THE KOMBI KONNECTION

Kinga · Moderator Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 487 Location: Perth

I placed a post about this on this on another fourm and thought it fits here too as it has that "bush mechanic" flavour to it.

How to drive with a broken clutch cable.

Get someone to follow you so you have a buffer between any traffic (and they can take you home from your destination too)

Firstly, avoid using 1st or reverse gears (for the same reason you wouldn't when push starting)

Put it in 2nd gear, then start the car and it will lurch a little but will drive off kinda like getting a push start (sometimes you may have to start in 1st gear depending on vehicle)

When its time to change gears you will be able to disengage from 2nd wait about 1 second then with your foot off the throttle put it into 3rd (gently feel it first, if the gate aint open go back to 2nd)

If you time it right, there should be no noise or grinding of teeth (it will pop straight in), if you hear grinding, it's not lined up so go back.

The gear change is a bit earlier than what you would normally do if trying to keep up with traffic.

There was some sort of pattern too but I can't remember, like 2-3 is at 20mph and 3-4 is at 30mph, I actually just have the window down and listen to the engine note.

Repeat the process for 4th.

You can change down gears in a similar way by letting the vehicle speed and engine revs decrease before changing down. Can do it from 4th-3rd and from 3rd-2nd but don't try changing down form 2nd to 1st or you will be grinding teeth and there is really no need.

If you have to stop just go from 2nd to neutral and apply the brake.

Once you have stopped, turn off the ignition and start the process again.

Of course It's better to wait until late at night when there is no traffic.

I have driven without the clutch quite a few times in Beetles and Kombis.

Always good to practice since they are good at breaking clutch cables (practice 2-3, 3-4 only of course)

_________________
Kinga

Archeress · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

i hope you dont mind kinga that i have printed this out and is in my glove box now... Very Happy

_________________

BRM..BRM..BRMM BRMMM

Kinga · Moderator Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 487 Location: Perth

Roadcow · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:03 am Post subject:

I learned to do this when I was 8. My dad broke the clutch on his `1960 356B Cabriolet in the middle of San Francisco in a Rally! He made me watch so I could learn. Came in handy when I was in Idaho several years later and the cable on my 71 Westy broke 600 miles from home. Lucky it was mostly freeway driving.