How to remove a clutch pedal spring

[willowbilly3]

It seems easiest if the steering column is completely out of the way.

#1. Remove cotter key and castle nut from cross shaft and remove linkage arm.

#2. Stare at clutch pedal return spring for several minutes, smoke a cigarette if so inclined.

#3. Remove all loose and dangling speaker wire from previous sound system, keep handy for later use.

#4. Decide that maybe you can pull the spring far enough with vice grips to unseat it.

#5. Wrap old speaker wire tightly around bicep and hold with teeth to stop bleeding from elbow after vice grips slip off.

#6. Remove whole pedal assembly bracket by removing master cyl. and 6 other remaining bolts.

#7. Curse previous owner who jammed the threads on one bolt that was put in backwards with a nut on the back. Do this while once again using speaker wire to stop blood flow from knuckles.

#8. After removing the whole pedal assembly you can now remove pedal stop to rotate pedal and release spring tension.

Footnote: Satisfactory results can be had without the bleeding part.

[69F110]

Willowbilly3... you are the man. Thanks for the laugh (not at you, but with you)

[wekelm]

I don't thick I've ever worked on anything without the need of a tourniquet.

[FORDification]

I don't think I've ever parted out a manual-transmission truck that still had that return spring...they've always been missing!

[bluef250]

Very well stated - I can relate. Somehow I managed without blood and without removing everything else!! Don't know how now? Putting it back was the hard part. Where can you find new spring? Dealer?

[willowbilly3]

I didn't bleed either. It just made it more fun to read.
I had one of those springs break once when I was driving at night. It flew clear back to the cab corner and almost gave me a Coronary. (That's when you need another Corona) I never noticed much difference without it.
An interesting side note is that I found out the pedal stop has the hole drilled off center so it can be rotated to adjust how high the pedal comes up.

[granitestate68]

JB,

That was great, thanks. Man, I'm still laughing. Had to backspace a few times to spell things right.

Lee

[NM5K]

#2. Stare at clutch pedal return spring for several minutes, smoke a cigarette if so inclined. .........................


Hey, thats the secret right there....One of my fav tactics...
BTW, my 68 *had* a spring at one time...I still have it.
I once thought about putting it back on, but after a couple
of quick tries, I decided I didn't need a spring that bad...
And yes, I actually don't think it really makes much difference.
My 74 never had a spring, and the clutch setup on both trucks is
pretty much the same. MK

[Pro-Street/StateTk]

Hope this will help some back when I did my disc brake swap on my old
65 I was wanting the 73-79 wide brake pedal so I had to remove the old
brake and clutch pedal , so to get the big hood hinge size spring off the
upper part of the clutch pedal, I sat two 2x4s under the clutch pedal at
an angle the top one sliding off the bottom one, I then place a bottle jack
on top one pointed at the spring and took a small peice of angle iron flat
against the pedal an let it hook the spring and started to jack it up and off!
You will have to keep the angle iron and jack lined up and also watch your
(EYES) mine hooked on some wire and was hanging there when I pulled my
head back in to look! It works great and about three to four pumps and its
off!


Disclaimer/ always wear safety glasses when doing some thing this
( DANGEROUS ) also do not pinch you hand while holding the angle iron on
the bottle jack!!!!!!!