clutch engagement/release question...

[Mark Volen]

Hey guys... tried to search with no luck..

can someone tell me on a 356A... how far off the floor should clutch engage? after servicing and clutch adjustment request.. clutch is operating like butter now!! but is engaging very very close to floor board, maybe an inch at most.

thank you for your thoughts.. first 356, so lots to learn!!

[Thomas Sottile]

My advice is to get yourself a shop manual you will find it necessary if you are new to 356s.

[Norm Miller]

Adjust the clutch cable tighter.
As a rule, you should be able to engage reverse with a little grunt +/-.

As a technical rule, just fiddle with the release point until you find what you like and it doesn't grind engaging reverse/first.

[Vic Skirmants]

First: set the free-play. THEN: adjust the clutch pedal stop so you can get it in gear without crunching. You don't want to over-travel the pressure plate; that shortens its life.

[Geoff Fleming]

...and with the A cars, grease the cable liberally where it attaches to the pedal assembly. The A series pedal assembly bends the cable a bit and can cause breakage. The later cars had an improved pedal cluster which allowed the clutch cable to be pulled straight. Of course, the entire cable should be well greased also but pay attention to the front end.
Clutch release should be closer to the floor than at the top of the movement, and as Vic says, adjust the stop.

[Mark Volen]

thanks so far guys... so is feeling it engaging about 1" from floor normal? im use to VW's feeling engagement about 2-3 inches from floor.

[Geoff Fleming]

An inch or two is fine.

[Vic Skirmants]

An inch or two is fine.

No more than that. You are not manipulating a stack of coil springs. You re flexing a tempered steel diaphragm spring. Flex it too much, and it WILL break.

[Greg Scallon]

But Vic, if he wants the clutch to engage without having to push the pedal down so far, couldn't he adjust the cable tighter and then also adjust the pedal stop to not let the pedal push so far down as to over manipulate the springs? Wouldn't that allow him to use the clutch without having to push the pedal down so far?
-Greg

[Vic Skirmants]

Read my post.