snapped clutch cable

[jamieM]

Hi, first really gorgeous day and I snapped my clutch cable! I have a pilgrim, Rover V8, but not sure what ford clutch cable i need,,,granada? scorpio? Has anyone got any clues, also wheres the best place to get one from. Looking at it, it appears to go into the gearbox bell housing....how do you fit it????

[tonym]

It's an early mk2 granada cable IIRC, try a search on this site as it's mentioned a few times, sorry I can't be more specific. There's always the option of a hydraulic conversion?

[tonym]

Here we go

Originally Posted by dave jenkins

Steve,
you need, according to the Pilgrim info. sheet, a 1985 Granada 2.8 cluth cable, part No. BB11152C.
I paid £7 something + vat. at my local factors.

[philip600]

Hi,
Sorry to hear your bad news. The clutch cable pligrim use is normally a Ford Granada or Sierra but there are dozens of different lengths. Best bet is to take cable along to motor factors to see if they can match it or Speedy Cables can make them any length. Be very carefull taking the old one out as it is easy to knock the clutch arm off it's pivot inside the bellhousing if it hasn't fell off when the cable snapped. ( I know this through bitter experience !! ) Firstly disconnect the cable at the pedal by pushing the quadrant back & unhooking the cable ( there isn't a lot of access in the footwell ! ) You should have a bracket on the back of the bellhousing which is clamped around the nipple, undo this, tie some string around the cable & very carefully pull the cable c/w string out towards the front of the car. Refitting is just the reverse using the string to guide the new cable through the bellhousing & clutch arm & refit onto pedal quadrant.
Where did the cable snap. It can happen if you haven't got a stop on the clutch pedal, or at the bulkhead if the cable is not lined with the hole it goes through, it then rubs & wears & snaps.
I'm in the process of going hydraulic because my cable operated clutch has been a problem since I bought the car.
Good Luck.
Regards Phil.

[jamieM]

Thanks guys.....I am now worried as the AA man disconnected the old one at the road side and tried to make a new one......Phil, what happens if the clutch arm has fallen off the pivot? major job? It snapped at the entrance into bulkhead, just afrer the plastic white housing.
How much and where would i go for a hydraulic conversion?
J

[TINKA]

Originally Posted by jamieM

Thanks guys.....I am now worried as the AA man disconnected the old one at the road side and tried to make a new one......Phil, what happens if the clutch arm has fallen off the pivot? major job? It snapped at the entrance into bulkhead, just afrer the plastic white housing.
How much and where would i go for a hydraulic conversion?
J

Send Tonym a PM for details on converting to a hydraulic system he has done a couple now and I believe it is a lot cheaper than going most other routes.

[KevinW]

If the clutch arm falls off its a gearbox out job to put it back on. But if its still hanging on, you should be able to trhead the new cable back on and be up and running in 1/2 hour (if you're lucky).
Kevin

[ceejayjay]

Regular Sumo problem. Go for a long length cable to reduce tightness of curve and thus friction. Often they get routed vie the manifold and its too tight. Route it right out towrads the radiator. You'll get alighte pedal too. Go hydraulic!! Get a Sierra pedal box and Magnum will build you the set up for about £200

[philip600]

Hi J,
I knocked my arm off replacing the clutch cable the day before I had planned a weekend away in the Lakes ! I wouldn't have minded but the old one hadn't snapped, it just looked a bit frayed !
If it has come off you may be able to do what I did ( with advice from fellow club members ) remove gearstick, support gearbox on trolley jack & undo bolts supporting this & the bolts holding the bellhousing. You should then be able to move the gearbox/bellhousing back about 2'' which may be enough to get your hand in to re-engage the arm onto the pivot & pins on shaft ( It is a ba***rd of a job which took me 6 hours !!! )
I finished it at 10.30pm & managed to get away for the weekend but it's something I don't want to do again. I am speaking to TonyM tomorrow for more info on hydraulic clutch conversion so don't know price. Magnum also do this conversion but I rang & left a message & they havn't rang back ?
My clutch is slipping so I've decided to change to hydraulic whilst doing this. You need a modified sierra pedalbox c/w master & slave cylinder + new clutch arm as the existing will have been drilled to fit the cable. If you search pilgrim clutch on here there are loads of posts with problems with cables snapping on Sumo's. It's just a bad bit of engineering. I don't know why they didn't go hydraulic as most V8's are this type anyway.
Hope to start mine in the next week or 2, will let you know how I get one.
Regards Phil.

[jamieM]

Phil/Ceejay, thanks for tips. Please note i havent the foggiest about making/fixing cars, so all this talk of master cylinders etc is alien....but Tony m replied so i will give him a call and talk about him doing it for me!!
Ceejay....in terms of a longer cable than the 1985 granada one, what do you recomend?
J