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Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:29 pm

Hi all, our clutch tube is rotted and snapped in 2 places....is there a direct replacement we can buy somewhere?.....we were going to use a 5/8 brake line in its place. thanks in advance.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:27 pm

aircooled.net
mooreparts.com
pacificcustom.com
dans performance parts .com
Many places to buy.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:32 pm

You're saying your steel clutch tube that runs through your tunnel has rusted out in two places? That's some serious rust! I've never seen a replacement clutch tube offered for sale anywhere. To replace it would require cutting numerous access holes in the chassis. If the rust is bad enough to get to the clutch tube, I suspect you already have an abundance of access holes. This site describes how to re-anchor a tube.
http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqtube.htm

Seriously, having the clutch tube itself "snap" is uncommon. However they frequently break loose from their anchors, especially at the front and rear. Are you sure that isn't what happened on yours?

Are you possibly talking about the flexible clutch bowden tube, beside the transaxle? The ends of those break off fairly often.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:30 pm

Your clutch tube rusted through in two places? Has your tunnel been full of water due to outside storage? You may have much more serious rust problems needing inspection.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:00 am

You seem quite sure the tube is broken as you say "in two places". My question is how do you know? Do you already have access holes in the tunnel?

I just finished replacing my clutch cable; I *thought* the tube might be broken as I could not get the new cable through even though the old one pulled out easily. I was unable to visually check the condition of the tube as there was a lot of crud in the tunnel which I was not able to clean out.
In the end, however, I was able to clean out the tube enough to insert the new cable by driving the old cable with a drill and using it as a snake to clear the tube so try this first, it might work.

Also, if you have enough rust in the tunnel to damage the clutch tube, replace your gas line. It rusts out much easily than the clutch tube and fires are no fun.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:01 am

sorry....let me be more specific....the tube broke away from the bracket at the front beside the pedals.....near the back where it exits the tunnel it snapped in 2....this was probably due to a nick in the tube when the person we got the chassis from might have made when he did the shortening. I have tried to weld the 2 parts with my mig, but the tube is rusted to the point it blows threw.....we are at the point that replacing it is the only option. From what we have found, it is an odd ball size tube....I would love to know a place to get it and a part number. Thanks again.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:35 am

Find some tube that will slip over the original clutch tube at the break and make a splice. You might want to consider paying a pro to do the welding.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:41 pm

I had a similar situation with the chassis for my Ocelot, but it was the E-brake cable tubes that were in dire need of replacement.

An ad in the Samba classifieds got me some tubes from a bus within three days.

Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:14 am

All is well....we couldnt wait so we used the 5/8 brake line....we put a brace in the middle and the back as well as the weld on the front bracket....so far so good...its alittle stiff but not binding....we will know for sure once we take it on the street.