Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi everyone
As the subject of the post suggests, I have a question about the clutch of my Beetle. From the first day I drove it, I struggle to make a smooth gear shift. The problem isn't with pressing the clutch and shifting gears, but with depressing the clutch. No matter how I release the clutch, it doesn't go smoothly, but rather jerky, almost as if the clutch suddenly grabs. I have done a test by shifting, and depressing the clutch very quickly, but even then, it takes a split second longer for the clutch to grab properly.

Now, my question is: Is this the cable that is on its way to break, or do I need to lube up the cable again, OR will it help to adjust the bend of the bowden tube? As a bit of extra background, I add that I had this problem with the previous clutch disk too, which have been replaced a while ago. This then rules out any problems with the clutch disk, pressure plate, flywheel (which I had skimmed), or the release bearing.

So, how do I solve this problem, because I would like to drive like a normal person, not like some retard who bought his license on the street corner...

BTW, it can't be the way I drive, as this only happens to me in my Beetle... but no other cars.

CB this is what I suggest. Take a washer. I think a 12mm washer will do. Cut a slot in the washer and put it at one end of the Bowden Tube. Just that washer thickness helped on my buggy. The slot is to get it over the cable. If you understand what I mean.

Do you mean there is some "roughness" felt in the pedal travel or does the pedal travel itself feel smooth?

There could be one or more things wrong.
Process of elimination is your answer.
The pre 71 tranny's have a set of clips that hold the thrust bearing in place an tend to work loose due to worn mounting points and forces the bearing not to run true??
Check your 3 tranny mountings if any are shot they will cause shudder.
Your fork/cross shaf could be bent and or bushes shot.
Tube/sleeve in the tunnel rusted and cable has cut thru the tube in the tunnel. or the tube has broken away from the tunnel at the pedal end.
You need to do a search, release the cable at the pedals and tranny, get someone to help and check that the cable moves freely in the tube.
next will be the pedal and lube everyting while in there with Q20, then move to the tranny and check that the return spring is attached to the fork arm, it' important.
Make sure that the fork/arm moves freely, bushes may need replacing.
these steps should find your problem.
If the tube/sleeve in the tunnel is shot, then you have some serious work to get is repaired.

Right. I think I have found the problem... firstly, I think by replacing the Bowden tube, I will solve all my possible problems there can be between the clutch pedal and the gearbox, but for now, I have just removed the clutch cable and lubed it up nicely again... but there was some very tough, sticky black stuff on the cable where it came out of the Bowden tube, which I cleaned off, and now the clutch feels MUCH better...

Although by fixing one problem, I have created a new one. As I was busy removing the c-clip on the pedal assembly holding the arm to which the accelerator cable connects, I accidentally broke the clip. Where am I going to find such a clip? Will local motor part stores have similar clips?

BTW, thanks for all the suggestions to fix the clutch problem...

Andre

More Likely an engineering supply company.

Cyberbeast wrote:there was some very tough, sticky black stuff on the cable where it came out of the Bowden tube, which I cleaned off, and now the clutch feels MUCH better...

Amazing...

LOL. Funny, Pine.

Anyways, rather than going to an engineering supply company, won't it easier to just drill a small in the area where the clip should go, and just put some sort of pin through there, just to hold that lever in place nicely?

Well, that was an idea, but I eventually got a new clip to hold that arm onto the shaft. Just for those of you ever looking for a clip like that, it is just a normal c-clip, which can be found at any hardware store... just need to know the "more-or-less" size.

Andre