Clutch Repair? M 38

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:57 pm

My clutch cable popped or came undone up in the housing. My shade tree is not in a hurry but I am. Is it an easy fix for a novice?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:31 pm

Get some more evidence/data then let us know the entire situation.

1-Did the cable break?

2-Did the cable come loose at either end?

3-Is the linkage loose or disconnected between the pedal and the cable?

4-Is the release fork still on the fulcrum?

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:39 pm

Everything is in tack that I can see. The cable that runs into the housing is where it broke or came off. I wish I towed it home first instead of garage. It's just sitting there in his yard. Wonder if he would mind me working on it in his yard

. Sorry for the little info. I would/will have to take cover off to see where it disconnected or broke.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:42 pm

What and how it can be done depends on what you find.

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:25 am

On this website click on "Downloads" (under the banner at the top of the page), then "Manuals", then "M38" and you will find manuals for your jeep. Go through the illustrations and parts diagrams to see how the clutch works. That will give you a better understanding of how the clutch is put together. The clutch cable itself has a clevis on one end that attaches to the clutch cross shaft near the rear of the transmission on the driver's side, the other end is a ball that is swaged onto the cable. The ball end slips into the clutch fork. How and why it came loose is the question. You can gain access to the inside of the bellhousing through the top access plate.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:42 am

thanks Sky, top access plate? let me figure where that is. do i find it from under the jeep or coming in from under the hood.....pardon my ignorance!

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:27 am

The access panel is on top of the bell housing just forward of the gear shift lever. Take off the shift cover panel and you will see it. Its the oval cover in the pic below. The string you see coming around the back of the transmission is tied to the clutch cable clevis to keep pressure on the ball end so it won't slip out of the clutch fork as I install the engine in my M38.

Post by **wesk** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:16 am

Joe,

Download TM 9-8012, TM9-1804A, TM9-1804B and ORD 9 SNL G-740 and all of your questions will have answers in those four manuals. They are all free PDF files. They also have excellent illustrations you can print and take out to the work bench with you.

The Fulcrum that the fork pivots on is not listed here. It is in the parts list under the transmission.

Once you've downloaded the manuals and employed the use of these excellent drawings you will easily master the terminology of the parts and how they go together.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:18 am

Thanks a ton guys, especially for you patience!

went to garage and climbed under the jeep. I was able to pulll the cable out of housing and on the end of the cable was the ball intact and undamaged. It appears this ball/cable just popped out or came undone from the fork.

so if i take the gear cover off.i could possibly hook the cable back on or would i have to pull the transmission?

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Post by **wesk** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:22 am

If the ball is falling out of the fork then that usually means the spring (Item B in drwg) is broken or has come off. A few guys have had success with magnets and mechanical fingers getting the spring replaced.

For now just put a loop of wire around the end of the fork and pull it aft then slip the ball/cable back into the fork's socket/slot and see if that gets you home.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:43 am

so to get in there, could i go through gear shift column?would i have to pull the transmission?

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:46 pm

With much patience and luck you can hook the ball end of the clutch cable into the fork without taking anything apart - just finesse it into place. But you need to check the condition of the fork and associated parts - once you take the bell housing access cover off you will be able to see what is going on and hooking up the cable will be a snap.

Post by **wesk** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:39 pm

Which is what I had just suggested he do above.

If he has the later style bell housing he will need to remove the boot from the bell so he can see what he is doing.

This is the panel that needs to come off.

My money says the spring is broken and he may have to reconnect that cable several times on the way home.

joebuck · Post by **joebuck** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:43 pm

I went over to the garage. Showed the guy the diagrams( thank ya'll very much) and he seemed on board with the procedure...fingers crossed!!