More on clutch help

[Omathisen]

Hi,
The posting on clutch help is similar to what happened to me. My car has been running fine. I usually do relatively short runs -- up to an hour. But last weekend, I went further -- couple of hours round-trip -- and noticed after a while I had some difficulty finding the gears. Stopping at a light, almost back home, I could only find second. So I drove home in second. After I shut off the engine, I had no problem finding the gears again. And a day later, on a short run, had no problem. My wife told me it was me -- being tired after the long run and making mistakes. Of course, I do not like that suggestion (although have to admit it is possible. I was tired that day, having come back from travelling and missing a lot of sleep. One thing I have learned over the years, don't drive the Cobra unless you are 100%.) Any thoughts?
OMathisen

[rcassidy]

How close is your clutch resivour to your headers or engine? Could you be boiling the fluid? Same principals as brakes, applies to clutchs too.

Cheers,

[Omathisen]

Hi,
I am in the process of checking it out. Will post my findings.
OMathisen
ERA

[Omathisen]

Hi,
Bled the clutch this past weekend. The fluid that came out was black. Kept bleeding until clear. Result: firmer clutch pedal and no shifting issues so far. Took the car for short ride. This has not been an issue in the past 10 years so why now? And what does the black fluid mean? Just old and dirty? Or is something else going on? The clutch shares fluid reservoir with the brakes and the brakes have been bled several times over the past 10 years.
OMathisen
ERA 427

[pgermond]

Most likely a heat issue. I change my hydraulics once a year.

[Ibr8k4vetts]

"I could only find second. So I drove home in second"
I think everyone should practice driving with out a clutch! that way if your clutch ever go's out you can still drive home

[CHANMADD]

If you're sharing fluid with your brakes,the heated and cooled, and heated and cooled, cooked brake fluid will go black from heat,and this is what went into your clutch fluid.The moment there is any discoloration in the fluid in the reservoir you should flush the system and put new fluid,not that too many of us stick to this though, but it will help preserve all the seals as well.

[Omathisen]

There has been no discoloration of the brake fluid in the reservoir. I have bled the brakes every couple of years and again this past April. The fluid is clear. But between myself and others who have worked on the car for the past 10 years, I guess we forgot to bleed the clutch as well.
OMathisen

[Rwillia4]

The small amount of fluid that is in the lines doesn't "flow" in and out of the lines, meaning the same exact fluid that you put in the line a couple of years ago is more then likely in the same exact place in the lines. The reservoir only replaces fluid with more by adding it to the top of the line.

[Michael C Henry]

Is there a chance you had your foot resting on the clutch pedal? The clutch piston needs to start from an at rest position where it picks up fluid from the resivoir. At rest the small hole from the resivoir to the master cylinder bore is open. As soon as the pedal starts to move the piston in the master cylinder bore the hole is covered so fluid pressure can start to build. I've seen where a guy would be so proud of adjusting any slop from the pedal (usually the brakes) only to gradually lose throw or stroke.

[Cobrabill]

1)Black brake fluid is really,REALLY not a good thing.
2)Seperate the clutch from the brakes.