Clutch randomness...

[The_Edge]

Wondered if anyone had experienced this before, or heard of it...

Due to a bereavement she's been standing for a couple of months plus. Checked her over, fired up (first time ) but found no pressure on the clutch when depressed

The whole shebang is new; clutch, cylinder etc, so it shouldn't be a component failed; replaced virtually everything. Weather hasn't been too bad, no serious freezing or anything.

I topped up the fluid, pumped it plenty (on a suggestion/advice) and strangely it came back I'm now confused.

I haven't bled it. If there was a problem such as a leak, the pressure should drop off immediately right? Or is there such thing as a 'slow' leak in this system? As it's only under pressure in use, I wouldn't have thought so?

I did hear that air can get into the system if left for extended periods... But don't understand.

Any thoughts or experiences like this?

I'm leaving here to stand for a while longer (conveniently coinciding with the snow!) to see if it comes back... Weird. Point being though, that I need to understand to hav confidence I'm not going to lose the clutch completely any time soon!

[C3BER]

When my clutch bit the dust I knew it was going some time before. The normal revs rising on pushing the go pedal was the basic tell tale. So I was not suprised when it went. But I know others have just given up the ghost without any sign of slipping.

[Steve_T]

When it gets cold the seals can shrink and the clutch fluid gets out, by pumping the pedal you've managed to bleed the system. Thus far I've not had this problem with the Race Proved slave that's currently in the car, only the TVR item, I hope it continues that way as it's pretty cold outside!

[The_Edge]

C3BER said:

When my clutch bit the dust I knew it was going some time before. The normal revs rising on pushing the go pedal was the basic tell tale. So I was not suprised when it went. But I know others have just given up the ghost without any sign of slipping.

Oh I've seen failures from all angles, from fingers to seals it's all less than 200 miles old

[The_Edge]

Steve_T said:

When it gets cold the seals can shrink and the clutch fluid gets out, by pumping the pedal you've managed to bleed the system. Thus far I've not had this problem with the Race Proved slave that's currently in the car, only the TVR item, I hope it continues that way as it's pretty cold outside!

Ok. Makes sense. I'll keepman eye on it then and see.... Can't think anything more than that would be prudent

[Gazzab]

Have you had both slaves replaced?

[BazMV6]

The_Edge said:

no pressure on the clutch when depressed

I had just that problem last year. Booked it into Power, arranged transport - and then the clutch came back again overnight - good as new!

A couple of months later it did the same thing again. And came back again. This time I drove it to Coventry for a new slave cylinder - and came away with a new clutch...

Still don't really understand what the original problem was - so not much help I suppose.

[Grob]

I'm having a very similar problem right now. Had a new clutch and slave cylinder fitted 200 miles ago but when I tried to drive it last weekend I couldn't get it into gear. Immediately thought that the master cylinder had failed (prompted by the new clutch and slave) but am hopeful it's less serious because it looks like a pig to replace.

I've tried pumping the pedal and can just about 'force' it into gear but it's clearly not right. Is it possible to replace the master seals or does the whole cylinder need replacing?