Clutch arm won't go past horizontal....

Swapping out a busted 3A for a standard 1.8. Whilst removing the two litre, I split the engine and box before lifting out.
Decided to check clutch arm before building box back on to 1.8, noticed the pushrod only came out about 8-10mm when pulling up the clutch arm and the arm stopped at '9 o'clock'.
The gearbox/clutch worked perfectly fine before removal. Could disconnecting the clutch cable have caused this problem?
Anyway, I built the box on to the 1.8 and trial fitted it back in the bay. Even using light pressure from a bottle jack, the clutch cable does not even go through the arm to connect to the block and clips.
Any advice is appreciated as I'm baffled!

I wonder if you've bent the release rod during removal? The arm should freely move all the way up, with the gearbox off the car.

paul_c said

I wonder if you've bent the release rod during removal? The arm should freely move all the way up, with the gearbox off the car.

It does move freely. From 7 o'clock up to 9 o'clock. I'm concerned about the lack of pushrod protrusion.

That doesn't make sense, it needs to move freely all the way. It doesn't matter if it moves freely from 7 to 9, if it stops (therefore, doesn't move freely….) at 9 o'clock….because that's where the clutch being released occurs, which is where you need it to work. The bit before is just taking up slack.

Pop the cap off the other end of the gearbox and have a look at the bearing, this is a quick check/fix, if its not that then I think you'll be wanting a new rod or new gearbox.

paul_c said

That doesn't make sense, it needs to move freely all the way. It doesn't matter if it moves freely from 7 to 9, if it stops (therefore, doesn't move freely….) at 9 o'clock….because that's where the clutch being released occurs, which is where you need it to work. The bit before is just taking up slack.

Pop the cap off the other end of the gearbox and have a look at the bearing, this is a quick check/fix, if its not that then I think you'll be wanting a new rod or new gearbox.

I know what you mean. The main concern is getting the cable through the hole in the arm. It won't physically go far enough, even when using a jack underneath…..

Did you look at it when the gearbox was off?

can you not just adjust the cable to get more slack? theres usually bags of adjustment on them. have a look at the pedal box end, maybe the cable slipped out of position and has got caught up on something.

great site for checkign the pushrod, arm, release bearing etc
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