Another Clutch Cable Gone Bad

[fiasco]

I seem to go through clutch cables like they were going out of style. I've had this car for less than 2 years, and I just had my second one go bad. Had the same issue with my last Spider (before it was wrecked).

So my question is, should they be going bad this often? Am I installing them incorrectly and causing them to go bad too soon? It seems pretty straight forward. It's not easy to get the little thing on the end into the pedal fork correctly, but I always make sure I stay at it until it is seated correctly in the fork, so I know it's not that.

Each one that I have installed has felt smooth and easy when first installed. Within a year it is binding up, making loud "creaking" noises when I depress the pedal, and I even had one cable break on me.

Am I routing it correctly? The cable comes out of the firewall, down through the engine bay between the master cylinder and the carb, through the transmission housing, and into the clutch lever underneath. I try to adjust it so I have 3/4 or so of an inch of play in the pedal before it starts engaging the clutch, so I don't think I'm making it too tight.

Any thoughts or advice? I know I need to order a new one, but if I'm doing something wrong in the install I want to try to not do that again.

Thanks,
-- se

[seabeelt]

Sounds extreme to have to replace that often. Is it lubed when you put them in? I had the same one in my previous car for for years without issue. The current 71 also seems to be original, but there is enough oil and grease under the car that nothing should rust/corrode

[GeorgeT]

Check to make sure that the engine ground strap is in place. When this ground is removed, the car uses the clutch cable as a ground path which causes the cable to fail prematurely.

[fiasco]

Check to make sure that the engine ground strap is in place. When this ground is removed, the car uses the clutch cable as a ground path which causes the cable to fail prematurely.

This is what I love about this forum. I would never have connected those two things, but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense. About two weeks ago, the car started having trouble starting. Battery and alternator are both relatively new, so I was perplexed. The clutch cable went bad about a week after that. Last night when I got under the car I found that the ground strap had become detached from the spot where it screws into the transmission case. I reattached that and the starting problem went away - fires right up now.

And now I know what caused the clutch cable to fail.

So I'll put a new one in - what's the best way to lubricate that before installation?

Thanks,
-- se

[manoa matt]

"what's the best way to lubricate that before installation?"

Buy a spray can of white lithium grease. Hang it vertically, use the red straw and spray the grease in one end. When you see it come out the other end stop. Let it hang for a few more min so its lubed but not soaked, you wouldn't want it to weep that grease on the pedals as stopping would surely be difficult.

While you are doing "ground work" consider replacing the ground cable at the negative terminal to body at the battery. $6 and piece of mind, it may also prolong the life of your battery. Remember most electrical problems are ground related.

[djape1977]

check if engine ground wire is ok, are the ends coroded? run new ground wire directly from the battery to one of the bolts on the engine