Hydraulic clutch issues. Should I go with a cable?

[JJozwiak]

I currently have a hydraulic clutch system. It has worked great up until the seals have gone bad I believe I must have pushed it too hard over memorial weekend cause fluid is showing at the clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder. On my last riding day I had to fill the fluid reservoir three times to keep going.( Good thing I had fluid on me ) well anyway I have a Neal pedal system and Cnc slave. Yes I do know they r basically the same and parts are interchangeable. My question is I have pulled them apart and the seals all look brand new. I don't know if I should buy the rebuild kits and take the chance on this happening again or go with a clutch cable instead! What are your thoughts? I have an extra morse throttle cable, would that be strong enough for the clutch? Thanks for your time all!

[Dale M.]

Sort of depends if you have a clutch cable TUBE in car... you do not say whether it's a Baja or a rail or what... Sort of hard to guess just what you need with out knowing application..

Clutch cables have always been efficient and well though of... Hydraulics are ok, but bring their own set if complications to the mix...

I am for cable whenever possible.... But I don't think the Morse throttle cable will be strong enough to stand up under loads of the application...

Dale
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1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.

All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[JJozwiak]

Thanks dale! Yeah I gues I didn't specify. It is a rail! It is a beerian shortback with a full cage welded around the motor and swing axle trans with a 1641 DP attached!
I have a bunch of stainless tubing laying around I could easily bend up a path for the cable just wondering if anybody has issues with cable. To me it would seem the only issue would be breaking or stretching!

[johnysnyd]

I have a rail, and I run a cable. They are simple, and as such they have less problems. The problem, however with a running a cable in a rail is that the length of a stock beetle clutch cable is probably not what you need. you could look around and see if anyone makes a custom cable, but what I did was go to your local Lowes or Home Depot or anywhere else that sells cable by the foot and buy everything that you need to make your own.

Here is a list of the components I used to make mine.

Cable (measure the length you will need, but I always get a couple of extra feet just in case)

2 eylets

4 cable clamps

1 turnbuckle

you basically use the eylets (one on each end with 2 cable clamps per end) to make the clutch cable to length and then use the turnbuckle as the adjuster. I think that my total cost was around ten bucks... I have been using this setup since last fall and I have had no problems with it
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[The Phil]

for length that you can buy by the foot I would check marine throttle cables. They are also much stronger then stock VW cables.
The cable itself is in a sealed lubed rubber housing, with bushings on both ends.
Check it out maybe.
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[Vanapplebomb]

Hey Johny, just out of curiosity, what diameter cable did you use? Any pictures? I am thinking about doing the same exact thing.

Oh, and for the record, I love the feel of the stock cable in the bug. Im sure a rail wouldn't be any different. You can tell a lot about your clutch by what you feel in your left foot. You just can't get the same feedback with a hydraulic set up.
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Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[Dale M.]

For any "cable" needs...

http://www.push-pull.com

Probably have custom cable made to length and also have a "sleeve" made for installation...

Dale
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Lives his life vicariously through his own self...
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.

All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[johnysnyd]

I don't remember off the top of my head what diameter I used, it seems like it was either 1/4" or 3/16" I'm at work right now, but I'll take some pictures later and post them.

Also, if you are going to be in the sand, I would recommend only using small sections of small tubing to guide the cable, Don't get a long section and go all the way from the front to the back. If you have a long tube, it will likely get clogged full of sand and you cable will stick and/or wear out faster.
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[Vanapplebomb]

Awesome, thanks a lot John. I'm excited to see what you came up with.
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Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[johnysnyd]

here are the pictures, I used the same tubing to run the clutch cable as i did the throttle cable. It is also a good idea to flare both ends of the tubing a little so that the cable can't catch on it at all. Also, as you can see, i didn't use the cable guide on the side of the transmission, as It would have made it so that my turnbuckle would not have fit








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[mrbajadude]

Like your idea of using a turnbuckle for clutch adjustment. Ya git an "atta boy" for that!

John
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[Ian]

I would recommend trying to design whatever solution it is you come up with to incorporate the stock bowden tube.
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[JJozwiak]

Oh wow sry I lost my Internet connection for a few days. Thanks for all the input and pics that helps out a lot. One more thing I have the hydraulic setup now, so what the best way to hook a cable to a Cnc clutch pedal that is currently hooked to the master cylinder? Pics would be appreciated!

[Vanapplebomb]

Thanks for posting the pictures John. Very cool. That gives me some good ideas to start with.

[JJozwiak]

[JJozwiak]

Not sure if this worked but If it did this is my fiancé and myself on memorial weekend getting ready for a night ride! Also I'm just trying to figure out how to post images!

[KopfenJager]

You can use a stock clutch cabe. Make three or four loops at the end where the threaded piece goes through the clutch arm and use those cable clamps and clamp the loop down s it won't pull out. problem solved, problem staying solved. I also recomend using a bowden tube also to eliminate clutch chatter.
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[donbarnes]

Since you already have hydraulic, I would stay hydraulic..Only thing is I don't buy the cheapo overpriced stuff from the vw websites, you can get Wilwood and other quality stuff from Speedway and Summit racing websites/catalogs that will bolt right up, with faster and cheaper shipping... I'm running Wilwood tall master cylinders ($49 each) with a slave cylinder from Speedway...

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/search-clutch-slave-cylinder.html

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Wilwood-High-Volume-Aluminum-Master-Cylinders,1379.html
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