lubricating clutch cables and wheels

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jdflight
Posts: 110
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:37 pm

lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by jdflight »

Good evening

Has anyone ever lubricated the cable and pulleys in the tunnel on a EM. If so what did you use and where exactly did you put the grease.
jdflight
61Monza aka Wilma
:assault:
Scott V
Posts: 707
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:31 am

Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by Scott V »

the factory service manual has all the instructions/details on doing this.

-Scott V.
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bbodie52
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Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by bbodie52 »

Proper inspection, assembly and alignment are all critical factors, so utilizing the factory shop manual and assembly manual to guide you is important.

For example...
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual – Page BRAKES 5-7 wrote:inspection

If complete release of the parking brake is not obtained when release handle is pulled, or if application effort is high, check parking brake lever assembly for free operation. If operation is sticky or a bind is experienced, correct as follows:

1. Clean and lubricate brake cables and pulleys.

NOTE: these pulleys must be lubricated, as outlined in section 2, every 12,000 miles.

2. Inspect brake lever assembly for straightness and alignment (replace if necessary).

3. Clean and lubricate parking brake lever assembly, which must operate freely.

4. Check condition and installation of return spring.
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual – Page LUBRICATION 0-8 wrote:PARKING BRAKE AND CLUTCH PULLEYS AND CABLES

Every 12,000 miles lubricate pulleys under dash. Remove the tunnel cover under vehicle and lubricate pulleys and cable bearing points with lubricant specified in Note 1. Lubricate gearshift lever ball and socket at the same time.

NOTE 1: Lubricate with water resistant EP lubricant.
:link: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... +lubricant
White Lithium Grease :link: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c ... Caps%2C135
Corvair Lubrication Diagram.jpg
See the attachments below...
Attachments
1965 Corvair Assembly Manual - CLUTCH CABLE AND LINKAGE.pdf
1965 Corvair Assembly Manual - CLUTCH CABLE AND LINKAGE
(1.46 MiB) Downloaded 32 times
1965 Corvair Assembly Manual - BRAKES.pdf
1965 Corvair Assembly Manual - BRAKES
(2.29 MiB) Downloaded 20 times
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual - SECTION 5 - BRAKES.pdf
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual - SECTION 5 - BRAKES
(4.6 MiB) Downloaded 22 times
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual - SECTION 0 - GENERAL INFORMATION AND LUBRICATION.pdf
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual - SECTION 0 - GENERAL INFORMATION AND LUBRICATION
(2.94 MiB) Downloaded 20 times
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 5 - Brakes.pdf
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 5 - Brakes
(923.04 KiB) Downloaded 18 times
1962-1963 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 5 - Brakes.pdf
1962-1963 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 5 - Brakes
(1.05 MiB) Downloaded 16 times
1964 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 5 - Brakes.pdf
1964 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 5 - Brakes
(933 KiB) Downloaded 15 times
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 6b - Clutch.pdf
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 6b - Clutch
(459.77 KiB) Downloaded 19 times
1962-1963 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 6b - Clutch.pdf
1962-1963 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 6b - Clutch
(128.83 KiB) Downloaded 24 times
1964 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 6b - Clutch.pdf
1964 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 6b - Clutch
(256.53 KiB) Downloaded 20 times
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 2 - General Lubrication.pdf
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 2 - General Lubrication
(722.9 KiB) Downloaded 20 times
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual - SECTION 7 - CLUTCH AND CONTROLS.pdf
1965 Corvair Chassis Shop Manual - SECTION 7 - CLUTCH AND CONTROLS
(4.83 MiB) Downloaded 23 times
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
66vairguy
Posts: 4528
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:44 pm

Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by 66vairguy »

Interesting how the cables were designed to go 12,000 before requiring lubrication - the same period of the warranty back then.

I'm going to guess few ever had that service done.
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bbodie52
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Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by bbodie52 »

:think: Considering how important both of these cables are, it is amazing how little respect, maintenance, or servicing they get — until something breaks. A broken parking brake cable or pulley mechanism can be disastrous — especially on a Powerglide-based Corvair, when you consider that the Corvair automatic transmission was manufactured without a PARK position to secure the car! Car owners have become so used to putting their car in PARK to secure it that the emergency brake system on modern cars is seldom used. But with the automatic Corvair the Parking Brake mechanism is all there is to secure the car and keep it from rolling away!

And with a clutch-based manual transmission Corvair, a broken clutch cable mechanism can be a real "show stopper", leaving the Corvair owner stranded and unable to drive the car! Many modern manual transmission cars utilize a relatively reliable hydraulic clutch mechanism. But the Corvair relies on an aging and lengthy cable system that often gets no consideration until the cable fails and the clutch pedal goes to the floor! And unless a spare cable is carried in the trunk, a replacement part could take days to obtain!

:helpsos: :sad5: :whoa:
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
jdflight
Posts: 110
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:37 pm

Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by jdflight »

Thanks for the information, I ended lubing all of them as suggested
jdflight
61Monza aka Wilma
:assault:
66vairguy
Posts: 4528
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:44 pm

Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by 66vairguy »

You might want to check out the clutch linkage at the back of the car. Another area that is often not lubed and parts can wear out.
PaulR
Posts: 133
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:56 pm
Location: Appleton, WI

Re: lubricating clutch cables and wheels

Post by PaulR »

jdflight wrote:Good evening

Has anyone ever lubricated the cable and pulleys in the tunnel on a EM. If so what did you use and where exactly did you put the grease.
I just did my parking brake cable from front to rear and used white lithium grease, the stuff that is sold in the small containers. First, I removed the park brake pulleys and shafts under the dash by the steering column and below the toe pan cover, then smeared both with lube, and anything that contacted the cable, all the way to the rear brake shoes. I then reassembled it all and wiped off the excess. If you have a standard transmission, do not forget about greasing the clutch cross shaft, it has a fitting, and it is pointed out in the owners guide maintenance section.

One later post mentioned the importance of the park brake on a Powerglide transmission. Many years back when I had my '65 500 PG at the upholstery shop, I came back to find the transmission in reverse and the brake not set. Hilarious.
1964 Monza convertible 110/PG
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