Bleeding clutch system

[DanEC]

Bingo - Bleeder port was turned down. Details, details. Thanks for the tip Gaz64 - I should have been paying attention.

Now - new problem. I have a hard pedal but no stoke. Obviouisly I've got one of the cylinder pistons extended with fluid behind it. I doubt it's the slave cylinder siince I always had the push rod in place - but not sure. So how do I solve this problem in the easiest manner with the least DOT 3 spread around?

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

- but not sure.

If you have the slave bleeder screw open, and the tube on the bleeder, going in to a jar you can't miss telling that the master cylinder is squirting a nice flow of fluid when someone pumps the pedal. I mean you really can't miss it. It will be as plain and obvious as the nose on your face and that will tell you that the master cylinder is working right. If you can't get that far, then the problem is "upstream" from the slave cylinder.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If you have the slave bleeder screw open, and the tube on the bleeder, going in to a jar you can't miss telling that the master cylinder is squirting a nice flow of fluid when someone pumps the pedal. I mean you really can't miss it. It will be as plain and obvious as the nose on your face and that will tell you that the master cylinder is working right. If you can't get that far, then the problem is "upstream" from the slave cylinder.

Actually, once I got the bleeder on top I opened it up and it started gravity feeder into the jar (with air) so well that I just short-stroked the clutch pedal shaft lever under the car (per Bob's Manual) and didn't have to touch the pedal. As noted that only took a couple minutes. Maybe I need to crack the bleeder port again and try stroking the pedal now. Holding the pedal down hard, there is still a little free play in the rod so I know it's not in the clutch itself.

[patrickt]

You probably don't need it, but here's a shot of mine for reference. Note that in this shot you can not see the ERA-supplied aluminum spacer between the slave bracket and the block. For perfect alignment, my setup required that.

[DanEC]

It was nothing major - just another dementia moment. I didn't realize slave cylinders are spring loaded to extend - I thought they were spring loaded internally to retract - (which would still make sense to me). Adjusted the push rod to retract the slave cylinder for travel and everything seems to work OK now. Getting this thing up and running may be painful to watch.

Thanks again for the help.

Dan

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Bingo - Bleeder port was turned down. Details, details. Thanks for the tip Gaz64 - I should have been paying attention.

Seen it before with brake calipers as well.

Good to hear you have sorted it out.