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Thu Sep 17, 2020 5:14 pm

Hey y’all , I have a 67 bug that I’ve been restoring , rebuilt engine , has a new clutch , throwout bearing and clutch cable . I’ve made the proper bend in the Bowden tube , and the transmission worked fine before I began the tear down and rebuild . I’ve also replaced the bushing on the shift rod and bushings that connect to the trans under the rear backseat . When I press the clutch pedal down it makes a whining noise like it’s a bad throwout bearing as well as a scraping noise Almost like the cable is grinding on something , I’ve already dropped the motor and inspected everything but all the components seem fine , I’ve built several bugs in the past and have never ran into a problem like this , any suggestions I’d appreciate greatly! * also the shifter it self goes through all gears with no problem or slop, but even with the car off and me putting it in gear it still won’t launch if i crank it a little , Ive run out of ideas at this point :/

Thu Sep 17, 2020 6:05 pm

Bocho67 wrote: Hey y’all , I have a 67 bug that I’ve been restoring , rebuilt engine, has a new clutch , throwout bearing and clutch cable .

Let's start and assume that your "new clutch" includes a new pressure plate; your 1967 would use a 200mm pressure plate WITH the center ring, is yours like that? Did you grease the new cable well?

Anyway, with a new clutch and new throwout bearing, did you back off the clutch cable wingnut a lot (and grease everything) and then adjust the clutch cable wingnut AFTER the engine was installed to get the correct amount of free play at the pedal top ??? That's what I always do.

Thu Sep 17, 2020 6:42 pm

Yea I have adjusted the wing nut after the engine install , but still no gear engagement, also I did double check the throwout bearing and pressure plate are matching , still no engagement

Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:00 pm

Heinous and cruel, I know, but one way to help remove the cable from the equation is to park it on level ground, turned off, put it in first gear, and without touching the clutch pedal, turn it over. If the car lunges forward and you can shift from 1st to 2nd at about 700 RPMs and go- it's probably not clutch or T/O bearing issues.

At least you'll know your issue is likely from the bowden tube forward.