clutch problem

[cjb]

Hi all, first post. I recently picked up an '87 LX for cheap, but the clutch will not disengage. Before I go and replace it, I was looking for some other suggestions. The guy I bought it from said the clutch was replaced about a year and a half ago. After it sat for about two months, no worky. I pulled up on the pedal (it still has the stock quadrant), but the cable's as tight as it can be already. I checked the travel on the fork with the bellhousing cover removed, and it seems like it moves ok, and I can see the fingers on the pressure plate moving.
I don't really have a lot of extra time on my hands to change the clutch (I'm in Army flight school), so any suggestions on how I could get this thing in gear would be greatly apprecited.
Thanks in advance.

Chuck

 

[HISSIN50]

I find it hard to judge fork movement in terms of getting enough leverage to disengage the clutch.

Can you feel freeplay in the cable as you start to depress the pedal (I would think so if you are unable to disengage the clutch)?

The other possibility is that the cable stretched or the quad/pawl teeth are on the outs. One could try shimming the cable (for driveway diagnostics only!) - that is where I might start if I really didnt think the clutch itself was gone.

Good luck.

 

[cjb]

The quad/pawl teeth seem ok.
How do you suggest shimming the cable?
Thanks.

 

[HISSIN50]

The goober method (what I would do for a one push test) is to shim it at the fork, if you are able to.

The much better way is to shim it at the firewall (where the big rubber grommet is).

If you get under the car and find there is zero slack in the cable already, I wouldnt bother with the shimming.

When I have a clutch I wonder about, I shim the tar out of it so that it shouldnt even engage, and if it still wont disengage, I know there is a real good shot that the clutch itself is bad.

Just MHO.
Good luck Chuck.

 

[cjb]

There's no slack in the cable. Guess it's new clutch time for me.
Thanks Hissin50