Clutch problem : 1964 Beetle

Dear Forum Members:

When I was at a stop light today, I tried to put my beetle into 1st gear and heard a howl (not very loud) and the vehicle will not move in any gear. Before the stop light I was headin' into town at about 55mph without problems, noises etc. The engine starts fine. Another symptom I notice is the car is very hard to push forward (even with 3 men pushing). I do know that my beetle is on the last clutch adjustment as well. I am definitely due for a new clutch, but the car has been doing pretty well with the older clutch. I live on a steep hill and my car climbs the hill just fine; no slipping.

Any advice on what the problem could be will be greatly appreciated.

Please help! Thanks, Casey

P.S. I have had a busted shift rod coupler before and the symptoms were similar.

Dear Forum Members:

When I was at a stop light today, I tried to put my beetle into 1st gear and heard a howl (not very loud) and the vehicle will not move in any gear. Before the stop light I was headin' into town at about 55mph without problems, noises etc. The engine starts fine. Another symptom I notice is the car is very hard to push forward (even with 3 men pushing). I do know that my beetle is on the last clutch adjustment as well. I am definitely due for a new clutch, but the car has been doing pretty well with the older clutch. I live on a steep hill and my car climbs the hill just fine; no slipping.

Any advice on what the problem could be will be greatly appreciated.

Please help! Thanks, Casey

P.S. I have had a busted shift rod coupler before and the symptoms were similar.

Sounds like you have one again. Either that or the throwout bearing is toast.

BoatCop,

I have to sometimes advise my mechanic on how to do repairs on my
beetle. My mechanic is not an expert on VWs, but he always gets the
job done for not much money. Sounds to me like I may have one of the two issues listed below:

1) If the throwout bearing is damaged, is that fairly easy to install without having to drop the motor?

2) I know the shift rod coupler sits underneath the gear shift plate, so that is not that difficult to install.

Please let me know if I am on the right track here.

Thanks,

BoatCop,

I have to sometimes advise my mechanic on how to do repairs on my
beetle. My mechanic is not an expert on VWs, but he always gets the
job done for not much money. Sounds to me like I may have one of the two issues listed below:

1) If the throwout bearing is damaged, is that fairly easy to install without having to drop the motor?

You have to drop the engine. The throw-out bearing is on the main shaft between the trans and the clutch/flywheel.

2) I know the shift rod coupler sits underneath the gear shift plate, so that is not that difficult to install.

The coupler is beneath the cover under the back seat. The March issue of Hot VWs has an excellent article detailing the shift rod coupler replacement.

Please let me know if I am on the right track here.

Thanks,

You are! :)

I have a 69 Vw bug and when i put it away for the fall it was fine, when I went to pull it out for the good weather, the clutch doesnt work? Does anyone have any ideas?

I have a 69 Vw bug and when i put it away for the fall it was fine, when I went to pull it out for the good weather, the clutch doesnt work? Does anyone have any ideas?

A little more info is needed.

Does the clutch pedal just go to the floor and stay there, or is it something else?

"Clutch doesn't work" doesn't give us very much to go on. Describe eactly what it doesn't do and under what circumstanes, ie. "When I push the clutch in and try to put it in gear, the gears just grind"