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Clutch wing nut backing off
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etrain
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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 11:07 am    Post subject: Clutch wing nut backing off Reply with quote

On my 67 beetle, I seem to have to tighten the wing nut on the clutch every weekend to get it to shift nicely. A 1/4 turn does it nicely on Sunday, but by Wednesday, shifting is difficult again. There is plenty of thread left and it appears the wing nut backs off spontaneously. Has anyone seen this issue before or is my imagination working overtime?
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67rustavenger
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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 11:31 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch wing nut backing off Reply with quote

Are you putting a pair of vicegrips in the metal sleeve of the threaded portion of the cable when adjusting the wing nut?

If not. Likely what's happening is that the cable is getting wound up when your adjusting the wing nut. Then as the week progresses. The cable unwinds, causing the clutch to go out of adjustment.

FWIW. I think I adjusted my clutch cable on my 67 2 times in the three years I have owned it.
Just sayin!

Good Luck.
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Cusser
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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 11:44 am    Post subject: Re: Clutch wing nut backing off Reply with quote

Or your clutch cable is stretching, on its way to breakage.
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EVfun Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 12:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch wing nut backing off Reply with quote

Or perhaps someone put an older clutch release arm on the transaxle. The older cars used a nut and a jam nut to hold adjustment. The seat was a round shape for the angular change. When the wingnut was introduced it had an oval shaped rounded seat and the clutch release arm had the same shape hole to keep the wingnut from backing off while allowing the needed angular change.
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 1:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch wing nut backing off Reply with quote

There are nubs and digits between the wing nut and operating arm, to keep it in place. If the nubs are worn, or if someone has put a washer there, that feature is lost.

Ditto on the vice grip hint. Also, grip the case sheathing, not the cable itself.
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Eric&Barb
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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 4:13 pm    Post subject: Re: Clutch wing nut backing off Reply with quote

Are you adjusting the cable for exactly the proper amount of pedal play???

Which clutch arm does the rear of the cable pass thru?? Early has a round shape to it and later that uses the wing nut has a diamond shape.
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