Clutch pedal return spring

[chrysleritis]

Good progress on the brake rebuild here on the '50 Champ Biz Coupe.
It's satisfying to put parts ON the car, rather than taking filthy, busted junk off. So -- I've taken apart the brake pedal, clutch pedal shafts and linkages and got 'em all back together again, cleaned, painted, re-greased, ready to bolt the master cylinder on again. But I can't figure out how to attach the new, very stiff clutch pedal return spring, which goes from a stud on the pedal to a small hole in the outside of the frame. This spring was busted and hanging loose when I started, so I've got no clue. I can't get enough leverage to stretch the bugger. The manual says something about removing the "splash shield". Is that necessary? What is it anyway, a little piece of sheet metal or what? Is there a good tool for this so I don't launch the %^$ spring across the garage again?

[N8N]

the "splash shield" is the cover underneath the car in the driver's footwell area that keeps the master cylinder and pedal pivots from being directly in the line of fire of the LF tire.

To install the spring, get some steel mechanic's wire and some kind of tool that can serve as a handle (breaker bar, etc.) hook the rear of the spring into its hole. make a loop with the wire and hook the front of the spring to it, use the breaker bar to pull on the loop of wire. It helps if you have a helper to guide the spring into its hole. Then just cut the wire to get rid of it.

good luck,

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
62 Daytona hardtop

http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

[chrysleritis]

Man, you're fast. THX.

[gecoe]

I was facing this same problem on my 50 and found that by bending the new spring sideways repeadedly I could shove a penney in it each time it was bent. Putting the penneys all on one side created an unwanted curve so I started bending it the other way and adding penneys as I went. As I added the penneys the spring was enlongated to the point where it was easy to slip it in place. I then pulled the penneys one by one with a pair of pliars. The whole process, start to finish should take about 20 minutes.

Forget the splash shield and try it, it works.

Gerry

[chrysleritis]

The pennies are clever, I'll give you that. Cheap tool.

Nah, I got it with a coat hanger. Straighten coat hanger, loop around end of spring,
loop coat hanger around breaker bar. Brace breaker bar end on front suspension,
pull hard to stretch spring, and then very quickly reach around to hook the spring
on before it snaps back. Heh.

But it's getting close to driveable. Need new tires, then fill and bleed new brake system,
then put on new water pump, fan belt.

[JDP]

I still prefer the five minute wire trick though.

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