clutch cable and Bowden Tube

Vintage Motorcars.  $20.

click here

First, get the correct cable suggested by Jon T! Adjustments, and future fine tuning, will be easy.

I had a similar issue with first gear when my car (VS) was at full operating temp (interestingly, not during first 20 min or so of operation).  I shortened the Bowden tube so that it had the correct bend (it had been almost straight), adjusted (tightened) the clutch cable at the lever, and voila!!

Good luck!

Thank you for the reply you guys.  This problem has given me fits.

The looped shortener seems to work fine.  Not like most are driving 20-30k miles per year.  If you are near a lot of sailboats, a ship's Chandler can shorten and swedge the end back on.

Please....   Don't screw around with this.  Wrapping the cable around a bolt or something instead of setting it up right is only a recipe for eventual disaster at the worst possible time.

Get the proper length cable from Vintage.  Get a new adjuster wingnut to go with it.  

A new Bowden tube wouldn't hurt, either, since none of us (you, either) know whether what you have is any good.  Some of the aftermarket Bowden tubes in the past have gotten stiff over time and don't flex properly, causing clutch chatter.

Look up how to properly adjust the Bowden tube and set it up right.  A Bentley, Haynes or Chilton service manual would be great, or you can do a search on Youtube.

Good luck.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.  I plan to get the correct parts and install since I really want to drive this car without worrying what is going to fail next.

THANK YOU ALL!

@Jerry Wolfe posted:

I really want to drive this car without worrying what is going to fail next.

Well where’s the fun in that?

23 year owner/operator here: not sure that’s possible. There’s always something.

IT is a fine goal but hand made cars require a bit more involvement.   I went to a subie engine and tranny to get that, but it still isn't prefect but then my list of maintenance .. circle of checks done each spring grows and keeps me going.  You need to have a good tech as well.  

So I traded idle jets, & carbs for Injection.. When all the stars aline, it is a turn the key and go.

But then the VVT and oil pressure sensors are sometimes the cause of much grief and the MAF sensor as well.  I just got that VVT fixed again, I had tried a jobber part my tech found it and says that Subie's seem to enjoy only the OFFICIAL parts to keep the specs in line ... seems to be true.

P.S. I do try to fix right the first time.