Ideas for clutch fluid level check.

[zacherynuk]

Since I have had a couple of clutch bleed outs I was wondering if anybody had fitted any form of clutch fluid sensor / transparent panel and cap to their vehicle
?

I like to check it often now as bleeding is a PITA - but so is re-applying silicone...

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

[SILICONEKID346HP]

zacherynuk said:

Since I have had a couple of clutch bleed outs I was wondering if anybody had fitted any form of clutch fluid sensor / transparent panel and cap to their vehicle
?

I like to check it often now as bleeding is a PITA - but so is re-applying silicone...

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

If you use the right silicone it`s a doddle .I use a low modulus Neutral cure which just rubs off with your fingers ,I use a sealing strip .

5 minute job

[zacherynuk]

Cheers, I'll google those phrases...

Not sure the self tappers have got long left in them .. I'd like a non intrusive check really...

[roseytvr]

I've put a neoprene tape on the wing and the cover which makes a perfect seal and means the cover can come on and off any number of times. Replaced the self tapers with well nuts

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10x-Elise-VX220-Rubber-R...

Job done

[over_the_hill]

roseytvr said:

I've put a neoprene tape on the wing and the cover which makes a perfect seal and means the cover can come on and off any number of times. Replaced the self tapers with well nuts

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10x-Elise-VX220-Rubber-R...

Job done

Presumably you just drill into the bodywork and they work something like a lipped rawl plug in a plaster board wall.

Is the rim of the cover wide enough for a bolt though. The self tapper heads are about the same width in the picture above.

[Hedgehopper]

I thought that this was a really neat answer to battling with silicone every time you want to check the level. However it still doesn't answer your quest for a quick visual check without removing anything.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[roseytvr]

Presumably you just drill into the bodywork and they work something like a lipped rawl plug in a plaster board wall. - yep that's all it is but to do a proper job on the bottom you need the engine out so you can drill it

Is the rim of the cover wide enough for a bolt though. The self tapper heads are about the same width in the picture above not quite wide enough but enough to pinch it up.

You can of course use neoprene tape with the self tappers

[Pupp]

So, far be it for me to pour cold water on bright ideas, but surely if you're losing fluid it will be obvious with a soggy carpet and floppy pedal? In which case, fix it and forget for... long enough

[portzi]

Hedgehopper said:

I thought that this was a really neat answer to battling with silicone every time you want to check the level. However it still doesn't answer your quest for a quick visual check without removing anything.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sorry, but still not an answer to your visual check . I think a quick and easy method is required to the covers removal and resealing again, without scrapping off loads of silicon and then having to reapply it, a good compromise in making it a 5 minute job to check the fluid level seems quite fair. ?

I fitted a rubber strip around my cover which provides a seal to the body work, and with a similar idea to rivet nuts, l glassed in some nylock nuts onto the underside providing better anchor points for my screws to hold down the cover. I have used a small amount of capt trolleys crack cure around the seal, which dries clear anyway, just to make sure. This stuff is easy to apply and wipe off.

Edited by portzi on Monday 3rd February 23:24

[Discopotatoes]

portzi said:

Hedgehopper said:

I thought that this was a really neat answer to battling with silicone every time you want to check the level. However it still doesn't answer your quest for a quick visual check without removing anything.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sorry, but still not an answer to your visual check . I think a quick and easy method is required to the covers removal and resealing again, without scrapping off loads of silicon and then having to reapply it, a good compromise in making it a 5 minute job to check the fluid level seems quite fair. ?

I fitted a rubber strip around my cover which provides a seal to the body work, and with a similar idea to rivet nuts, l glassed in some nylock nuts onto the underside providing better anchor points for my screws to hold down the cover. I have used a small amount of capt trolleys crack cure around the seal, which dries clear anyway, just to make sure. This stuff is easy to apply and wipe off.

Edited by portzi on Monday 3rd February 23:24

Your brake res cover looks interesting what did you do there?

[ChimpOnGas]

If the OP is wanting a faster more convenient way to access to his clutch mater cylinder reservoir making tool free clutch fluid checks a cinch, then why not fit a couple of Dzus fasteners?





http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151191731360[url]

No screwdriver or socket set required, just twist the Dzus fasteners with your thumb & forefinger, there's no tool more readily to hand than your fingers

You can also create a very effective seal that allows you to repeatedly fit & remove the cover by using an excellent product called Black Tack:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Tack-extra-strong-...

Thumb a line of Black tack around the under side of the cover close to the edge and it'll create a completely watertight seal, press the cover firmly down & the Black tack will follow even the smallest contours of the inner wing & it'll be totally invisible too.

Black Tack is like an industrial strength Blu-Tack, it sticks so well you probably won't even need self tappers or Dzus fasteners at all, but removing things stuck down with Black tack is easy, the cover will just peel off.

And it'll keep working & sealing perfectly after multiple fluid checks for years to come.

Use Black Tack & black Dzus fasteners for the ultimate watertight quick tool free clutch fluid check solution, it'll look very neat too.

[Hedgehopper]

Instead of unsealing and removing the cover how about installing a float and dashboard warning lamp?

According to the link below you can adapt the float to fit most fluid reservoir caps. They are talking about brake reservoirs but the clutch reservoir I would have thought would be similar.

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/t/Hints-and-... .....(second paragraph down)

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/brake-fluid-...

Edited by Hedgehopper on Tuesday 4th February 10:52

[ChimpOnGas]

Hedgehopper said:

Instead of unsealing and removing the cover how about installing a float and dashboard warning lamp?

According to the link below you can adapt the float to fit most fluid reservoir caps. They are talking about brake reservoirs but the clutch reservoir I would have thought would be similar.

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/t/Hints-and-... .....(second paragraph down)

http://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/brake-fluid-...

Edited by Hedgehopper on Tuesday 4th February 10:52

Nice idea, but you've got to remember the the reservoir on an old Girling style clutch or brake master cylinder is tiny.

They only hold an egg cup full of fluid at best and even less in a Chimaera because TVR didn't fit the cylinder in the horizontal plane as it was designed to be.

Getting a low level float switch in that tiny reservoir would need a bespoke solution, I very much doubt the standard Ford type brake master cylinder float switch you've linked would fit.

Personally I prefer visual checks over relying on a float switch which could stick or go open circuit, at least when you unscrew the cap & peer in you can be in absolutely no doubt of the level.

Dzus fasteners are the answer if you want to be able to whip the inner wing cover off in a flash without tools, and Black Tack or old school Dum Dum is the answer for creating a watertight seal that doesn't involve gluing the cover to the inner wing with silicone.



I love Dum Dum, I've used it to seal the panel joints on countless bolt down wings (Triumph TR ect) and I've now Dum Dumed the headlight access panels in my Chimaera's inner wings, works a treat and no cutting away super strong silicone if you need to replace a headlight or sidelight bulb quick smart.

And we know Dum Dum works cos Noah used in on his Ark too

[zacherynuk]

Some excellent suggestions, thanks chaps.

I only lost it the twice - first one I suspect was just because it hadn't been checked in a loooong while - nothing in garage floor, nothing in footwell.
Second time I 'suspect' I didn't do the bleed tight enough.... as it was shortly after the first time and it hasn't happened a 3rd time

I just want an easy inspection without the need to tools or sealant... it's quite tough driving any distance without clutch fluid.