[Franco]

Hi Mightysquirrel,

Could this be the culprit for the pedal effort ?

The pivot point and the release arm should be inspected for wear,
especially the arm at the point where it moves the release bearing.
If the arm has worn at
the engagement point, it will require more pedal effort to disengage the clutch. There is
usually a slight curvature on the arm at this point. Inspect to ensure that it is still present.
If excessive wear on the arm is present, replace the arm.