Clutch bleeding. Help!

[ianwhitewick]

Hi, I'm trying to bleed the clutch with one of those ezi bleed hand pumps and it doesn't seem to work.

I've cracked off the bleed nipple. Put fluid in the reservoir. But when I pump it I just get bubbles and no fluid movement. I also put a bit of ptfe around the nipple to stop air escape there.

Any ideas?

[Supateg]

Try another method.

Put pipe from bleed nipple into a jar with brake fluid in the bottom, so the end is 'under water'
Undo bleed nipple, pump clutch.
You may need an assistant or place the jar where you can see it.
Worked for me.

[LincsCerb]

Could be that you haven't opened the bleed nipple enough or air is leaking in where you've put ptfe tape and it's not able to produce sufficient vacuum to draw the fluid through.
Have you tried pumping the pedal just to try and get it started.
Did you do any work on the slave while the engine was out?

[Tanguero]

Pump bleeding the clutch has never worked for me - the nipple just leaks too much air. Its one of the very few jobs where you really do need an assistant. (Like undoing the bolts behind the fuel tank!)

[jamieduff1981]

As above I didn't even try to do it on my own. It really wants to be done via the master cylinder.

[scerbera]

Can easily be done with door open standing outside the car, one foot on the pedal, bleed hose in a clear container, just open it up. Will need to refil the reservoir a few times. As far as cerb jobs go this is about the easiest!

[ianwhitewick]

Thanks guys.

Been a bad evening in the garage. Windscreen has a big crack in it now!

Must have been a small crack that has spread with the freezing temperatures.

:-(

[esso]

If your trying to bleed the clutch and its not pumping any fluid there is a big chance the seals have failed in the master cylinder and fluid is leaking past seals....solution....new master cylinder. I have had this happen more than once on my Cerb.

[ianwhitewick]

Thanks guys.

When I've regained some patience I give it a go.

[ianwhitewick]

OK, so I regained my composure.

Pumped the peddle, tried to bleed it. Stood on my head, tried to bleed it. Nothing seems to work.

The reservoir did have black gunk in the bottom, so maybe it is the master cylinder.

I started to remove the master this evening, only to be thwarted by the bottom bolt holding the mater to the body. You can't get to the head of the bolt to stop it spinning. What is the trick here? It would appear I need a spanner with a 90 degree bend in it!

Help!

[ianwhitewick]

Looks like the bend spanner may be the answer.

[Supateg]

At some point in its life, some clever chap welded a nut on the side of the bolt head so it locks against the body.
Quite neat.(not I)
Only one spanner /socket needed internally on mine to undo bolts.

[ukkid35]

Supateg said:

At some point in its life, some clever chap welded a nut on the side of the bolt head so it locks against the body.
Quite neat.(not I)
Only one spanner /socket needed internally on mine to undo bolts.

That is how the gearbox bolts are on my car, I assumed it was like that from the factory.

[tofts]

Indeed, same on mine, must have been a factory thing then! Typical TVR engineering!

[ianwhitewick]

Just to conclude, it was a blocked bleed nipple. I'm a bit embarrassed that I almost stripped the car down to component parts without checking the bleeding obvious (excuse the pun). The nipple seems to be buggered, as I couldn't clear it. I bled it simply by pumping the peddle and undoing the nipple completely, being careful not to spray clutch fluid everywhere!

And of course being TVR the bleed nipple seems to be a bizarre thread, so a spare brake nipple won't fit.

I have also replaced the master cylinder, which does feel stronger than the old one. That was a pain in the arse job.

Anyway, many hours of effort later and I have a working clutch!

[ianwhitewick]

Oh, and thanks to everyone who guided me through my stupidity.