hi
i have a 99 escort van ex post office.
it has only done 52,000 but i think the clutch may need replacing,
it dosent slip or judder, its just difficult to get reverse gear without a 
crunch.
although it dosent do it while warming up .
how much would a dealers or mechanics charge roughly to replace this.any 
thoughts appreciated.
andy

"andy"  wrote in message 
news:42f63b50$1_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...

> hi
> i have a 99 escort van ex post office.
> it has only done 52,000 but i think the clutch may need replacing,
> it dosent slip or judder, its just difficult to get reverse gear without a 
> crunch.
> although it dosent do it while warming up .
> how much would a dealers or mechanics charge roughly to replace this.any 
> thoughts appreciated.
> andy
>


first check the idle speed

clutch cable would be my first point of call

"andy"  wrote in message 
news:42f63b50$1_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...

> hi
> i have a 99 escort van ex post office.
> it has only done 52,000 but i think the clutch may need replacing,
> it dosent slip or judder, its just difficult to get reverse gear without a 
> crunch.
> although it dosent do it while warming up .
> how much would a dealers or mechanics charge roughly to replace this.any 
> thoughts appreciated.
> andy
> 

> i have a 99 escort van ex post office.
> it has only done 52,000 but i think the clutch may need replacing,
> it dosent slip or judder, its just difficult to get reverse gear without a 
> crunch.
> although it dosent do it while warming up .
> how much would a dealers or mechanics charge roughly to replace this.any 
> thoughts appreciated.


Could possibly be a dodgy clutch slave cylinder, if it's a hydraulic clutch. 
If it's a cableised one, then the self adjuster could be knack'd.

-- 
Peter

"You're not a real UKRCMer until you've had an ex-post office Escort van 
with a crunchy gearbox."

now you come to say, the revs do seem a little high.not sure what they 
should be on a diesel engine.
will also try a new cable,seems a bit sticky on full travel of the pedal.
are cables hard to change,read somewhere about a self adjusting ratchet 
mechanism,although not sure if mine has this
" dojj"  wrote in message 
news:dd5kvk$p3f$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...

> clutch cable would be my first point of call
>
> "andy"  wrote in message 
> news:42f63b50$1_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>> hi
>> i have a 99 escort van ex post office.
>> it has only done 52,000 but i think the clutch may need replacing,
>> it dosent slip or judder, its just difficult to get reverse gear without 
>> a crunch.
>> although it dosent do it while warming up .
>> how much would a dealers or mechanics charge roughly to replace this.any 
>> thoughts appreciated.
>> andy
>>
>
> 

andy wrote:
<snip>
read somewhere about a self adjusting ratchet

> mechanism,although not sure if mine has this


Escort *cars* did away with the awful self adjust system around '94, so I
would guess your van would be manual adjust. There will be an adjuster that
needs a hexagon key near the top of the clutch pedal. The basic procedure
is to use a tape measure to ensure the amount of travel is 150mm +-5mm. A
rough check is to see if the clutch pedal is level with the brake pedal -
if it's a lot lower, you won't be fully disengaging the clutch when it is
depressed. This would cause difficulty in engaging reverse.

TBH, there is often a knack to making a silent engagement of non-synchro
reverse gear. If it is difficult to engage, try selecting first, let up the
clutch so the car (or van :-)) just starts to move, then try engaging
reverse. Apologies if you already understand this.

HTH

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply

thank you Chris for your information. I will try what you have said about 
engaging first gear first and then reverse.
also  the ratchet mechanism I have had my head under the foot pedals and 
there looks a kind of ratchet  there but as you say also a Allen key,will 
give a try. many thanks.
Andy
"Chris Whelan"  wrote in message 
news:2HuJe.13448$hc4.8823@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...

> andy wrote:
> <snip>
> read somewhere about a self adjusting ratchet
>> mechanism,although not sure if mine has this
>
> Escort *cars* did away with the awful self adjust system around '94, so I
> would guess your van would be manual adjust. There will be an adjuster 
> that
> needs a hexagon key near the top of the clutch pedal. The basic procedure
> is to use a tape measure to ensure the amount of travel is 150mm +-5mm. A
> rough check is to see if the clutch pedal is level with the brake pedal -
> if it's a lot lower, you won't be fully disengaging the clutch when it is
> depressed. This would cause difficulty in engaging reverse.
>
> TBH, there is often a knack to making a silent engagement of non-synchro
> reverse gear. If it is difficult to engage, try selecting first, let up 
> the
> clutch so the car (or van :-)) just starts to move, then try engaging
> reverse. Apologies if you already understand this.
>
> HTH
>
> Chris
>
> -- 
> Remove prejudice to reply