Clutch or cable gone(going)?

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:11 pm

Hi all ive got a very very very high bitting point on my lovly BX its got 147k on the clock and i was wondering which one is prob going?

Cable or Clutch plate? and how easy are they to do ??

Ive replaced the cable on my old Triumph Acclaim (Honda Civ 1349cc) and that was a pig off a job and you had loads off room under the hood to move unlike the BX

any help welcome

cheers all

Jon

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:47 am

Is the pedal stiff?
How much higher than the brake pedal does the clutch pedal sit?
If the pedal is more than an inch above the brake pedal try adjusting the cable first, easy enough from underneath the car at the front (obviousley) with 10mm and 13mm spanners.

If the pedal isn't more than an inch above the brake pedal then you're probably lookikng at a new clutch.
Dont just change the friction plate, change it all.
My advice would be to change the cable at the same time.
Doing a clutch on a BX is actually very simple, and the DIY guides on here give a god insight into the job.
The TD's are a tad more involved than a N/A but it's still very straight forward.
Allow a full day if you've never done it before, when you get practised you should be under four hours allowing for regular fag / beer breaks.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:38 am

That's a very useful tip using the pedal, I must remember that.

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:35 am

ill have a look i know the pedal seats very high above the brake a good inch i would say

EDIT

Nope not stiff and seems to go into gears ok

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:26 pm

Your clutch is on it's way out then.
More likely to be the release bearing wearing through the pressure plate than the friction plate FUBAR, but either way, you'll probably need a clutch soon.

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:31 pm

dam thought it might be the only thing stoping it going up any higher is the plastic stuff by the pedals

I now know why it was so cheep lol

mtbxathena · Post by **mtbxathena** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:09 pm

Evening All. The first time I jumped in my latest BX in the dark I could not even find the clutch pedal. For some reason the top of the pedal is so high its just about under the dashboard, yet the take up is smooth with no slip and the action is light. The mileage is 72,000 on its original clutch and the TZD is booked in for the MOT this Friday. If it comes back with a new ticket I shall replace the clutch [including cable] and at the same time replace the cam belt. Last belt change was 38,000 ten years ago. Regards, Mick.

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:39 pm

that sounds like my clutch pedal lol

althou i dont think mines been replaced as far as i know (I have papers for the car going back to when it was 1 year old)

I'll try the cable and see if that brings it in a little bit as its so high

Also is there anyone here thats done the clutch has the bits needed and would be able to show a poor lad the ropes on how to change it all ?

for what it would cost to put the car in a garage i could buy a new BX

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:29 pm

The lowest point, i.e. the lower front edge of the pedal should rest 140mm +/- 5mm above any carpet & mat level to be within factory settings.

The pedal arm has no upper end stop, meaning any mal adjustment at the clutch end, may pull the pedal too high.

All BX'es have the bog standard push-type clutch release, with the bearing moving & pressing from the gearbox end towards the pressure plate on the crank/flywheel.

There are 2 types of clutch release arm setups on BX'es (with XU pet/D engine types) :

1) early release arm type found on both early BE1 & later BE3 gearboxes, which have the L-formed transfer arm and a small pushrod, which can be adjusted by an endstop on the moving L-arm. This L-arm has a bad habit of splitting and then rather suddenly leave you with no clutch function.

2) later type release arm on BE3 boxes which have the direct acting axle with cable attachment. Pedal height is adjusted by a cable adjuster.

kermit the frog · Post by **kermit the frog** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:30 pm

I had this problem about 18 months ago when i was working up in gloucestershire.
i adjusted the cable to bring the pedal down and all seemed ok ( no noises or roughness)
I set of home to sussex and halfway home in traffic the pedal just went to the floor.
still had drive but no means of disengaging the gears,
so i pulled over let the traffic go then put it in first gear and started it up drove home (at a slower pace than normal) changing gear using the engine revs and clutchless changing.
when i removed the gearbox the release bearing had colapsed and disintegrated.
replaced everything and she was as good as new again

Regards Kermit

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:32 pm

update

Clutch has gone

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:52 pm

surrey_man wrote: Clutch has gone

This is as predicted by our Doc who is seldom wrong.

docchevron1472 wrote:Your clutch is on it's way out then.
More likely to be the release bearing wearing through the pressure plate than the friction plate FUBAR, but either way, you'll probably need a clutch soon.

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:07 pm

yep hes the man

i should off seen this coming as its been sliping ive just not known untill now

CitroXim · Post by **CitroXim** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:11 pm

Jon,

Although this is for a car that shall not speak it's name on here, it'll give you a good idea of what is involved although the BX is a lot simpler, having a push release rather than the rather horrid pull type...

This is from our sister forum..

1.9TD Clutch Change

Don't let it put you off. Honestly it is a lot easier in a BX

surrey_man · Post by **surrey_man** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:19 pm

the only thing putting me off doing it is the following

Never done a clutch on a car off this size (did a strip down on a robin 850)
lack off tools
and no place to work on car

if i can solve this then i shell do it my self

Also this site has a detialed bit on how to replace clutch

BX Club Forum

Clutch or cable gone(going)?

Clutch or cable gone(going)?

Clutch or cable going [gone] ?