Drive home last night with out a clutch cable was

[DB6]

quite the experience.

I was looking at Caterham USA parts list and they are showing the cable length for my car (live axle, 4 speed, I assume it's an Escort GT/Sport box, the gear box to block housing are integral to the gear box on a 1984 S Sprint 1.7) as being 95 inches YET the one I took off is 72 inches overall,???.

Can any one tell me what the correct length and location is, I am going to buy a complete cable anyway. I just don,'t see how there is room for the 95 inches (I guess it was the easiest for the factory to do a Left Hand Drive car), that is one long cable , any one have a tape measure or pic they can send me of the corret installation ??,

maybe the 72 incher on my car was wrong but it looped around and seemed ok.

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1612346654_Clutch 001.jpghttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/894263603_Clutch 009.jpg

[xflow7]

I believe the one I use is the long one. Mine runs from the pedal box forward then loops sort of between the thermostat housing and valve cover and gently bends down and back to go into the bellhousing (I have the 5 spd Ford 'box with separate bell housing)

 

FWIW, the failure location shown in your picture is quite common. Make sure when you fit the new cable that, a) there are no sharp bends in the cable run, and b) that the pedal height is adjusted such that when the pedal is fully depressed the clevis terminal on the cable does not hit the the clutch pedal itself as this puts a bend in the cable right at the joint with the terminal and can cause very premature failure just as in your picture.

 

Dave

[DB6]

Thanks Dave,

Yeah they all seem VERY long, but 95 " is one hell of a long run and seems to be all that is available,I will take not of what you say on installation.

I also see that there are 2 choices of mounting hole on the lever that comes up from the pedal box, is this yet another option?

Regards

David

[locostv8]

Being frugal/cheap I would look to see if I gould braze a sleve over the broken piece which could be then brazed to the cable.

[DB6]

I like cheap but let's assume this is the original cable from 1984, and a new cable complete is $70.00, I have to go new.

Believe me driving home on a Friday night without a clutch is not fun.

[Cherik]

i've gone through a few of them, but found the key issue was that on long(er) trips when the clutch foot is rested under the pedal, when you bring it back up, it flips the clutch pedal up and starts a kink at that very location.

Next time you apply the cable it begins that process. Eventually strands break and it goes from there.

 

Since then I've been careful to not flip up the pedal when pulling back my foot and haven't broken any cables since.

 

A proper pedal stop would be a better solution.. or go hydraulic. I have those parts, but never put them in...

 

The lengths that I have used are 62.5" / 159cm and 68" / 178cm. The longer one doesn't seem to be available in the US.

 

Top pic: "home comer" - with heat shield sleeve still in place

Center: long cable, frayed

Bottom: spare that I carry in the boot.

 

 

Both short and long work for a Zetec, but some careful ty-rapping is needed so it doesn't get caught in the belts in front.

 

Cherik

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1144432031_Clutch-cables.jpg

[manik]

You can order your very own custom cable from Speedycables in the U.K. Choose your own length, fittings, etc. Good place!

 

 

tm