Roma C15 Clutch/gear problem

[alansdad]

Hello I am a new member here. I have a 1989 c15 Romahome. I took it out today for the first time in months and after about ten miles drive on the motorway I stopped at a service station to do the tyre pressure . When I went to pull away I found it very hard to get into gear. I think this means clutch problems but I am not sure. I did manage with a lot of brute force and some swearing to get it into gear and back home. Any advice on how and what to check would be most helpful. Thanks

[ant]

Hi Alansdad.
Is your clutch pedal quite stiff to depress? If so I'm affraid you probably need a replacement clutch. What you have described is quite common on older clutches on the C15, what is happening is the clutch centre is being pushed out rather than the springs releasing the pressure plate, this makes it hard to get into 1st and reverse to start with then the other gears follow with crunching noises. If you are stuck anywhere put it in gear then with your foot on the clutch and hand brake on start the engine.
If the pedal feels quite light to depress you can probably get away with adjusting it. Under the air filter you'll see the end of the cable which has a threaded end with a 10mm and 11mm nut as a lock nut. run the nut down the thread( shortening the cable) about a quarter of an inch and try the clutch again, note where it bites in relation to the pedals travel, somewhere about 2 inches off the floor is about right.
Thanks
Ant

[alansdad]

Thanks ant. I did manage to adjust the clutch and the gear change is now smoother than it has ever been. It's a joy to drive, wish I had done it ages ago.