bleeding the clutch, when?

[xpress]

Clutch bleeding? Would not being able to put it in gear 10% of the time be air in system or would it be sticking clutch plate after a long lay up? Cheers!

[Hacksawbob]

10 minutes to bleed the clutch will give you your answer. could be clutch slave too get some one to press it while you watch for travel. internal gearbox issues may be to blame, and/or linkages.

[xpress]

CHeers bob. How many pedal presses would clear the clutch?

Also is the bleed on the back axle?

[Hacksawbob]

the bleed is access at the forward edge of the engine bay just to the left of centre. tight fitting clear plastic hose onto nipple other end into container of brake fluid, make sure end of hose is submerged. 2 person job, remove the top up cap under dash binnacle. make sure there is sufficient in resevior then rear person cracks off nipple shouts "down", driver position pushes clutch down then shouts "bottom", rear person nips up nipple shouts up repeat til no bubbles. only issue is corroded nipple but not usually a problem with clutch nipple. make sure resevoir is topped up and screw cap replaced on resevoir. shouldn't take more than a few hundred mililitres depending on how many cycles you go for. make sure fluid is clear in tube and no bubbles before giving up.

[AdrianC]

Stoopid question... Where's the air that you'd be bleeding out come from? It's not come from nowhere - so if you've done nothing to introduce it, that can really only leave a problem that needs sorting. A dying master or slave, or a leak in the pipework.

[xpress]

fluid level not going down. Pedal pressure not changed I guess air still there. I will persevere! Thanks all.

[Hacksawbob]

IF its air in the lines. could be a number of other things, bleed and look for bubbles to rule it out if thats your hunch.

[Mocki]

Stoopid question... Where's the air that you'd be bleeding out come from? It's not come from nowhere - so if you've done nothing to introduce it, that can really only leave a problem that needs sorting. A dying master or slave, or a leak in the pipework.

van been stood, moisture in the fluid ......

[lhd]

Stoopid question... Where's the air that you'd be bleeding out come from? It's not come from nowhere - so if you've done nothing to introduce it, that can really only leave a problem that needs sorting. A dying master or slave, or a leak in the pipework.

van been stood, moisture in the fluid ......

As Mocki says brake and clutch fluid should be changed every 2 years....IIRC
Rob.

[kevtherev]

Clutch system will self bleed
just open the nipple and the fluid should flow

[Red Westie]

Whilst you're not going to worry too much about the changing intervals of clutch fluid as apposed to the brakes, in my experience the considerable 'travel' of the clutch slave and master cylinders means that the mechanism is worked that bit harder and as a consequence the clutch fluid is often pretty black in the slave cylinder.

Another consideration is that the moisture taken on by the fluid (brake fluid attracts water from the air) means the internal components can rust brought about be having water mixed in the fluid.

Bleed/change each time you change the brake fluid (2 years) DOT 4

Martin

[Ian Hulley]

in my experience the considerable 'travel' of the clutch slave and master cylinders means that the mechanism is worked that bit harder and as a consequence the clutch fluid is often pretty black in the slave cylinder.

Absolutely true, I've even seen this form a cap in the top of the slave cylinder which had to be cleared out before the thing would bleed.

Ian

[xpress]

Cheers all, will bleed this clutch out too... bled brakes again, all clear fluid and much firmer pedal, wanted absolutely all the air out. Went across town, van good as gold, clutch plate no longer sticking.

[Hacksawbob]