Hi guys, I just helped a friend replace his clutch on his 1989 Honda Accord and all was well with the clutch when suddenly during the drive I pushed the clutch pedal in and the clutch pedal felt like it didn't want to come back up (as if it lost tension). I quickly pulled over and looked at the cable and it was quite loose so I tightened it some more until the adjusting nut was practically all the way near the end of the threaded shaft. I pushed in the clutch pedal a few times and it is now tight but I noticed that the clutch doesn't engage until it I've released the pedal quite high. Now I've done at least 3 clutches over the past 8 months and this was my first cable clutch. I installed the clutch properly and I've even drive the car up and down the street. The screws were all tightened, the release bearing was replaced and the spring that clips to the bearing was also properly installed. What on earth could cause the clutch pedal to work fine (or at least seem to work fine) and then suddenly after using the clutch for like 15 times it just doesn't come back up properly?

Again I've since tightened the cable to the point where it can't really tighten anymore however, I think tomorrow I will let some cable out b/c the tighter the cable I think means the higher the engagement point on the tranny no?

How far should the adjusting nut be on the threaded clutch cable shaft?

Thanks

 

you should adjust the cable so there is a little slack at the trans clutch lever, you don't want it tight or it will always be pushing the throwout bearing.

As far as the adjuster being at a different position; the only thing I can guess is there is a different thickness of the clutch/pressure plate.

 

I got it figured out. I adjusted the cable to give the clutch pedal about 1/4 - 1/2 inch of play. It works and drives fine now. In hindsight I think I didn't tighten the clutch cable enough hence the clutch release lever wasn't pulling the cable back enough to raise the pedal. I figured that after driving the car for about 1 hour around town with no issues mean that I installed the clutch right.

Thanks