4-speed clutch pedal problem

[hemi68charger]

Hey guys..
My friend posed with a question I wasn't quite sure about. I've owned 4-speeds in the past, but never had this problem. I couple of times this week he's been driving his '69 Charger R/T Hemi 4-speed. Well, at a stop light, he's depressed the clutch pedal and it's not retracted up, it stayed down. He had to manual pull it up. It didn't happen every time, but enough to cause him worry. Once moving, there doesn't seem to be a problem. During the recent Hemi installation, a new throw-out bearing was installed, the clutch that was in it was in great shape. I suggested the return spring was fatigued?...

Thanks in advance..

[red79]

if the adjustment nut on the clutch rod connecting the pedal to the z-bar is improperly set, this problem can occur.

if it's set too short OR too long, then the spring that returns the pedal will hold it to the floor after it's pressed down. you need to find the goldilocks adjustment point that results in a good amount of grip and a nice release point.

[Cooter]

Is he running a diaphram clutch? If so, the over center spring (Big one under dash) may have to be removed..

[Rolling_Thunder]

I agree with the diaphram clutch solution

[Troy]

Me three.

Troy

[elacruze]

Interesting bit-diaphragm springs have a large plateau in the rate curve;


This helps explain why the overcenter spring is necessary with standard pressure plates, but is problematic with diaphragm.

Did the problem start just after a linkage adjustment?

[hemi68charger]

Hey guys..
All of you are correct.. Seems to work properly.. Apparently he really had no issue prior to the hemi install. But, I went over to his house today and took off the "center" spring on the clutch pedal. He called me tonight to tell me it's never felt better. We found the original paperwork from years ago and voila, it was there in orange and black, remover center spring on a Chrysler.

[madmike]

hemi68charger:

How did you remove the over center spring with the pedals in the car?  Was it difficult to remove?  What's the trick?  Thanks!

Mike

[hemi68charger]

hemi68charger:

How did you remove the over center spring with the pedals in the car?  Was it difficult to remove?  What's the trick?  Thanks!

Mike

Hey Mike.
First, I disconnected the clutch rod from the pedal. Be careful, the pedal may snap close... You move the pedal to relief the force on it. Then, it was just a matter of prying it off with a large screwdriver or pickle-fork. I know I know... Rather grude, but it did the job. There's a pin sticking out of the pedal that one end of the spring attaches to. You'll see.... You basically have to get the spring past the notch in the pin....

Troy