Broken clutch pin on a 1964

[Mike Yager]

I took the car out for a drive this morning and ended up with a broken clutch pin. The pin sheared off at the very end where it goes through the clutch pedal. I was able to wedge a hammer against the clutch pedal to engage/disengage the clutch to drive the car home. Fortunately I was only about five miles from home when this happened.

Looking at the clutch/brake assembly and AIM, it appears there is a single pin that goes through the brake and clucth pedal and then is ecured with a clip at either end. I have not removed what is left of the pin as it is still through the brake pedal. It looks like LICS has a replacement part.

Is there a trick to getting this out without making a mess of things? It looks like when I pull the pin out (which looks like it will now come out easily) the spring that works the brake pedal might fall out. Will this happen and if so, how should I reassemble? Should I secure the brake pedal so I don't need to re-adjust the brakes or is this not an issue? Thanks.

[William C.]

Re: Broken clutch pin on a 1964

You can repair yours if you would like, as follows. While you are at it, look at the rod end that mounts onto the pin, as there is metal to metal motion there and if the pin broke the hole in the shaft is also elongated. I repaired mine by pressing ou the old pin (The pin is projection welded onto the plate so it requires some pressure to break the welds. Replace the pin with a like size pin and weld it in place(Tractor supply or hardware store) Then drill out the elongated hole in the shaft end and fit it with a bronze bushing with the od of your new hole and an ID same as the new pin you just installed. you may have to cut off some of the new bushing to get the length exact, but you can reassemble as factory that way and have a much improved system. Otherwise, if you go parts buying, buy the rod as well as the bracket/pin assembly.

[John H.]

Re: Broken clutch pin on a 1964

The pivot shaft that's staked/welded to the upper end of the clutch pedal is also the pivot shaft for the brake pedal, and there's a coil spring around the upper end of the brake pedal to hold it up against its rubber bumper. If you can't reliably repair the area where the shaft failed, the replacement pedals come with the pivot shaft attached - the assembly is held together with a spring clip on the inboard end of the shaft. When you reassemble it, use new plastic bushings, lube them (Lubriplate), and re-install the coiled pedal return spring at the top of the brake pedal as it was originally so it holds the pedal up against the rubber bumper - takes three hands, but it's not that difficult.

[Mike Yager]

Re: Broken clutch pin on a 1964

Thanks John and Bill:

That gives me a clear understanding as to how this all goes together, which is difficult to see in the AIM. It appears that the weld at the clutch pedal end has seperated cleanly from the pin. I went ahead and ordered a new pin which I can weld to the clutch pedal.

From looking at the assembly I had a feeling it would be a job for three hands.

Thanks again.

Mike