Bleeding clutch system

DanEC · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2012, 02:51 PM

Aaagghhhh - I hate hydraulic clutch systems. Only one I ever had to work on was a Toyota PU 25 years ago. I can't get this thing to bleed - looking for ideas.

I first tried bleeding it per the manual - at the slave cylinder bleeder and stroking the pedal linkage arm instead of the clutch pedal. No good. I then got the wife to stroke the pedal while I bleed it at the slave bleeder. No good. I then got out a Phoneix injection bleeder and tried injecting it at the slave bleeder valve into the reservoir. No good. I then reversed the Phoneix and tried vacuum bleeding it at the slave bleeder. No good.

Should I take the push rod out before trying to bleed the slave cylinder? I'm not getting much stroke before taking up the play at the throw out bearing.

Also haven't tried bleeding the clutch master cylinder separately.

Any suggestions?

DonC · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2012, 03:16 PM

I use a Gunson's EZ Bleed with 5lbs. of air in my portable tank. Attach the inline reservoir to the portable tank and the Brake/Clutch reservoir and just open the bleed screw on the slave cylinder. Whole operation takes about 5 minutes to bleed the master and slave and I don't need anyone else to help me. The inline reservoir holds about 8 oz. of fluid so you never really have to worry about running out of fluid while you're bleeding the system.
DonC

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2012, 03:25 PM

There's something wrong. Clutch bleeding the ERA cars is quick and easy. Did you have the nose of the car tilted up, and surgical tubing on the bleeder screw of the slave headed toward a bottle or jar that has fluid in it? I've had mine completely apart and then back together with a one-man flushing this way. Of course, I can post a pic, but I don't think that's even warranted here.

Grubby · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2012, 05:54 PM

I just rebuilt my clutch master and bled it in 15 minutes with a Mityvac hand pump.

You must be missing something.

It does help to have the nose of the car up.

John

DanEC · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2012, 06:31 PM

Nose is jacked up in the air. Hose on the bleeder nipple buried in a jar of brake fluid. Couple loose connections at the start but after tightening them up the system was tight. Most of my cars have had manual clutch linkages - but guys, I've been bleeding brake systems for at least 25 years. I agree - something is wrong.

Are you vacuum bleeding or pressure bleeding from the slave bleeder? Are you leaving the pushrod to the clutch fork in?

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2012, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanEC

Are you vacuum bleeding or pressure bleeding from the slave bleeder? Are you leaving the pushrod to the clutch fork in?

Yes, don't touch the rod to the fork. Put the surgical tubing on the slave bleeder, put the other end in a jar, crack the bleeder a bit, pump the pedal from inside the car, and the jar should fill up obviously and quickly - the tube will fill as well. If it doesn't do this, there's something wrong.