Clutch hydraulic cylinders. Bleeding nuisance.

[frank rabbets]

Having resealed the clutch cylinders and refitted them I had trouble with the bleeding. Even with 2 people it took 2 litres of fluid, a heart attack, three nervous breakdowns and a migraine.

Had to stand on my head on the drivers floor to remove the internal nut on the m/c. Never seen that design before.

First of all no fluid would come out even with my assistant holding the clutch pedal on the floor so lightly compressed air in their had a chance to come out whilst I held the bleed nipple open. In the end fluid came out with air and then solid with some air. Then aerated fluid. WTF the reservoir had run dry. Even though it had 10mm of fluid in the bottom the vacuum when lifting the clutch pedal up with nipple closed had sink holed the surface. So I got my helper to lift the pedal up slowly to avoid this happening again but it did because 4 pumps of the pedal is all it takes to empty the reservoir completely. So 3 pumps then refill etc etc. Got there in the end I think.

 

[Dave2000]

Instant trick Frank.

Bicycle pump, attach flexy valve connector, cut off the part that screws on to tyre valve, loosen slave nipple a tad, put flexy in brake fluid a draw up the fluid.

Push flexy onto slave nipple, have some cloths around master and then make sure pump handle is as low as possible, this ensures any air in the pump comes out first, a single gentle push will fill the system, tighten nipple. Check paintwork for splashes, job done.

I know...I know...a bit bloody late telling you now!

Regards

Dave

 

[frank rabbets]

I'll make a careful note of that Dave. Bound to forget as when I get around to the next routine seal change in 23 years I'll be 94 years old.

Joking apart thanks for all the tips as ever.

 

[Towpack]

Can’t really see what the problem is to be honest. The clutch line should self bleed by gravity if you fill the reservoir, slacken the slave bleed nipple and leave it long enough. Forget all that pumping of the pedal, if your in a hurry a pressure bleeder on the reservoir will bleed it in seconds single handed. JMO

 

[Dave2000]

TD5 Discovery, I recently replaced the main feed line from the clutch master to the fuel cut off switch, normally a right bastard to bleed, half a dozen pumps and it was perfect, go figure.

Regards

Dave

 

[frank rabbets]

I've bled the 80 clutch before with no problems but this time a nightmare. My assistant was lifting the pedal up too quick causing air to suck down through quite a depth of fluid. Forgot to tell her "up slowly".