Floppy clutch cable

So, after putting the engine and gearbox back in, I fit a new clutch cable and its just slack. Even at maximum adjustment, its slack and when I press the clutch pedal it goes down, but there's not enough tension to bring it back up.  The arm that the cable attaches to on the gearbox does spring back down, but not with much force. Its about the same as when the gearbox was not attached to the engine. I could have the wrong cable, but the lack of tension in the arm makes me worried. Is it supposed to move very easily? I'm worried i've missed something out, or put something in the wrong way when I reassembled the clutch..?! Any ideas?!

You got a photo of the cable Matt? also a photo of the way you've routed it?

Don't have a photo of the routing, but I've tried a couple of ways and no better?

The cable look routed wrong, and defiantly isn't sitting right, that plastic end should be sitting flush against the bracket (it will also eat through your rubber bung)

When looking at the car;

The clutch should be routed from the bulk head, around the left had side of the engine (around / ontop the cam cover - i've seen both ways) it then should have a clip which is attached to either the second or 3rd rocker cover bolt, which the cable sits in (so it's parallel with the block at this point) it then should continue straight across towards the gear box, and then take a sharp bend to sit on that bracket, have a look at the attached photo



Also by the looks of things you're adjusting it to be loose, you want to get it in situ, undo the silver nut, twist the black plastic mushroom shaped thing (until your clutch cable sits level with the brake pedal with about 1.5-2" of travel before you start feeling the clutch pull) and then lock the metal nut against the plastic (not to tight though)

Hope that helps you mate!

Also if you haven't already, add the clutch plate fix, around £5 from GSF (as the cars were built for LHD, the bulk head wasn't reinforced on that side) and they're prone to pull through  

Maybe they've gone up in price since I did mine! Can't find them on GSF, but it's this

https://www.vwheritage.com/shop/171898152/bulkhead-repair-patch-for-clutch-cable-mk1-golf-jetta-sciro/?gclid=CKDevIq5kcYCFcXLtAodmRgAvA

Thanks for that mate. I'll have a go at routing it better, but I'm not convinced! It is adjusted to be loose yes, because the arm didn't seem t have the power to pull t back, even if I stood the cable upright. It feels like there is no pressure from the clutch on the push rod?

stumpymatt said

Thanks for that mate. I'll have a go at routing it better, but I'm not convinced! It is adjusted to be loose yes, because the arm didn't seem t have the power to pull t back, even if I stood the cable upright. It feels like there is no pressure from the clutch on the push rod?

Ah sorry I see what you mean, unfortunately my knowledge is limited to the cable haha, someone will come along an be able to help you though rubjonny

the clutch arm should stop at about 9 o'clock if you try to lift it by hand, if it goes up further you have issues with the clutch mech inside the box or the clutch release plate has a hole in it or missing entirely.

most of the clutch release parts can be replaced and checked box in situ, but the release plate is on the clutch kit itself so you got to pull the gearbox off to look at that.

this site has some great info:
Welcome to BrokeVW.com

Sooooo, yeahhhhh; found the problem…. namely me and my ignorance / rushing jobs…. thanks for all the advice though guys, i'd never have found out that I was the problem without it! 

stumpymatt said

Sooooo, yeahhhhh; found the problem…. namely me and my ignorance / rushing jobs…. thanks for all the advice though guys, i'd never have found out that I was the problem without it! 

What was the problem Matt, what rubjonny said above?

Glad you got it sorted though, you don't really have time for problems do you    

I had it in my head that the 'slack' movement of the arm i.e. up to 9o'clock was the bit that was supposed to release the clutch. Not thinking that it was the past 9o'clock bit that released the clutch. So flaming obvious once I stood back and thought about it, but when i'm working on it in snatched 40 minutes here and there, I keep missing the obvious. I left the circlip off the speedo cable drive gear the other day; the drive gear fell off in the gearbox and I spent 2 hours fishing it out. I think I screamed every profanity in the book at it during that time!

stumpymatt said

I had it in my head that the 'slack' movement of the arm i.e. up to 9o'clock was the bit that was supposed to release the clutch. Not thinking that it was the past 9o'clock bit that released the clutch. So flaming obvious once I stood back and thought about it, but when i'm working on it in snatched 40 minutes here and there, I keep missing the obvious. I left the circlip off the speedo cable drive gear the other day; the drive gear fell off in the gearbox and I spent 2 hours fishing it out. I think I screamed every profanity in the book at it during that time!

Ah we all do things like that, especially in a rush!

Is that the little red / green (can't remember the colour) that drops in the top of the box, the ones that made of plastic with no plastic magent been invented yet?