How do you adjust the clutch on a 1972 vw bug?

Answer 1

Jack up the driver's side rear of the car. Support the unit with a jackstand, cars falling on you could really screw up your day. Get under car and look for the clutch release lever, it'll have a cable from the front of the car with a wingnut on the end and will be on a shaft coming out from the bell housing. Have friend measure the clutch pedal at rest with a ruler placed on the floor so that as one depresses the clutch pedal to the feeling of resistance one can measure the distance. This is known as free play. Too tight and you'll kill the throwout bearing or burn up the clutch plate. Too loose and you won't be able to shift without grinding gears. Back under car, if pedal is too tight (ie: not enough free play) twist the wingnut on the cable counter clockwise to set the free play to 1/2 to 3/4" . Reverse if too loose. Turn 3 complete revolutions and recheck free play.