I have a problem I would like some help with....

Is there a way to move the clutch over to the stick shift to be hand operated?

Reason: I am 6' 2" and its a rather tight fit for me. My left foot is partially/permanently dissabled (I cannot lift my foot up) and I have to lift my leg up past the belt line on the door (above the bottom of the window) to get my foot onto the pedal. Needless to say, its a very tight fit and my knee wedges between the door and the steering wheel, keeping me from turning it until I depress the clutch, or take my foot off it. I tried to run with my foot always on it, but if I hit bumps too hard I depress the clutch, not good, and I find myself occasionally smoking it as well.

I am considering a bowden cable with a 'T' handle around the shaft so I can pull it up with my fingers just befor I shift, sorta like the shift locks on a floor mounted shift for a Automatic tranny.
The other option, is to go to an automatic, but I dont have the $$$ for that right now.
Any help with this would be appreciated, Thanks :D

sounds like you should look at aftermarket hydralic they make push and pull slaves so you can fit what ever down there.

figure out where you want the hand lever and make a long(er) handler to operate it...

willwood make all kinds of stuff....

good luck

-mike

Yeah, a hydraulic system could be fitted, but by the time you buy and install all of the components, you´ll likely be close to the cost of an auto tranny install...

I would see no reason why the clutch cable couldn´t be re-routed to near the shift lever. A couple of considerations off the top of my head tho:

1) The cable must not be kinked of otherwise made to run in a tight circle. This will cause internal friction and / or premature cable failure, as well as make actuation more difficult.

2) You´ll likely have to come up with some sort of lever mechanism for the hand lever in order to create a mechanical advantage. Depressing the clutch with our foot is one thing, by hand quite another. I´d think that you´d tire quickly engaging the clutch without som sort of mechanical assistance.

HTH

Air cyinder and some controls/bleeds on the shifter or an electric screw actuator? I don't think you will be able to operate the clutch by hand. You'll need to get some arm movement in there too to give yourself enough throw for the mechanical advantage.

Ken

Some old beetles used a vaccum diapham to operate the clutch linkage with a big vaccum reservoir on the engine. Just an idea.

Thanks for the input, Yea the mechanical advatage is lost when moved to the shift lever. I was more woried about the logistics first.
The vacume operated one sounds like it may work, I will look into it, maybe run something of a second power brake booster to drive the clutch cable?
Hydralic is a good posability, maybe run something like the ranger setup with a slave on the input shaft?

I figure to get my Mechanical advatage back I may have to put a secondary lever system into play somewhere, but the vacume and hydralic systems may eliminate that.
The biggest thing that may be a problem is getting the 'feel' right so you dont dump the clutch. and Fatigue may become an issue also.

Good thoughts! thanks, i'll keep you all updated.

I am in Ohio/Pa and I have a th350 you can have if that will help! It may need rebuilt though as I dont know what condition it is in.

But I am keeping the 1.3 for now. They dont mate up do they?
I appreciate the offer though, really. :D

Anoth option would be to put in a hand throttle on your shifter and use your right foot to shift and brake. I used to have to drive like that in traffic in Phoenix when i had a broken ankle. I would kick the tranny in neutral when i was rolling up to a stop light. Roadless gear has the hand throttles. Good luck

Originally posted by Orionn
But I am keeping the 1.3 for now. They dont mate up do they?
I appreciate the offer though, really. :D

I doubt they would bolt right up.... I may be buying 2 Sammis off a friend, if either one of those has an auto, I will let you know! :)

Anoth option would be to put in a hand throttle on your shifter and use your right foot to shift and brake

Hey that might work!! I dont drive it on the road often anyhow, just to the trails from the campsight (i flat tow it everywhere). That may be a real good way, I will have to try that out thanks!!

I may be buying 2 Sammis off a friend, if either one of those has an auto, I will let you know!

I dont know of any Sammies with Auto's from the factory, but hey if you get one I might be interested. Its a swap that I will be doing, just not now. Thanks!!

You have helped me out ALOT, thanks everyone for your help!! :D

This may help. I'm 5 ft 17 inches tall and have a hell of a time shifting a stock samurai. My leg gets wedged between the wheel and the door like you mentioned. What I do is immediatly replace the steering wheel with a smaller one. My favorite is the Swift GT wheel. It is a couple inches smaller in diameter but is way thicker.

Hope that helps. -Eric

The thing with clutching is the feel. It would be hard to obtain this feel with hydrolics, and very hrd to get mechanical advantage within the confines of a Zuk dash.

I realy like the right foot and Hand throttle idea. This seems to make the most sence as you maintain the foot to clutch feel and it would be VERY easy to do.

Good luck!!