adjusting clutch cable?

[88GTtom]

i had the cable installed and never had to play with it. (yes its an adjustable cable) i just had a new clutch put in and it engages kinda high. where on the cable do i go to adjust it. under the dash or under the car??? i have to make it engage towards the floor a little more. thanks.

 

[slo65]

i have the fms adjustable clutch cable and i adjust it underneath the car where the fork is, its a little easier for me i work at an oil change place so i have a bay i drive over to do it

 

[HISSIN50]

and if it engages high on the pedal and you want it to engage closer to the floor, you want to add freeplay. this means to add slack to the cable.

good luck.

 

[notchback]

do it quick...you could be not engaging all the way and slipping.

rigth about at the back of the front tire...slide under and you should a threaded rod w/ double nutz

 

[88GTtom]

im going to do it in the morning. i havent even gotten close to getting on her. i want to break the clutch in, and i want to adjust the cable and then see how she drives.

 

[88GTtom]

and if it engages high on the pedal and you want it to engage closer to the floor, you want to add freeplay. this means to add slack to the cable.

good luck.

i wasent to sure about which way to go either. Thanks

 

[HISSIN50]

yeah, with a new clutch, jump on that ASAP (a biggie with breaking in a clutch is to NOT slip it, which too tight a cable can do).

it will be real apparent when you adjust it. right at the end of the cable where you are adjusting the nut, you can twang the exposed cable as you turn the nut and note when and how much slack you have in the cable. with a new clutch, error on the side of having some freeplay. you obviously dont want the engagement to be right on the carpet, but it is better to error on the loose (more freeplay) side. once done, do be sure to check freeplay at the pedal too. i end up with 1/2-1" of pedal freeplay. this makes sure the cable was not hung up, etc (and is how you are actually supposed to measure freeplay. i just dont like to jump up and down 50 times while adjusting).

when i adjust a non-new clutch, i get it so i can pull a little on the cable with my pinky. that is good for me (some people like to dial in preload on the cable, i dont. and i would not in any case on a new clutch. if you want, you can do that later).

my two cents. good luck Tom.

 

[HISSIN50]

sorry that post was so recursive and hard to decipher. I kept adding thoughts in no particular order.

 

[88GTtom]

thats all good hissin50, i have never done it before, i want to get it right. So all im doing is putting slack on the cable. that dosent sound to bad. If i am correct, i will have to losen up a jam nut.?? is this correct, then turn the other nut to lossen the cable.?? I guess i will put her up on stands so i can see what the hell im doing. I also have to go to DMV and get a nice new inspection sticker put on after im done with the cable. thanks tom

 

[CBZGT50]

After about 1000 miles on that new clutch, you may have to adjust it a little more. If you have problem getting it in gear ever, adjust the nut a little to get the slack the others have described.


One time My mother in law who has a 91 GT drove seven hours with my wife trying to figure out why it would not go in gear. My wife knows how to speed shift, so they got here bearly. but my mother in law was horribly crying thinking it would be a $2000 tranny job. I jacked it up, turned the bolt two turns and the car went in gear and drove better than it had for months according to her. Those clutches are funny and you almost HAVE to know about adjusting or you will be paying a mechanic $100 to take 3 seconds of work. I love Mustangs!

 

[HISSIN50]

yeah Tom, you do break the lock-nut loose (hold the inner nut and loosen the outer nut). then i *think* it is a direct relationship (loosening the inner nut loosens the cable - puts slack in it).
i would inspect the tension periodically during break in. and as CB mentioned, if the point of engagement gets too close to the floor (which i also touched upon earlier), readjust it.

good luck.