Re: Grabby Heavy clutch pedal - only with engine on

["Livio Passera" <livio@domain.elided>]

Yikes!  That's an interesting one!  That one I can
check easily.  Another possibility that was presented
off line was that the throw-out bearing is toast.  That
one will be a little more difficult to check visually ;-)
Thanks to all who responded.  I will post the results
once the problem is solved.

Livio Passera
Toronto, Canada
77 Spider
73 Berlina

----- Original Message -----
> Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 07:38:18 -0400
> From: Kevin Trent <trentkc@domain.elided>
> Subject: Re: Grabby Heavy clutch pedal - only with engine on
>
> I had a similar problem that i could not figure out until I changed the
> oil, when I found  one of the crankshaft thrust washers hanging out the
> drain.  I stuck a finger up and found another.  The loss of the thrust
> washers allowed the crank to have significant fore and aft play.  When I
> would push in the clutch, the crank would visibly move forward (as
observed
> at the front pulley) which affected the clutch's ability to release.
> Amazingly, the engine ran pretty well, with no obvious problems other than
> he clutch.  This produced really weird clutch symptoms.  Suggest
> you   monitor the crank while an assistant pushes in the clutch to
diagnose
> this problem. Just one idea...
>
> Kct, Powell, TN
>
> At 09:24 AM 7/15/02 -0400, you wrote:
>
> >Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 08:43:17 -0400
> >From: "Livio Passera" <livio@domain.elided>
> >Subject: Grabby Heavy clutch pedal - only with engine on
> >
> >Fellow Digesters,
> >
> >The patient is a 73 Berlina, with hanging pedals.
> >
> >The symptoms are as follows:
> >
> >With the engine off the clutch pedal feels great.
> >Smooth operation,  consistent pedal force throughout
> >its entire motion of travel.  Start the engine, and within
> >a minute or two (perhaps once the engine bay heats
> >up?) the pedal becomes heavy, the travel is not smooth
> >but creaky and "grabby" making smooth pedal releases
> >difficult and parking in tight spot, very interesting.
> >Turn the engine off, and pedal travel immediately returns
> >to normal.  The car is new to me, but the P.O. says
> >the master cylinder, clutch, throw-out bearing and
> >pressure plate were all recently changed.  The clutch
> >is a Sachs so presumably of good quality.
> >
> >An Archive search has proven fruitless, any ideas
> >as always, would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> >Livio Passera
> >Toronto, Canada
> >77 Spider
> >73 Berlina
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