OnlyOnThurs

(This is more of a rant).....as many of you know i own a 1982 GS, well the other day i was minding my own buisness driving my beloved RX-7 on a what seemed to be a nice relaxing sunday when out of no where the DAMN CLUTCH RETURN SPRING decides to give out...i just hear "PING"...and suddenly my cluth felt a little more loose than usual.

I pull over, look down and see a spring that is broken on one end laying next to my foot just staring at me and laughing........you know that laugh guys...that laugh that says " HAHA YOU KNOW IN THEORY I AM AN EASY FIX BUT IN REALITY ITS GONNA BE A PAIN IN THE *** TO PUT A NEW ONE OF ME BACK ON IN THAT TIGHT AREA ABOVE THE PEDALS!!!". Well fellow 1st genners...this is my rant.....i got another clutch "return spring" BUT I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME GET MY BIG MEXICAN HANDS IN THAT TIGHT SPACE TO PUT THIS NEW SPRING ON!!!!! UGHHHHH!!!

Has anyone gone through this wonderfully crappy dilema? what have you guys done to make this new spring install an easier install than trying to get through a crap load of wires and other plastic things that are in the way of your "mission" ?

Also the clutch feels fine like it is not going to the floor or anything its just my cluth pedal seems like its a little loose....not tight like usual. Will driving it like this hurt any of the clutch components? Im guessing no..but you guys tell me.


oh and here is a pic of it (item No. 41081A ) from trochoid's FSM link (thanks mang!):

dj55b

iTrader: (2)

why don't you just grab a long needle nose plier and use that? Might just be common sense I dunno

OnlyOnThurs

i tried that it wasn't working.;..that area is really F'in tight!! ill try it again tommrow...im telling you the what seems to be the "easiest" probelms always seem to give me the most trouble...

dj55b

iTrader: (2)

I'll have to look at it tomorrw and will let you know then ... My dash is off though

82transam

iTrader: (18)

I feel your pain, that spring has to be one of the biggest and I mean BIGGEST pains in the *** to do on these cars. You really need the patience of a saint to get that thing on there. iirc to get it on I actually removed the clutch pedal, put the spring on both ends, then stretched forced the pedal back on. That spring is STRONG!
Good luck!

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

That spring is horrendous. I broke the tip of a screwdriver off trying to get one on once. I decided to go without the spring. This was years ago on a Fiat X1/9.

two79rx7's

the way i see it

its a two person job:
one person tries to put the spring on.
the other person watchs, drinks a beverage of their choice and laughs.
the two people take turns so that at least they both have a chance to laugh.

OR

attach some strong wire or similar to the closest end of the spring to the drivers seat by going through several loops. twist the ends of the wire here and if needed pinch with small C clamp or similar wire tie used on small braided cable.

the other end of the spring is put in place on the pedal end or end furthest from the drivers seat.

one person positions himself ( or herself ) say on the reclined seat back and pulls on the wire by just leaning backward.
the other person positions at the cluch pedal area and guides the second end now under tension onto position.

if the dash limits the angle to which the wire orients the spring, you'll need to do an S curve to the wires path.
use foam rubber and sheets of thick cardboard and on bottom of dash to protect this area.
also get a couple of paint stiring sticks and duck tape them together with a notch cut into one end.
Use this assembly to help bring the spring up to a high enough level to attach it to where you want it and then come down and up over the bottom edge of the dash to the person pulling the wire.


let me know if this helps

FBsliderseven

iTrader: (2)

or just find someone w/ small hands to help you out.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

You'd seriously have to have the hands of a 4 year old to fit in that space. Even if you remove the flasher relay and wiper delay control boxes along with all the other relays etc that are down there you still have no room to work. It sucks!

FBsliderseven

iTrader: (2)

dang i might have to replace this soon...

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Can't say I've had one that was worn out, only reason I have had to mess with them is b/c I've installed 84/85 pedals on both my 83's... (the later pedals are wider and better setup for heel-toe and other fun stuff for those curious )