Clutch Question

[mtnbob]

If I can shift easily into all of my gears when my car is not running, but I'm unable to shift into them when the car is running, and if my clutch is adjusted all the way out, is my clutch fried?
Thanks
Robert

[R.O.R-2.0]

If I can shift easily into all of my gears when my car is not running, but I'm unable to shift into them when the car is running, and if my clutch is adjusted all the way out, is my clutch fried?
Thanks
Robert

i would bet that the clutch STILL isnt fully releasing..

[TylerDurden]

^^ Ja, the cable may be about to go... they can stretch a lot just before they break.

OTOH, if there was a sudden event or sound that is consistent with a chunk of lining getting in the works, it may fail to fully release.

[bajacalal]

Oil/grease on the clutch friction material will also cause it to stick and make the car hard to get into gear from neutral. It's also possible for the clutch components to get stuck together, usually if the car sits a long time and they rust together. There's a trick to breaking them apart, get it going pretty fast in like 2nd gear, somewhere you have some room, and then slam on the brakes, while pushing the clutch pedal down and it should let go... or start it in gear, and mash the accelerator. They say it will break loose but I've never tried it. On a VW too, since the clutch is operated through a pushrod that lies in the center of the transmission, it could be the clutch lever arm, which rides in the transmission, has cracked.

[bbob203]

Bob didn't you say something about a leaky main seal when we spoke on the phone awhile back?

[mtnbob]

Yup, mentioned it as a possibility. That might make sense. The problem is that I have no time right now, to take it apart. Might end up ditching it. I have plenty of money in it and I know that a newly built td engine might interest someone. I eventually need to take it apart and double check the seal.

[Dakotakid]

Or, super-dry transmission input splines will make normal clutch movement difficult. I had that problem once back when I ran Mk. I's.

[R.O.R-2.0]

Oil/grease on the clutch friction material will also cause it to stick and make the car hard to get into gear from neutral. It's also possible for the clutch components to get stuck together, usually if the car sits a long time and they rust together. There's a trick to breaking them apart, get it going pretty fast in like 2nd gear, somewhere you have some room, and then slam on the brakes, while pushing the clutch pedal down and it should let go... or start it in gear, and mash the accelerator. They say it will break loose but I've never tried it. On a VW too, since the clutch is operated through a pushrod that lies in the center of the transmission, it could be the clutch lever arm, which rides in the transmission, has cracked.

ive gotten some VWs that had sat for a VERY LONG time, and havent once had a stuck clutch..

my 86 GTI sat for over 13 years (was last tagged in 1995, i bought it in 2008) and the clutch wasnt stuck in it..

im gonna say, that if this happened all of the sudden, or over a short time, that your clutch is probably oil soaked because of the leaky main seal..

your car is n/a, correct? i dont think you would notice any slipping, even from an oil soaked clutch..

i would pop the 2 bolts out of the bottom of the bell housing, and bend the inspection plate out of the way enough to get a glimpse of the flywheel and pressure plate.. if they are soaked in oil, then they are shot..

[8v-of-fury]

your car is n/a, correct? i dont think you would notice any slipping, even from an oil soaked clutch..

I have slipped an oily clutch with an N/A no problem. Even in 5th gear.

If you do need a new disk, and are going to keep the 200mm setup.. I recommend getting a 200mm disk from a 70's beetle. It is a solid friction surface, and is a direct bolt in upgrade.

[R.O.R-2.0]

your car is n/a, correct? i dont think you would notice any slipping, even from an oil soaked clutch..

I have slipped an oily clutch with an N/A no problem. Even in 5th gear.

If you do need a new disk, and are going to keep the 200mm setup.. I recommend getting a 200mm disk from a 70's beetle. It is a solid friction surface, and is a direct bolt in upgrade.

its also un-sprung, so you feel the pulses of the engine more than if it were a sprung hub..

[8v-of-fury]

Well I have driven one on a 1.6, and couldn't feel a damn thing. You high.

[R.O.R-2.0]

Well I have driven one on a 1.6, and couldn't feel a damn thing. You high.

no dude, there be a difference.. you only feel the difference when you really lug it.

[8v-of-fury]

Which no one ever does.. So the problem is??