Auto and manual gearboxes 106 Clutch difficult to operate
160 Citroen XM Internet Reference Version 1.0
3/3/99
Bretten-Bauerbach, Germany
E-mail : jint_nijman@compuserve.com
WWW : http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jint_nijman
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Subject: Clutches!
Today, the clutch cable failed in an XM I am borrowing. This is the second time in 3 months that the
small plastic clip that fastens the cable to the pedal has failed in less than ideal circumstances. This =
got me thinking: Over the past 5 years, the following clutch cable failures have happened to me:
2 in a Seat Ibiza
2 in a Fiat Regatta
4 in a BX TZD
2 in an XM V6
I don’t think that this has anything to do with the way I drive (as has =
been suggested) as I don’t let my foot rest on the pedal - people who =
have stripped gearboxes down seldom do!), I don’t do violent gear =
changes. Over this period of time I have also run many examples of =
Metros (sorry!) and/or Minis - these have hydraulic clutches and I have =
never had any problem with one.
Cable operated clutches are mechanically simpler and should logically =
last longer as they have been in existence long enough to “evolve” =
(sorry for the Renaultspeak) into something reliable. Hydraulic =
clutches rely on precision engineered parts and should therefore be more =
susceptible to the vagaries of missed services, dirty fluid etc. What =
is wrong with this line of thinking?
Further thought reminded me that Citroen have been known to us =
hydraulics in the past :^) and so should really be a dab hand at it by =
now. It should really not be beyond the wit of a Citroen design =
engineer, or any engineering graduate, to design a system which uses the =
ready supply of hydraulic power in an XM to operate an electronic shift =
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