Can't get the slave cylinder off - any tips?

[anonymous-user]

Monday morning has arrived and my beloved Eunos is up on axle stands and my knuckles no longer have skin covering them! Clutch slave cylinder failed so on Saturday morning replacement arrived, tools ready, dry day, ready to go...so I thought.
- problem 1, first time I've looked in the tool kit since I bought the car and I found it contains everything except a wheel wrench, cue journey to father to borrow wheel wrench.
- problem 2, 12mm socket is completely rounded, cue journey to Halfords for new socket.
- problem 3, bolts are stuck solid, no amount of WD40, extension/wobble bars, open ended or ring spanners are moving either of the 12mm bolts.
- problem 4, decided to undo clutch pipe, no problem, read a tip to plug it with a golf tee, made sure I used a plastic one so it wouldn't break...it broke, a clean break with nothing sticking out to grab it/pull it out by, tried pumping pedal to push it out, no joy.

Sooo....(thanks for reading this far!), any tips for freeing the 12mm slave cylinder securing bolts or getting better access, and is it unwise to try and drill out the end of the golf tee from the clutch pipe with a fine drill bit or should I just change the clutch pipe too?

[bluetone]

Some tips here:

http://www.classic-car-magazine.co.uk/articles/how...

And preparatory to rounding the fecker off, you might want to get some of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IRWIN-TOOLS-5p-BOLTGRIP-NUT-...

[I Am Milk]

Where are you based?

Sometimes an extra pair of hands helps, maybe someone would be kind enough to pop-over

[anonymous-user]

I Am Milk said:

Where are you based?

Sometimes an extra pair of hands helps, maybe someone would be kind enough to pop-over

I'm in Glasgow, not too far from Luton, there's some nice driving roads up this way too..anyone....no..

I'm hoping the WD40 sprayed on it Saturday, then yesterday, and again today, coupled with some good hard clunks with my trusty rubber mallet and chisel will do the trick when I try again tomorrow to get them off.

Still leaves the problem of the tip of the golf tee stuck in the end of the bloody clutch pipe.

[Oldandslow]

For the golf tee I'd try the small drill but careful not to push it in any further. A good flushing after to remove any debris before reconnecting to your hopefully new slave cylinder. No help for the bolts, a soaking with WD40 or plusgas should help, maybe try to get it into the gap between the cylinder and bell housing rather than at the head of the bolt better penetration onto the threads this way.

[anonymous-user]

Update - weeks later I can report a happy ending!

If anyone else suffers the same with a rusted/seized bolt I can recommend Halfords 'shock and unlock' spray (other good quality freezing sprays are available ), spray liberally, let it freeze shrinking the bolt and fixing, a good whack with a mallet, and we're loose!

[maser_spyder]

yellowbentines said:

Update - weeks later I can report a happy ending!

If anyone else suffers the same with a rusted/seized bolt I can recommend Halfords 'shock and unlock' spray (other good quality freezing sprays are available ), spray liberally, let it freeze shrinking the bolt and fixing, a good whack with a mallet, and we're loose!

A bit of heat often has the same effect, but harder to arrange unless you have the tools.

[gdaybruce]

Glad to hear that you've sorted it!


Interesting that freezing seems to have the same result as heating. Presumably any sudden change in temperature - either up or down - has the same effect in that the fastening will expand or contract more rapidly than the surrounding metal and consequently will, with a bit of persuasion, break the seal. I feel I've learned something new!