Bleeding a clutch
Discussion
Chaps, I would appreciate your help and advice.
I've replaced the slave cylinder and hard line due to a leak but I am really struggling to bleed it properly.
My method is (with assistant), depress clutch, open bleed valve, wait for bubbles to stop/piston to get pushed in by clutch actuation lever, close bleed valve, raise clutch. Rinse and repeat (ensuring reservoir doesn't run dry).
This seemed to be working well, but what seems to be happening now is that when I open the valve, mostly fluid is coming out but when the piston has been pushed in lots of little bubbles appear in the pipe attached to the bleed nipple. If left for a minute or so the bubbles slowly work their way down the tube (whether due gravity or pressure from the hydraulics). Bleed nipple is at the top of the slave cylinder. This has been the situation for the last 10-15 cycles of bleeding and I feel like I am just wasting brake fluid and not getting rid of any air. Either way, little or no air is coming out in the initial release of pressure when the bleed valve is opened.
Clutch is weighty but maybe spongy and clearly isn't disengaging the clutch as I can't select any gears with the engine running.
What am I doing wrong?
I've replaced the slave cylinder and hard line due to a leak but I am really struggling to bleed it properly.
My method is (with assistant), depress clutch, open bleed valve, wait for bubbles to stop/piston to get pushed in by clutch actuation lever, close bleed valve, raise clutch. Rinse and repeat (ensuring reservoir doesn't run dry).
This seemed to be working well, but what seems to be happening now is that when I open the valve, mostly fluid is coming out but when the piston has been pushed in lots of little bubbles appear in the pipe attached to the bleed nipple. If left for a minute or so the bubbles slowly work their way down the tube (whether due gravity or pressure from the hydraulics). Bleed nipple is at the top of the slave cylinder. This has been the situation for the last 10-15 cycles of bleeding and I feel like I am just wasting brake fluid and not getting rid of any air. Either way, little or no air is coming out in the initial release of pressure when the bleed valve is opened.
Clutch is weighty but maybe spongy and clearly isn't disengaging the clutch as I can't select any gears with the engine running.
What am I doing wrong?
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