Clutch Pedal Overcenter Spring

[slsc98]

Any spring will work. It just has to pull your clutch pedal up and hold it there. It doesn't take much, just something to keep it off of the fingers.

10-4 and thanks again! 

I *think* I might have the 'right' spring. Actually, while it is  only about 5/8" in coil diameter, approx. an inch or so shorther than the over center spring and not too 'stout'. 

Hopefully, just a matter bending / opening up the 5/8" loops on either end and getting each to stay hooked where they need to be, on either end.

I plan on getting up in there one day this week -- they're calling for the 60's here in So MD this week -- before the bottom drops out of the thermometer, next week!  (Who knows, contorting myself up in there may be just the "straw on the camel's back" my neurosurgeon and I have been waiting on so he can go ahead and do my C-5 thru T-1 discs.  Man they need it and I am almost to the point where I am tired of putting it off!) 

[HP_Cuda]

post a pic of the spring you found to replace it.

[slsc98]

Glad to but, I must do so with the note I have not yet tried to spring I found, let alone confirmed it will work.

Nonetheless, I'll be only to glad to post a pic so that any who might know can tell me I am even close to the 'right' thing!

Will post as soon as I get home this eveining!

7pm EST update: Okay men, attached below (hopefully!) are two pics of the spring I hope (I'm full of hope tonight, aren't I?!) will allow me to affix it where the 2 ends of the original over center spring went: 5/8" x 8-1/2"  x .080

I took the original over center spring into the store with me and my thinking in selecting the pictured spring was:
a) the pictured spring is a tad shorter than the overall length (OAL) of the original spring; and,
b) stretching the picture spring to the same OAL of the original over center spring results in a very firm and positive but, not excessive "stretch." 

Definitely enough to pull the clutch pedal into its fullest "up against the stop" position but not loads and loads more than that. 

Only question in my mind between now and when I can get at the car again (s*cks not having a garage so I can do this when convenient for ME!) is, will I be able to bend or enlarge the "loops" at either end of the spring as needed in order to fit / get the spring to hook onto the spots the original did?   
Thoughts?  Opinions?  Warnings?

I am going to try and get up under the dash later this week and get her in there unless some kind soul herein recognizes the pictured spring won't work, if so, please tell me so, ahead of my displacing a disc trying (please)!   

Funny sidenote: as I was perusing the retail selection of coils, a younger guy also in the aisle asked me about a weed whacker spring he'd brought into replace. When he fished the spring he was searching for a mate to out of his pocket, I held up my nasty ol' over-center spring and, in my very best Crocodile Dundee voice said, "Tha-a-a-a-ts nawt a spring . . . . now, this HERE is a real spring!"

His eyes bugged and we got to talking about old cars for awhile . . . seems every kid I meet has a Dad or Uncle who regrets the h*ll out of letting some muscle car go, earlier in life!

DISCLAIMER NOTE:  I have not yet tried to install the spring pictured below, let alone confirmed it will work!

[ShelbyDogg]

Wear safety glasses!!!!!!! Just in case.

[slsc98]

Wear safety glasses!!!!!!! Just in case.

I
D*mn good advice (and I undoubtedly woulda forgot, otherwise)

Thanks!


PS - Almost forgot to ask:  in your experience, will the spring pictured above work? Or, should I try and find one with larger diameter coils? (Trying to avoid wasting some valuable time off work)

My wife is lovin' this. I got home from work and there was a big box on the porch with "ACME Spring Co." stenciled on the side of it. Y'know, like the old Roadrunner + Wiley E. Coyote cartoons. Sheesh!

[ShelbyDogg]

That should work. You are putting way too much thought into this. It doesn't take much to pull that pedal back up. A stiff spring will help push the clutch in but most people leave it off with a diaphram pressure plate so you just need it to pull the pedal up to the stop.  When you adjust your clutch, make sure that you see light between the fingers and the throwout bearing. Sometimes the clutch fork clip is loose on the bellhousing fulcrum that the lower spring pulls your gap closed too. That clip should hold the fork snugly when clipped in.

[slsc98]

That should work. You are putting way too much thought into this. It doesn't take much to pull that pedal back up.

Oh, I readily pleade 'guilty' to the too much thought. It is a default mode for me when I'm trying to fill the vacuum represented by my lack of knowledge <grin>

I am very confident the spring is plenty "strong" enough (as it doesn't take all that much, only thing I'm anxious about is how successful I'll be in getting the spring ends to stay hooked where I need 'em and if they ends will stay bent into "hook ends" (instead of the present closed loops).

Also, thanks yet again as, now I know I need to go back and make sure that clip should hold the fork snugly when clipped in.

That may explain why I have had to adjust the clutch twice now. 

[HP_Cuda]

I being in the same boat as you do not want to use the stock spring as I went the centerforce route. I don't plan on doing insane power shifts but would like the clutch to stay pulled to the stop nicely.

I found this today and gave it a try... didn't turn out the way I wanted but I have a few ideas going forward.

[slsc98]

I found this today and gave it a try... didn't turn out the way I wanted but I have a few ideas going forward.

Oh wow HP, my 'spirits' did a flip-flop; on one hand, as soon as I spied your pic of the spring you located, I thought, "Eureka!" THat's just what it is needed!"  But then, saw the your last sentence and was kinda like, "Oh . . ." 

Knowing I couldn't be the only sucker in the boat (and trying toa void too much thought into it) was the motivator behind my initial post, asking if anyone out there whose sucessfully "gone before us" with this spring replace, might have a photo of the final product.

In any event, thanks to you, I now at least have an illustration of "something close"; so, that'll cut my time down, going door-to-door to local retail hardwares, askin' for options.

Just curious, did it not "turn out the way you wanted" because the spring doesn't have enough 'pull strength' or, did you run into challenges getting the ends to stay hooked?

[HP_Cuda]

The spring I have in my picture I bought as Orchard Supply, actually found it pretty quickly which is a amazing for me in Osh.

Anyway, at first it didn't have enough pull so I decided to cut it down and shorten it and retry. Well now the clutch pedal is stuck to the floor!!!

It actually pulls the pedal down, instead of up. The stock spring is so stiff that it holds it up perfectly but I guess these springs won't give the same effect. I'm going to try different positions to see if I can get the desired effect.

I'll post pics in here as I make headway.

[slsc98]

It actually pulls the pedal down, instead of up. The stock spring is so stiff that it holds it up perfectly but I guess these springs won't give the same effect. I'm going to try different positions to see if I can get the desired effect.

Oh, you must have hooked one (or both) end(s), too low? I stopped by my wife's brother-in-law's nephew's shop today (I kid you not) and he does machine fabrication for dragsters, etc.  He had a drawer full of springs (why didn't I call him first?) and pictured is the one he rigged up.

10 or 12 shifts later, I heard, "sproing!" (that word is in the '73 Body Chassis Service Manual, I'm sure of it!   Isn't it?) 

Sure enough, one end had popped off wherever he'd attached it so, I got under there and hooked one end to the left side of the bracket (which has a longitudinal slot running end to end) and the other to the "dog leg" that comes off the right of the rear most part of the pedal assembly. Because the spring drapes across the upright of the pedal assembly, you can hear the spring opening when you depress the pedal but, I intend to go back in and find the ideal posts or places to hook the spring ends, later.  Important thing is we got home before the rain started!

And, I don't care right now anyway, I am just soooo glad to have my baby back on the road one last time before they put that d*mn magnesium chloride down for ice, etc.!    And, with the pedal being pulled all the way back up to its full-most "stop" position!

Every time I shifted, my wife giggled (with her all original '66 GTO that every d*mn thing is so butter cream smooth on it makes me sick sometimes!).  I told her, "Go ahead and snicker but, that damn sound that spring is making when I depress the clutch is music to my ears, right now!"   Seriously though, like you, I gotta get back in there and find THE 2 most optimum places to hook the spring. 

Then I'm set so, thanks for your help and patience C-C members!     

[slsc98]

I found this today and gave it a try... didn't turn out the way I wanted but I have a few ideas going forward.

By the way, HP, did that spring you found have a name?  Or, any kind of part # or SKU #?
We don't have anything even resembling an  "Orchard Supply" here in Maryland but, I am sure that spring has applications across the board. I'm hoping if you can provide any name, part or SKU # I might be able to find some locally.

Thanks!   

[slsc98]

Exploded view of at least one clutch pedal assembly . . .

[HP_Cuda]

Let me see if I can scare up the SKU. I can even grab one for ya, although that one was almost 5 bucks alone.

B

By the way, HP, did that spring you found have a name?  Or, any kind of part # or SKU #?
We don't have anything even resembling an  "Orchard Supply" here in Maryland but, I am sure that spring has applications across the board. I'm hoping if you can provide any name, part or SKU # I might be able to find some locally.

Thanks!   

[slsc98]

No need to grab me one (right now) but, I am going to make a concerted effort to find one (or some). I can take the photo into different places with me but, I'm hopeful if there was a 'name' or 'description' on the package it'll save me a lot of yappin' at hardware clerks, etc!