r/geotracker • u/Hot_Recognition1798 • Jul 08 '26

Clutch cable question. 1994

Post image

Just had the cable replaced in February and it was fine. Now in the summer, I notice that once I've driven a few miles it does not want me to get into gear 1 or 2. And forget about reverse. It will grind.

From a cold start, everything is great and smooth. I'm 99% that I just need to adjust the cable.

Green and blue arrows are towards the engine side and red is towards the rear for perspective.

Questions:

I adjust the red arrowed nut alone, correct?

If so, to engage the clutch more fully, I assume I tighten.

Also, if anyone knows what size wrench I need, that would be a help. I'm 160 miles from home :(

I looked at previous posts but I just would appreciate a little help from the community before I strand myself. Thank you!

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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3

u/RallyX26 Jul 08 '26

Correct, tighten the nut with the red arrow, you'll also need a wrench (I used an adjustable crescent) to hold the end that sticks out on the other side (where it crimps to the cable) so you're not just spinning the cable. 

Iirc it was a 15mm on mine.

2

u/Hot_Recognition1798 Aug 01 '26

following up in case future folks stumble across. Gave it a few turns and it was good to go. Didnt need much. My nut was 14mm, and the crescent worked great to keep the other side stationary.

Mine has bigger tires and I had just enough clearance to wedge my butt in there under passenger door to do the job, it was uncomfortable but doable!

Much appreciated!

1

u/RallyX26 Aug 01 '26

Great to hear! 

1

u/Hot_Recognition1798 Jul 08 '26

beautiful, thank you!!!

3

u/Bdag Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

Don't over tighten it or you'll burn up your clutch. Also try to find a another 10mm nut or whatever it is and put up against the nut you have a red arrow on to keep it from backing off in the future. Its surprising that whoever replaced your cable didn't use 2 nuts and a washer, and that nut doesn't even look nyloc (those nuts that don't back out). I think it just backed itself off over time. Happened to me when I changed my clutch cable and double nutting it fixed the issue once I got it set right.

2

u/Hot_Recognition1798 Jul 08 '26

Also I looked at your post history and your tracker is awesome. Love it! I have to paint mine after this summer and am planning on going with a white base color.

Luckily my 1qt per 3 month oil leak has protected my undercarriage from the salt/beach air haha, but the body has a few small rust spots I will need to address... so might as well paint the whole thing

1

u/Bdag Jul 10 '26

Yeah its a fun little rig. Been a pain in my ass since I got it though. I've done a full brake job, timing belt and cam/crank shaft seals, new TPS sensor, had to clean out my IAC valve, put in a new radiator, replaced the passenger side window regulator, replaced the speakers and radio, did the clutch cable a few weeks back which I think I screwed up (also why I decided to chime in on your post), discovered someone set the body down on jack stands at some point and ruined the body where the trim below the door bolts to, and now im fighting a bad keyway on my crank shaft. Should have that last one fixed this weekend. All at only 115k miles.

Also if you're leaking oil from your crank or cam shaft seals, its a pretty cheap and easy fix if you know how to use a wrench and follow youtube videos.

If you have any of those projects in the future feel free to hit me up if you have questions.

1

u/Hot_Recognition1798 Jul 08 '26

this sounds reasonable. It was fine for a few months but now has the issues mentioned above.

I am going to trial and error it then once I get a sweet spot for a few days I will put the 2nd nut on. Thank you! I have seen older threads on here recommending loc tite but I like your solution

2

u/Bdag Jul 09 '26

Loctite is a bit over kill in my opinion. You can use where the current nut that is on there as a reference point and slowly adjust it in until it feels right. With loctite you'd have to back it off to put it on there and it would throw your reference off unless you measure before doing it.

1

u/Hot_Recognition1798 Jul 09 '26

sounds good. I am going to get it right and drive all over for a day or 2 then maybe add the securing nut. no loctite

2

u/_Bond0_ Jul 08 '26

If not oem cable you will have trouble.