Wife says Too Stiff!

[breadloafdeluxe]

Going to the N West next year in my camper. Doesn't bother me but wife thinks the clutch pedal is too stiff Gonna pull the motor to fix a leaky oil cooler anyway,is there a way to tell the pressure of a pressure plate to replace it? Or is there an adjustment I'm not aware off

THANKS!

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Give a man a fish and he knows where to get fish.Teach a man to fish and you loose a customer.

[71whitewesty]

I had Robbie of Airschooled come by this summer and we greased the clutch pedal shaft and replaced the worn Clevis pin and for good measure installed a new clutch cable and Bowden tube. It made a huge difference in clutch ease.
If you haven’t done any of those I’d suggest it. Took maybe an hour to do it.
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71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer"

[SGKent]

compare it to another bay? Does it return properly? If so then the cable is not binding. Check the freeplay and make sure her seat is adjusted properly. You do all the driving etc..
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[mikewire]

Too many jokes here...starting with the title of the thread
.
.

Adding to what the Gents above said...

I would start by replacing and lubing up the clutch cable and check the condition of the bowden tube.

You should also verify that the pedal end of the cable is installed correctly on the cable arm, there a right way and a wrong way (see the illustration below).

This isn't your issue, but there's one way to adjust the the length/throw of the cable by threading/moving the the wingnut on the end of the cable at the clutch linkage arm. No way to adjust the pressure plate.

If you dig into the clutch, you can clean up and put a light film of grease on the input shaft splines and make sure all the moving parts are moving as the should. Replace the throwout bearing too while you are in there.


(thanks to Robbie @ airschooled):

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-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[frenchroast]

Do you know the mileage on the pressure plate and bowden tube? Our '75 type II and 411 took very little pressure compared to the bugs and ghia. Usually the bowden tube needs replacing before the pressure plate in my experience.

P.s., if you plan to surf the PNW, bring the wet suit; the cold water is painful even in the summer.

[SGKent]

[mikewire]

[busdaddy]

A long release arm can also aid with stiffness problems

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559183&highlight=clutch+lever
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[breadloafdeluxe]

Almost titled "I have a stiffie" Thanks for all the input I've owned plenty of buses over the years. I'll follow the cable from the pedal to the wing nut forgot the bowden tube could shot. All works fine no throw-out noise this ones just a bit on the firm side , release/engage point about 1/2 through the travel.No I will not be takin a board to the N/W I dont surf in water less than 65deg. I'm old and fat. me in a wetsuit is not a pretty sight anymore

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Give a man a fish and he knows where to get fish.Teach a man to fish and you loose a customer.

[vwmaniaman]

The cable type wire can make a huge difference too. On my wifes Cabriolet, I had to replace the cable so I ordered 2 . The first one that came in had coarse wire and it was very difficult to push. She was complaining since she travelled 100 miles a day on her teaching job. I put the second one in that had many small fine wires in it. Was night and day about the pressure required. The fine wire is so easy that it is like the weight of your leg takes it to the floor. It is still working that way and has been in there about 10 years. So just try another brand of cable.
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Working on a VW is like fun with a friend!
65 Beetle
75 Westy "Pumpkin Van"
86 Westy "Brown Betty"
87 Cabrio