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Heavy clutch tintop?!?
tegwin - 20/12/07 at 12:54 PM

I have a cable opperated clutch in my tintop and its getting exceedingly heavy to opperate, and causes me a lot of pain on long journeys and in traffic....

I have replaced the clutch cable and have it tensioned correctly... But the clutch is still heavy...

What else might explain why the clutch is so heavy? Other polos of the same feel much lighter...

I was contemplating replacing the clutch and release bearing, but if this is not going to resolve the issue then its an expensive thing to do for nothing...

[Edited on 20/12/07 by tegwin]


TGR-ECOSSE - 20/12/07 at 01:11 PM

Don't know what car you have but in my expreience with peugeots when the pedal gets heavy in means you need a new clutch. The clue is normaly the cable end snaps under the strain.
Ronnie


britishtrident - 20/12/07 at 02:22 PM

It would help a lot if you told us what vehicle ---for example Rover PG1 & PG2 gearboxes suffer from the clutch fork cross shaft seizing in its bearings -- easy to fix.

Real Minis suffer from bent clutch forks.




[Edited on 20/12/07 by britishtrident]


bonzoronnie - 20/12/07 at 02:47 PM

Although I am not over familiar with the VW Polo cluch mechanism. It's looking odds on that that either the clutch relase bearing is begining to sieze (Running dry) on the input shaft or the clutch fork is partially siezed in the bell housing.

Ronnie

[Edited on 20/12/07 by bonzoronnie]


pewe - 20/12/07 at 02:55 PM

Polos of a certain age (sounds a bit like women of a certain age) suffer from crud in the release bearing area (don't even go there!) which makes it sticky/heavy. If you do replace the clutch and bearing important not to apply any lube to the first motion shaft as that can lead to premature crudding up.
BOL - nice little Christmas job!
Cheers, Pewe


MikeRJ - 20/12/07 at 03:01 PM

Most clutches get heavier as they wear due to the way that diaphragm springs work.


James - 20/12/07 at 03:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Dragon-Performance-Eu
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
It would help a lot if you told us what vehicle



Erm this quote taken from the original poster might give you a clue.. too much mulled wine perchance


quote:

Other polos of the same feel much lighter...



[Edited on 20/12/07 by Dragon-Performance-Eu]



Dragon,

I guess you didn't notice that Tegwin has edited his post....

Presumably this was after BritishTrident posted his comment!

Too much mulled wine perchance?



Cheers,
James


Danozeman - 20/12/07 at 04:25 PM

quote:

It's looking odds on that that either the cluch relase bearing is begining to sieze (Running dry) on the input shaft or the clutch fork is partially siezed in the bell housing.



They are quite common things. Can u get to the release fork shaft? If so try dribbling some oil onto the bush and shaft and work it in. Might cure it.. If not its gonna be box out i reckon.


Peteff - 20/12/07 at 06:33 PM

I had to remove the box to release the arm in an old Escort I had years ago so I changed the clutch while I was doing it. It was making the clutch slip by not returning fully sometimes.


adithorp - 20/12/07 at 08:43 PM

Is the presure the same pushing down and releasing. If its the fork pivot or release sticking then it'll take more presure to move it down but be lighter returning in most cases. The other cause of this is grooves worn in the fingers (as is a worn cable but you've eliminated that). If its the clutch (leverage loss as it wears) then it'll push back as hard; be hard to hold half way down. Not fool proof but either way I think the box is coming out.

adrian


Marcus - 21/12/07 at 12:44 PM

quote:

It would help a lot if you told us what vehicle ---for example Rover PG1 & PG2 gearboxes suffer from the clutch fork cross shaft seizing in its bearings -- easy to fix.



Not quite so easy if the 'box is in a TF!!!
(guess how i know )