Numpty question on Clutch bleeding
Discussion
Sorry to be so dumb but just don't understand what I'm doing wrong....
Close the bleed nipple.
Someone pumps 1 or 3 times on the pedal.
Finishes with Pedal down.
Open bleed nipple.
No oil comes out.
Close bleed nipple.
Release Pedal.
Liquid in reservoir doesn't go down.
Absolutely NO pressure on Pedal.
Repeat to innfinity.
No change.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG ??
Ta !
Close the bleed nipple.
Someone pumps 1 or 3 times on the pedal.
Finishes with Pedal down.
Open bleed nipple.
No oil comes out.
Close bleed nipple.
Release Pedal.
Liquid in reservoir doesn't go down.
Absolutely NO pressure on Pedal.
Repeat to innfinity.
No change.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG ??
Ta !
This is how i did mine
Jack the car up so you can get under it
thread the bleed hose under the car
get a clear jar or container, ( i cut a 2 litre pop bottle in half ) and place under the car with some brake fluid in it
open the bleed nipple and submerge in the jar of brake fluid
top off the master cylinder with fluid
pump the the pedal 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again ( dont let it get empty )
pump the pedal again 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again
repeat this 3 or 4 times
then get some one to hold the pedal to the floor while you go under and close off the bleed nipple
( i hope that makes sence ? )
Jack the car up so you can get under it
thread the bleed hose under the car
get a clear jar or container, ( i cut a 2 litre pop bottle in half ) and place under the car with some brake fluid in it
open the bleed nipple and submerge in the jar of brake fluid
top off the master cylinder with fluid
pump the the pedal 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again ( dont let it get empty )
pump the pedal again 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again
repeat this 3 or 4 times
then get some one to hold the pedal to the floor while you go under and close off the bleed nipple
( i hope that makes sence ? )
Edited by Gray_101 on Saturday 31st July 12:02
As described above is one way of doing it, You need to have the Bleed nipple open when you push the pedal down, so that the fluid and any air is pushed out.
An alternative method is.....
Get a proper clutch bleeding tube, it has a flexible rubber end at one end so you can fit it tightly over the bleed nipple.
Put some fluid in a container.
Top up the reservoir.
Fit the Bleed tube to the bleed nipple and immerse the other end in the fluid (This prevents air being sucked in)
Open the bleed nipple and have your glamorous assistant depress the clutch pedal, and keep it to the floor. (you'll be able to see air bubble being expelled which is what you are trying to achieve)
Tighten the bleed nipple, release the clutch pedal.
Open Bleed nipple, depress clutch pedal and hold to floor. Close Bleed nipple, release clutch pedal - and keep repeating this till all the air is expelled.
Keep topping up the reservoir, it empties pretty quickly!
An alternative method is.....
Get a proper clutch bleeding tube, it has a flexible rubber end at one end so you can fit it tightly over the bleed nipple.
Put some fluid in a container.
Top up the reservoir.
Fit the Bleed tube to the bleed nipple and immerse the other end in the fluid (This prevents air being sucked in)
Open the bleed nipple and have your glamorous assistant depress the clutch pedal, and keep it to the floor. (you'll be able to see air bubble being expelled which is what you are trying to achieve)
Tighten the bleed nipple, release the clutch pedal.
Open Bleed nipple, depress clutch pedal and hold to floor. Close Bleed nipple, release clutch pedal - and keep repeating this till all the air is expelled.
Keep topping up the reservoir, it empties pretty quickly!
Edited by JensenA on Sunday 1st August 22:58
Cheers Gray 101 I have to admit that I thought your system was NUTS 
but have followed it and, I don't know how, but actually got some fluid through the system.
Unfortunately still have no turgidity in my pedal operation.
Thanks anyway !
Thanks JensenA I will be off to the Motor factors on Mon morning to see if I can acquire the appropraite tool
Ta ESSO I had pretty much decided that there must be (at least) two seals in the Master and the piston-sealing one must be shagged. Awaiting the arrival of my new cylinder from Clever_Trevor any day now
Oops, and it appears that I was correct
Have a great weekend folks !
but have followed it and, I don't know how, but actually got some fluid through the system.Unfortunately still have no turgidity in my pedal operation.
Thanks anyway !
Thanks JensenA I will be off to the Motor factors on Mon morning to see if I can acquire the appropraite tool
Ta ESSO I had pretty much decided that there must be (at least) two seals in the Master and the piston-sealing one must be shagged. Awaiting the arrival of my new cylinder from Clever_Trevor any day now
Oops, and it appears that I was correct
Have a great weekend folks !
Edited by Mr Completely on Saturday 31st July 19:19
My system is not nuts. i was advised to bleed it this way by a TVR mechanic. i think you fail to understand that you get air bubbles then fluid , then air bubbles and so on trapped in the system,
what you need to do is force the air and the fluid it is mixed with out of the clutch system, which can take some doing.
Untill you do this your clutch will never get a good pedal.
if you open the bleed nipple and submerge it in clutch fluid, you can only force air out of the system and not suck any in, unless you let the master reservior run out.
i hope this explains it a little better for you ?
what you need to do is force the air and the fluid it is mixed with out of the clutch system, which can take some doing.
Untill you do this your clutch will never get a good pedal.
if you open the bleed nipple and submerge it in clutch fluid, you can only force air out of the system and not suck any in, unless you let the master reservior run out.
i hope this explains it a little better for you ?
Edited by Gray_101 on Saturday 31st July 21:45
I know Grays method and do often start off this way but always finish off with jensens method.
I have some old vacuum pipe that fits perfectly over the bleed nipple but as a beginner I would suggest some clear pipe so you can see the bubbles pass through as well as see them in the bottle.
I am not a lover of those brake bleed pipes with the valve in the end as then never seem to give a good seal round the bleed nipple.
always keep a rag and some water to wash things down with just incase you get a spillage The last thing you want to be doing is searching for a rag while the brake fluid is eating away at your paint!!
I have some old vacuum pipe that fits perfectly over the bleed nipple but as a beginner I would suggest some clear pipe so you can see the bubbles pass through as well as see them in the bottle.
I am not a lover of those brake bleed pipes with the valve in the end as then never seem to give a good seal round the bleed nipple.
always keep a rag and some water to wash things down with just incase you get a spillage The last thing you want to be doing is searching for a rag while the brake fluid is eating away at your paint!!
Gray_101 said:
My system is not nuts. i was advised to bleed it this way by a TVR mechanic. i think you fail to understand that you get air bubbles then fluid , then air bubbles and so on trapped in the system,
what you need to do is force the air and the fluid it is mixed with out of the clutch system, which can take some doing.
Untill you do this your clutch will never get a good pedal.
if you open the bleed nipple and submerge it in clutch fluid, you can only force air out of the system and not suck any in, unless you let the master reservior run out.
i hope this explains it a little better for you ?
Sorry Gray, my statement was more directed at my stupid thoughts, not any valuation of your brilliant system.what you need to do is force the air and the fluid it is mixed with out of the clutch system, which can take some doing.
Untill you do this your clutch will never get a good pedal.
if you open the bleed nipple and submerge it in clutch fluid, you can only force air out of the system and not suck any in, unless you let the master reservior run out.
i hope this explains it a little better for you ?
Edited by Gray_101 on Saturday 31st July 21:45
One thought though - after having tried it.
So I have the air-bleed pipe now decending from the Bellhousing (this means that there is a bend in the pipe which the air will move towards, as opposed to the air-bleed nipple).
Then you pump the pedal with the nipple submerged - brilliant !
Then, when you need to close the nipple, you have to take it out of the oil and get a spanner to it which takes it out of the oil and allows the line to re-drip oil out of it which will be replaced by air again - You understand my confusion ??
Cheers Mark the engine bay already looks like a surgeon's operating table with the appropraite 'action area' being the epicentre of the cloth hole.
Will await my new Master Cylinder and hope for the best for extraction
Once your happy you ve got all the air out of the clutch system.
What you need to do, is get some one to sit in the car and press the clutch down as far as it will go, and hold it there
Then you can remove the bleed nipple pipe from the jar and shut it off
If you do it as above no air will be sucked into the system.
Trust me it works.
I did mine this way and my clutch pedal is spot on
What you need to do, is get some one to sit in the car and press the clutch down as far as it will go, and hold it there
Then you can remove the bleed nipple pipe from the jar and shut it off
If you do it as above no air will be sucked into the system.
Trust me it works.
I did mine this way and my clutch pedal is spot on
Gray_101 said:
This is how i did mine
Jack the car up so you can get under it
thread the bleed hose under the car
get a clear jar or container, ( i cut a 2 litre pop bottle in half ) and place under the car with some brake fluid in it
open the bleed nipple and submerge in the jar of brake fluid
top off the master cylinder with fluid
pump the the pedal 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again ( dont let it get empty )
pump the pedal again 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again
repeat this 3 or 4 times
then get some one to hold the pedal to the floor while you go under and close off the bleed nipple
( i hope that makes sence ? )
Top off the master cylinder? Does that mean:Jack the car up so you can get under it
thread the bleed hose under the car
get a clear jar or container, ( i cut a 2 litre pop bottle in half ) and place under the car with some brake fluid in it
open the bleed nipple and submerge in the jar of brake fluid
top off the master cylinder with fluid
pump the the pedal 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again ( dont let it get empty )
pump the pedal again 2 or 3 times
top off the master cylinder again
repeat this 3 or 4 times
then get some one to hold the pedal to the floor while you go under and close off the bleed nipple
( i hope that makes sence ? )
Edited by Gray_101 on Saturday 31st July 12:02
a) top up the master cylinder to ensure it does not run low on fluid, or
b) take the cap off the master cylinder?
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff