Engine mounting and clutch problems

[summeh]

Ever since I put my engine back in I've had problems with the clutch not disengaging the engine properly when everythings getting hot, typically sitting in traffic etc. The result is that even though my foot is fully down on the pedal, its very hard to get it into gear. Even if you have your foot directly down on the clutch pedal, in say first gear, the car will still creep along.

Now I was thinking, would shifting the engine over to the drivers/passenger side say 5mm make any difference?

Please dont mention clutch pedals. :) Also failing the above, I will try spacing the end of the cable, but really wouldnt want to do this. I'm just wondering if the engine not quite sitting right would cause this kind of problem?

[MAXIBOY]

no mate i wouldn't make a difference..

sounds like its routed wrong getting hot and stretching ....

either that or you messed up the fitting..engine position will have no effect on cable..

[cliokiz]

Have you got a soft pedal conversion on your gearbox? (Longer release arm?)

If so it won't work properly with the standard valver/williams pedal stop in place.

If you remove it (so the pedal sits higher), it should sort it. If you've installed the soft pedal kit you'll need to trim the pedal stop down a bit.

[summeh]

The cable is routed correctly, new cable.

To be honest I don't think the GTT Heavy duty uprated valeo clutch (thats what it is from gsf) is best suited/designed for the williams. So perhaps thats why this is happening.

I think I will have to use spacers... But then If i'm right in thinking that the pedal will just compensate for the spacers? meaning the cable will be the same length again.

[summeh]

No soft pedal conversion.

[richy]

i have the same clutch and without soft pedal conversion, no problems like you are having.

[Coops]

usually thats due to a knackered spring plate mate, those symptoms, its may be newish but my gtt uprated cover plate only lasted 10k or less then the springs went and couldnt get into reverse and the clutch slipped like buggery aswell under load

kiz mate, soft pedal does work with normal cable, green stop in place and std pedal mechanism, mines all been fine since i changed the cover plate :wink:

[eternalife]

Pedal Mechanism - how old/new is it?
Had a daft Reno technician tell my brother that the new cables dont work well with old pedal mechanisms - turns out he was a complete idiot and couldnt tell the difference between new and old pedal mechanism (my brother already had a new mechanism).

Nevertheless, if there is some truth in what he said it could be that?

Is it only first which is difficult to select? or is it all the gears?
Have u tried to select the gears when the car is warm but the ignition is off?

I had similar problems - and whilst thinking it was routing / pedal mechanism / pressure plate / soft pedal conversion / cable getting hot - turns out my JC5 casing was fractured.

I would drain the oil to inspect - any signs of excessive wear, and its worth taking out and to a GB specialist or replace with another GB.
Can also get the black cap at the end off (when gearbox fluid drained of course) and check for signs of damage there - metal shards.

[summeh]

Pedal Mechanism - how old/new is it?
Had a daft Reno technician tell my brother that the new cables dont work well with old pedal mechanisms - turns out he was a complete idiot and couldnt tell the difference between new and old pedal mechanism (my brother already had a new mechanism).

Not sure probably the original, the teeth look fine though.


Is it only first which is difficult to select? or is it all the gears?
Have u tried to select the gears when the car is warm but the ignition is off?

All gears mate. If car is off then selection is fine... indicates clutch not bent selector forks etc.

[stan]

try "re-setting"t he self adjuster.

either pick the pawl off the ratchet so it moves round, and then depress the clutch several times, or have someone depress the clutch and jam the clutch control arm in the engaged position and let them take their foot off the clutch.

Is the inner cable DEFINATELY routed over the quadrant correctly??

Also putting a spacer on the end tends t over tension the cables, and they can snap.

[summeh]

yeah its all routed correctly, over the rack etc, clipped in.

I have tried messing with the ratchet before, but im sure it just goes back to the original position.

In anycase it works fine when cold, albeit the biting point is on the floor.

:cry:

In all honesty i think its the clutch that has weak springs or something, that when they get hot they just arent doing the job. I relaly dont think the gtt clutch should be used with the clio maybe. Altho I get no slip whatsoever at 255bhp.

[summeh]

woo I think I have fixed this problem...

Whilst the airbox was off so I could fit my new crank sensor to fix my misfire/stalling (worked a treat) I thought I would have a play with the clutch cable/arm.

First of all I placed two 1mm thick washer on the end of the cable, essentially making the cable "shorter" by 2mm. This made the problem worse! So bad infact that th problem was apparent with the engine stone cold, selecting all gears was difficult.

So I removed the two washers, and the standard rubber/metal shroud spacer, so increasing the length of the cable essentially by about 4-5mm over standard. This worked a treat! The biting point is now further up the pedal and not right on the floor. Once the engine is up to temp I have no problems selecting gear.

Why does making the cable longer improve things? :?

Anyway I'm well chuffed, this problem has plagued me for the past yr or so and I've never been able to figure it out :lol:

[northy]

great mate, so decreasing the size of the outer cable has cured it ???

[summeh]

great mate, so decreasing the size of the outer cable has cured it ???

Indeed. BTW this is on my williams not the cup... New pedal fixed the cup car.

[richy]

yeah its all routed correctly, over the rack etc, clipped in.

I have tried messing with the ratchet before, but im sure it just goes back to the original position.

In anycase it works fine when cold, albeit the biting point is on the floor.

:cry:

In all honesty i think its the clutch that has weak springs or something, that when they get hot they just arent doing the job. I relaly dont think the gtt clutch should be used with the clio maybe. Altho I get no slip whatsoever at 255bhp.

i use the gtt clutch as said with no problems at all, and run std lever arm etc no soft pedal conversion!

[bradharding]

yeah its all routed correctly, over the rack etc, clipped in.

I have tried messing with the ratchet before, but im sure it just goes back to the original position.

In anycase it works fine when cold, albeit the biting point is on the floor.

:cry:

In all honesty i think its the clutch that has weak springs or something, that when they get hot they just arent doing the job. I relaly dont think the gtt clutch should be used with the clio maybe. Altho I get no slip whatsoever at 255bhp.

i use the gtt clutch as said with no problems at all, and run std lever arm etc no soft pedal conversion!

Me too I have no problems with said clutch.

Soft pedal conversion is for fairies? :D

[teabag]

soft pedal is horrible to drive, feels "numb", the clutch in my clio isnt exactly heavy on the standard setup