Clutch cable length???

I've got a Vintage speedster on a '69 chassis. Clutch cable broke. Anybody know the correct length (in metric or english) end-to-end?

Also interested to know if this is a difficult repair and what tips anyone that has done it before can offer.

I am becoming an expert on clutch cables. You can get one of the correct length (Pan was shortened so you need a shortened cable) from VS or JPS. You'll have to remove the pedel assy and run the new cable thru a tube that is in the tunnel. John Muir's book on vw maintence is a good reference book to have in general and it has a good section on replacing the cable. Other vw books probably have the directions too. It should take around 3 hours, depending on how often you drop your tools.
ed

Here's an idea... use a zip tie to keep the cable on the hook while you are back adjusting it. The dang thing can slip off everytime you move it.

I shortened a regular beetle clutch cable and it is working great. If you decide on doing this just measure the peices of your old cable and cut the new one. Use cable clamps to join the two together. Tim.

A long time ago a replica assembler told me never to shorten a clutch cable becaue the ends can come loose and seperate from the cable. He told me to use two u-shaped clamps that have nuts on either end (I don't know what they are called). Fold over the excess cable, put the clamps on either end of the folds and tighten the nuts real tight. I did this with my Speedster a long time ago and it has never given me a problem. If this explanation is not clear let me know and I'll try to explain further.

While we are on this topic, I am wondering about getting home with the broken cable. I read something recently about practicing shifting without the clutch, which is not a major deal, but what happens when you come to a stop sign of red light that your really can't run? Getting home is good, crashing into someone is bad, right?
John H.

You should be able to easily move it into nuetral but getting it back into gear may be a grinding problem. I remember in the olden days when myself or a buddy missed a shift and ground some metal, we'd all say" Grind me a pound." Same thing might apply here.

Bruce
I'm going to measure the new shortened cable and when/if it goes again, i will have the proper length to make a loop in a standard cable. Then you can double "U" bolt clamp it, put a metal collar inside the loop and before you close it get a threaded eyebolt of the proper length to put thru the throwout arm. I put a new shortened cable in mine two years ago and have had to adjust it every 600 miles or so since. It broke two weeks ago.

John
At a stoplight with no clutch, simply put in in first after you switch off the ignition. When you can go, turn on the ignition and the starter motor will move the car forward and it should start within a few feet. Shifting without the clutch takes a little practice but its really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Just move the lever at about the same speed as a normal shift. Going up thru the gears is a snap, downshifting requires you to raise the rpm to what it would be in the gear you're shifting into.
ed

Matching engine speed to gearbox speed when downshifting is called double-clutching. Am I really getting that old? I learned this fine art during my college years when I owned a 62 Corvette with a non-synchro three speed. The biggest aid I ever found for smoothly achieving this task without the traditional grinding was two or three beers.

Yep, Burp!

I was taught that double clutching was when you added the step of engaging the clutch for a moment between gears, as you were between gears, to get the gears all spinning so the shift would be smoother? Ron

In a previous post information was given on an outfit 'locashracing.org' that would provide a custom length clutch cable. Being too familiar with wrestling a cable through, I paid the $30 to have them make one up. Seems like 72" was the fit for my car. What they did was to cut off the peddle end, loop it around a piece of metal to reinforce the end , then crimped the looped end.

WHen pulling out the old one have a piece of nylon string tied to the clutch end, then use that string to pull the new one back through.
If its long enough you can keep tension on the cable while re-setting the peddle assembly.
Victor