate . . . if this is how it is though, GREAT!!! . . . just didn't make sense . . .

    I hooked it all up and lifting the pedal up "removing' the weight while running. . . didn't seem to change any noise coming from the bell housing area . . . shifted through all the gears so I'm about ready for a drive.

    Sean
     
  5. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    #5 Steve Magnusson, Jul 26, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The early 308 had the non-contacting throw-out bearing design. After SN 32XXX they went to a continously contacting throw-out bearing design per this Service Bulletin (and a fair number of early 308 have probably been changed over).
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  6. luckydynes

    luckydynes F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
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    #6 luckydynes, Jul 27, 2006

    Thanks for the info!!!
     
  7. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
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    Verell Boaen
    #7 Verell, Jul 27, 2006
    One advantage of the continuous contact system is the clutch is very responsive. As soon as the pedal starts to moove, it's beginning to actuate the pressure plate.

    None of this nothing happens until the pedal is half-way to the floor...

    Down side is wear on the throwout bearing, and the little turnbuckle in the clutch linkage needs periodic(every few thou miles) adjustment to keep the spring from exerting too much pressure, and bring the pedal height down where it belongs.
     

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