FAQ |
Members List |
Social Groups |
Calendar |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor. |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Amputee complications with clutch pedal pressure
So here is the deal. A few years ago I restored a 1968 Firebird for a customer. It is an original 400/4 speed car. Soon after completion, the owner had a medical condition that required removal of his lower left leg.
He wants to retain the 4 speed instead of going with an automatic. Can someone here offer an alternative situation? I'll be looking at hydraulic set ups as an option to a mechanical arrangement. Last edited by 400 4spd.; 12-18-2021 at 11:52 PM. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
I found this on the net;
https://www.beneficialdesigns.com/pr...hand-controls/ I don't know if this is something that could help out, or not? It says it requires good dexterity, and arm strength. The only other thing I could think of is a switch on the shifter (maybe activated by something like a motorcycle clutch handle) and an electric motor, and pump to assist a hydraulic clutch. Would require a bunch of fabrication to get it all working though. A rheostat could make it apply at a variable rate? Just trying to brainstorm something.
__________________
Brad Yost 1973 T/A (SOLD) 2005 GTO 1984 Grand Prix 100% Pontiacs in my driveway!!! What's in your driveway? If you don't take some of the RACETRACK home with you, Ya got cheated Last edited by Sirrotica; 12-19-2021 at 02:05 AM. |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
My wife had one in her Karmann Ghia which she loved to drive without the hassle of operating a clutch pedal.
__________________
Ed 1968 GTO (Thanks Mom) 2006 Silverado 2007 Cadillac SRX 2015 Chevy Express |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Vertigto thank you for the welcome.
Steve no problem I’ll watch for it. Have been out of town or these would have been posted sooner. Just a few pics to help visualize what was described above. First pics are from the passenger compartment. In my case there is a hand control lever for throttle and braking that the clutch lever is connected too. In the case of the OP the clutch lever would likely best fit to the shifter for convenience. Two fingers operate the clutch. The last pic is the bulk of what is hidden inside the fender. What’s not shown but still hidden is the additional master cylinder and hydraulic lines that connect to the forward side of pictured assembly. The only visible piece under the hood is a small remote clutch reservoir that’s sits next to the OE reservoir. Just want to say again that the ideas posted here from members are impressive. Only wish there were forums like these when starting this project years ago. To the OP, don’t let your client talk himself out of the effort. For someone who enjoys shifting it is a true pleasure in life and worth the trouble. And thanks to you for trying to accommodate him. Bill |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Lower left leg - what prosthetic if any is he using? Maybe, with a good prosthetic and a hydraulic clutch, he can operate as normal?
__________________
1965 Pontiac GTO 455/469 w/ #48 Heads, '65 Tri-Power 9.25:1 CR Stump Puller Cam Muncie M22W 1st-2.56 2nd-1.75 3rd-1.37 4th-1.00 3.55 Rear Differential Front: 225/60R15 Height: 25.6" Rear: 275/60R15 Height: 28" |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for trying to help out your customer. I'm a BK amputee on my right leg so my problem is different than his. One of the biggest things I found was loss of ankle movement. My prostheses allows some ankle movement but not a lot. Couple things. What's his range of motion and strenth of left leg? Has your customer tried to work the clutch pedal to identify any problems or issues? That should give you a start point. Sounds like he has a positive attitude which is a big help. Please feel free to to PM me or pass my contact info to your customer.
John |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
What John Said
Quote:
Clay |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
If he can work a pedal but needs lighter load, two possibilities come to mind:
1) switch to a dual disk clutch because they need less pedal effort to achieve the necessary torque capacity. Most of them need a deeper bellhousing but I think the McLeod will fit in a stock bellhousing. 2) I worked on a Ford 1-ton truck many years ago that had an over-center spring arrangement on the clutch pedal. When the pedal was up, the spring was pushing the pedal up. Part way thru the pedal travel, the spring went past center and started assisting in pushing the pedal down. That would take a bunch of fabrication to recreate that, but it's good to put all ideas on the table. Hope this helps, Eric
__________________
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" noted philosopher Mike Tyson Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for all of the responses, they are all helpful. And I realize I should have given more information in my first post. My customer does wear a prosthetic leg, but I can't describe the design/type that it is. He called me last week to say he had finally driven the car (on his farm property) for the first time since the surgery, and that it was a bit painful to operate the clutch because of the pressure it required. Without going through the receipts I'm pretty sure I put a Ram brand diaphragm clutch in it.
Because he lives an hour and a half away, I think I'll go and visit him to see what his limitations are and talk about some possibilities. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#12
|
|||
|
|||
How about a hydraulic clutch and a power brake booster. A very small booster could be modified to accept a clutch master cylinder making it very easy to apply.
|
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Tight quarters for an added booster. I've used hydraulic clutch set ups on Tremec conversions where an automatic was pulled out, so I don't have any "same car" mechanical vs. hydraulic comparisons to rely on. Does swapping mechanical to hydraulic reduce pedal effort? |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Pedal effort can be reduced by sizing different bores on the master and slave, but it's a tradeoff. Reducing the pedal effort also increases the stroke, no free lunch when you're doing a certain job requiring X amount of lbs to move, requires Y amount of energy.
It just gets there by either a long stroke with less effort, or a short stroke with more effort. The same amount of energy is required either way. It's just simple physics. The assisted power from say a power steering pump, or as I first posted an electric pump. There is also a way to pulse an electric over hydraulic valve electronically causing a dwell reading, or so much time open that can slow down, or speed up a hydraulic action. It can be done, but depending upon how much time and money the customer, and you is willing to expend. I guess it boils down to how much assist he's going to need with his condition. The equipment needed is going to vary upon how much physical effort he can put into each clutch disengagement/engagement continually. Stop and go could be a nightmare in this situation, and require much more assist than just a leisurely drive in the country. One other thing is if he float shifts after getting the car moving he's going to do a lot less clutching. Having driven big trucks for a few years, it takes some getting used to, to float shift, but of the 2 trucks I own with manual transmissions, I only use the clutch to start and stop, if he gets fairly proficient at float shifting you can kick the vehicle into neutral when stopping saving some more clutch effort. The electric hydraulic pump used in outboard boats to raise and lower the engine/drive unit would be plenty to run a hydraulic clutch. |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Saxomat used an automagic clutch that disengaged when the shift lever was pressed. Was quite sensitive. How could anything used in the Trabant go rong ?
|
#16
|
||||
|
||||
hydraulic clutch slave cylinder with a variable speed hydraulic pump with a constant, small diameter bleed orifice. I would think that speeding up and slowing down the pump would work with the "bypass" bleed orifice to give the sensitivity needed.
Just spitballin' here.
__________________
Clutch Guys Matter _______________________________________ 53 Studebaker, 400P/th400/9" 64 F-85 72 4-4-2 Mondello's VO Twister II 84 Hurst/Olds #2449 87 Cutlass Salon 54 Olds 88 sedan |
#17
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Take both ideas, and decide which would be simpler/cheaper to institute based upon the needs of the customer, space considerations, parts availability, etc. etc. FWIW, I mentioned this post to my wife, who is an RN, and a patient advocate for Medicare and insurance patients. She had some ideas of who could assist the customer as far as agencies. I'm sure she would be happy to reach out as far as, who might be able to assist in making the customers idea a reality. |
#18
|
||||
|
||||
I would think that working with a good prosthetist and Occupational Therapist would be at least as important, if not more so, than anything else.
__________________
70 TA, 467 cid IAII, Edelbrock D-port heads, 9.94:1, Butler HR 236/242 @ .050, 520/540 lift, 112 LSA, Ray Klemm calibrated Q-jet, TKX (2.87 1st/.81 OD), 3.31 rear https://youtube.com/shorts/gG15nb4FWeo?feature=share |
#19
|
||||
|
||||
What about a TH400 with a full manual valve body, still needs to be shifted but no clutch to deal with.
__________________
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ― Calvin Coolidge |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
I have had two cars with hyd bearing clutch setup.Never found them more EZ to push in.Still driving one of them today.FWIW,Tom
|
Reply |
|
|