Clutch cable keeps slipping off

[John Doe]

Hello, long time no see

I have problem with the clutch cable on the drivers side, it keeps slipping off the bracket on the pedal. I put it in place, adjust the tension on the gearbox side but it slips off after few times I press the clutch. Or in best case after few days. It doesn't seem that the bracket is worn out. I never had this problem before. Perhaps I should put more tension on the cable?

 

[jcarruthers2]

Hi

In terms of adjustment, there should be between 3-4mm play at the gearbox end. Check to see if your adjustment is correct first. With regards to the cable slipping off at the pedal end, has something popped out of place, split pin, clevis pin etc? Is the plastic end piece of the cable outer which sits in the pedal housing chewed up and does not sit flush in the pedal housing? Please see image attached of the plastic end piece which is circled in red.

 

[mr-reno-139]

think there was a small clip designed to stop this happening
maybe a tiny cable tie to secure to clevis piece

 

[Cornish4]

Hi there John. Maybe remove the cable from the car and pour some thin oil down the inner cable, it might be sticking and giving you a false sense of adjustment. The pedal end of the cable should have a stepped nipple which locates in the clevis and shouldn't drop out, so also make sure the clevis is free to move on the pedal and the cable locates correctly. Adjust as carruthers says, and see how it goes. Hope this helps, good luck.
Regards Brian.
PS. Maybe some WD40 before the thin oil.

 

[petak]

For some reason cable is not pulled back when you depress pedal.
Hope it is dry clutch cable inside cable housing
I would try to put some oil inside and hope it will work.
IF not try another clutch cable.

 

[John Doe]

Hi

In terms of adjustment, there should be between 3-4mm play at the gearbox end. Check to see if your adjustment is correct first. With regards to the cable slipping off at the pedal end, has something popped out of place, split pin, clevis pin etc? Is the plastic end piece of the cable outer which sits in the pedal housing chewed up and does not sit flush in the pedal housing? Please see image attached of the plastic end piece which is circled in red.

All seems to be in place as it should be. I will take a photo of the cable end to crosscheck. Thank you for your reply. I am a R4 enthusiast for a long time now but never had this problem before.

 

[John Doe]

think there was a small clip designed to stop this happening
maybe a tiny cable tie to secure to clevis piece

It crossed my mind to use some wire to secure it in place. The best thing is that I have a car sitting with Alpine engine and 5 speed gearbox and all works just fine without any clip.

 

[John Doe]

Hi there John. Maybe remove the cable from the car and pour some thin oil down the inner cable, it might be sticking and giving you a false sense of adjustment. The pedal end of the cable should have a stepped nipple which locates in the clevis and shouldn't drop out, so also make sure the clevis is free to move on the pedal and the cable locates correctly. Adjust as carruthers says, and see how it goes. Hope this helps, good luck.
Regards Brian.
PS. Maybe some WD40 before the thin oil.

I did exactly this few days ago when the problem occurred, the cable is loose so as is the clevis free to move. The thing is, it seems that mechanic who changed the cable had the same problem and used a wire to secure the cable in place which I threw away since I thought I know how things work
Thank you for your reply.

 

[John Doe]

For some reason cable is not pulled back when you depress pedal.
Hope it is dry clutch cable inside cable housing
I would try to put some oil inside and hope it will work.
IF not try another clutch cable.

The reason for all this is that the clutch became too stiff and I thought that the cable rusted or something, I took it out to lubricate it and now I cant get it to work
The only thing that I can notice is that the metal part where the cable sits on the engine block is a bit bent.

 

[jcarruthers2]

Hi John

You mentioned the mechanic changed the clutch cable. Is it possible the wrong clutch cable has been fitted (ie, the cable is too long)? On a RHD R4GTL the cable inner should be 147cm tip to tip approx. If you have a LHD R4GTL and suspect this might be the problem, get back to me and I have an original LHD cable I can measure.

 

[John Doe]

I just checked the cable, the inner part is 670 mm and the outer is 520 mm as it should be. The cable looks OK on both ends. Two years ago I've changed the cable myself and it worked just fine. I was wrong about that. After the mechanic changed the starter motor and obviously fiddled with the cable something happened, there was a wire to hold the cable in the clevis (originally there is no wire) which I threw away and now I can't get it to work.

I've put it in place few moments ago and after I press the pedal few time it slipped of. I can't figure out this one. It seems that sometimes the cable is not pulled back when the pedal is released. I have to get the car to MOT tomorrow so this will be fun

 

[mr-reno-139]

the problem is that cable has no shoulder on the nipple which locates it in place
compare these pics of genuine part to yours

 

[Cornish4]

Ah, just as I suggested, there's the problem. I had a RHD cable made up a few years ago by a well known cable supplier, and I had the same thing happen. I sent it back and they fitted the correct nipple.

 

[John Doe]

I lost my mind over this and ultimately turned the clevis the other way around. Temporary fix, not something I do. The best part is that I have an old used cable which I used to compare with this one. I didn't notice the difference.

Thank you guys, you helped a lot. I will find another cable or make a shoulder on this one



All the best
Vedran

 

[mr-reno-139]

not much escapes me Brian I've just ordered a lhd cable for my rodeo
but not unpacked to check it
now found pic from Mister auto website