Re: Grabby Heavy clutch pedal - only with engine on

[Kevin Trent <trentkc@domain.elided>]

I had a similar problem that i could not figure out until I changed the 
oil, when I found  one of the crankshaft thrust washers hanging out the 
drain.  I stuck a finger up and found another.  The loss of the thrust 
washers allowed the crank to have significant fore and aft play.  When I 
would push in the clutch, the crank would visibly move forward (as observed 
at the front pulley) which affected the clutch's ability to release. 
Amazingly, the engine ran pretty well, with no obvious problems other than 
he clutch.  This produced really weird clutch symptoms.  Suggest 
you   monitor the crank while an assistant pushes in the clutch to diagnose 
this problem. Just one idea...

Kct, Powell, TN

At 09:24 AM 7/15/02 -0400, you wrote:


> Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 08:43:17 -0400
> From: "Livio Passera" <livio@domain.elided>
> Subject: Grabby Heavy clutch pedal - only with engine on
>
> Fellow Digesters,
>
> The patient is a 73 Berlina, with hanging pedals.
>
> The symptoms are as follows:
>
> With the engine off the clutch pedal feels great.
> Smooth operation,  consistent pedal force throughout
> its entire motion of travel.  Start the engine, and within
> a minute or two (perhaps once the engine bay heats
> up?) the pedal becomes heavy, the travel is not smooth
> but creaky and "grabby" making smooth pedal releases
> difficult and parking in tight spot, very interesting.
> Turn the engine off, and pedal travel immediately returns
> to normal.  The car is new to me, but the P.O. says
> the master cylinder, clutch, throw-out bearing and
> pressure plate were all recently changed.  The clutch
> is a Sachs so presumably of good quality.
>
> An Archive search has proven fruitless, any ideas
> as always, would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Livio Passera
> Toronto, Canada
> 77 Spider
> 73 Berlina
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