What is the average life of a clutch cable?

gtzero · 02-23-2005

Hi All,

You might have surmised that the reason this question is posted is because my clutch cable snapped yesterday. Right on a busy PCH and right in the middle of a biblical down pour.

I remember when I first joined OMC of hearing people carrying spare clutch cables as part of their roadside emergency kits. I was proud of the fact that I never carried a clutch cable or for that matter a roadside emergency kit. My car never broke down on me. In the 5 years prior to joining the club, I've always gotten home. And had always been able to repair whatever came up. Just lucky I guess.

But my incident yesterday got me thinking that maybe some of the Opel folks were onto something. Maybe carrying a spare clutch cable isn't such a bad idea. Now that I'm older and wiser, it might make sense for me to do the same.

So how long DOES a clutch cable last?

Thanks,

Manny

jerseyopel · 02-23-2005

Forever, unless you remove the spare from the car. murphy's law

BQS4 · 02-23-2005

Manny;
Along with the clutch cable, carry a few spare "C" clips too. If you can't find the proper c-clips, carry a short piece of hose and a couple of hose clamps.

baz · 02-23-2005

the cable life depends on where you drive
in town its a shorter life that if you drive on long country roads and freeways because you use it more

its the cycle rate not the time
just like that hawian boeing 727 that popped its lid it did lots of takeoffs and landings then broke

and as said in the other posts it will last till you get 4 miles from anywhere and have took the spare out just before you left home

Dmcbrass · 02-23-2005

The last clutch cable I lost gave me lots of notice. I started feeling a rough clutch pedal, (a popping feeling), like it was binding or sticking. I also needed to adjust the free play to get the pedal height correct. It's really not that big a deal when the cable breaks. The GT is pretty easy to drive without a clutch. The biggest problem is that you have to put the car in neutral and shut it off everytime you come to a red light.

kwilford · 02-23-2005

Originally Posted by BQS4

Manny;
Along with the clutch cable, carry a few spare "C" clips too. If you can't find the proper c-clips, carry a short piece of hose and a couple of hose clamps.

Manny, are you sure your cable has "snapped", and it isn't just a broken C-clip? Much more common problem, and easily rectified.

rockytopmark · 06-24-2005

I had a 73 GT back in the 70's and 80's and went through 3 cables in 50,000 miles. They always broke in the middle of nowhere and thank goodness my Dad bought two so I had a spare the next time it happened.

Is the problem more inherent in certain years of the GT? I am buying a 70 GT and am driving it home from NC to Chicago and was thinking I should carry one with me for the ride and afterward.

There is one on ebay, came off a 70 Kadett Wagon. Ad says GT too, but anyone here gonna corraborate this claim? OGTS doesn't list a Clutch Cable for a 70 GT so I am getting scared these are hard to come by.

Thanks, Mark

rockytopmark · 06-24-2005

Senior Moment.

Thom71GT · 06-24-2005

My clutch cable is original.

02-23-2005	#1 (permalink)
gtzero Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 462	Unanswered: What is the average life of a clutch cable? Hi All, You might have surmised that the reason this question is posted is because my clutch cable snapped yesterday. Right on a busy PCH and right in the middle of a biblical down pour. I remember when I first joined OMC of hearing people carrying spare clutch cables as part of their roadside emergency kits. I was proud of the fact that I never carried a clutch cable or for that matter a roadside emergency kit. My car never broke down on me. In the 5 years prior to joining the club, I've always gotten home. And had always been able to repair whatever came up. Just lucky I guess. But my incident yesterday got me thinking that maybe some of the Opel folks were onto something. Maybe carrying a spare clutch cable isn't such a bad idea. Now that I'm older and wiser, it might make sense for me to do the same. So how long DOES a clutch cable last? Thanks, Manny

02-23-2005	#2 (permalink)
jerseyopel Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 252	cable Forever, unless you remove the spare from the car. murphy's law

02-23-2005	#3 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 6,027 Real Name: Gene Provided Answers: 12	Manny; Along with the clutch cable, carry a few spare "C" clips too. If you can't find the proper c-clips, carry a short piece of hose and a couple of hose clamps. __________________ "Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"

02-23-2005	#4 (permalink)
baz opel free after 26 years Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sunderland england Posts: 4,941 Real Name: barry williams Provided Answers: 4	the cable life depends on where you drive in town its a shorter life that if you drive on long country roads and freeways because you use it more its the cycle rate not the time just like that hawian boeing 727 that popped its lid it did lots of takeoffs and landings then broke and as said in the other posts it will last till you get 4 miles from anywhere and have took the spare out just before you left home __________________ Copyright © 2003-2009 barry williams All Rights Reserved save praying to God for sunday today we pray to Nike and run like hell

06-24-2005	#7 (permalink)
rockytopmark Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 134	Cable problem inherent to specific years maybe? I had a 73 GT back in the 70's and 80's and went through 3 cables in 50,000 miles. They always broke in the middle of nowhere and thank goodness my Dad bought two so I had a spare the next time it happened. Is the problem more inherent in certain years of the GT? I am buying a 70 GT and am driving it home from NC to Chicago and was thinking I should carry one with me for the ride and afterward. There is one on ebay, came off a 70 Kadett Wagon. Ad says GT too, but anyone here gonna corraborate this claim? OGTS doesn't list a Clutch Cable for a 70 GT so I am getting scared these are hard to come by. Thanks, Mark __________________ Mark 70 GT, Rebuilt 1.9L; ported, performance Cam , Weber 32/36, Pertronix, ported and torquered intake manifold, Sprint Exhaust manifold

02-23-2005	#5 (permalink)
Dmcbrass Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 392	The last clutch cable I lost gave me lots of notice. I started feeling a rough clutch pedal, (a popping feeling), like it was binding or sticking. I also needed to adjust the free play to get the pedal height correct. It's really not that big a deal when the cable breaks. The GT is pretty easy to drive without a clutch. The biggest problem is that you have to put the car in neutral and shut it off everytime you come to a red light.

06-24-2005	#8 (permalink)
rockytopmark Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 134	Found the OGTS part #... Senior Moment. __________________ Mark 70 GT, Rebuilt 1.9L; ported, performance Cam , Weber 32/36, Pertronix, ported and torquered intake manifold, Sprint Exhaust manifold

06-24-2005	#9 (permalink)
Thom71GT Life Long Opeler Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Metro Atlanta - Cumming, GA Posts: 686	My clutch cable is original. __________________ Thom - Ich liebe mein GT I've had my 71 GT since I was 3 when my father brought it home, and I'll have it till the day I die!!!!

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