Need some help here... I'm trying to get the air out of my clutch line. No, I'm not joking... I have the hydraulic clutch. Should I gravity bleed it with the pedal all the way out, or should I bleed it like you would a brake line? I ask, because I did it like a brake line, and I think I made the situation worse. Would like confirmation one way or the other. Thanks! Rob Holden 62 Fleetside
I bleed my hydralic clutch the way you do the brakes and it works fine. i did it several times and a couple after it had no air in the line to make sure. cowboy 1961 chevy 1/2 shortbed stepside w/ 283 and a powerglide auto. 283 in process of rebuild.
Spoke with my brother, former prototype mech for GM, now CAD EGR valve designer for Cooper Standard, and he said I should just crack it open and let it drain down till the bubbles are gone. I did the brake thing and now the pedal has no pressure to it at all... Thoughts? If there's a way to make a mess of it, I'll find it...
[updated:LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-03 AT 08:24 PM (CST)]When you say you "did the brake thing" exactly how are you doing it? the best way is to get a $10 vacuum hand pump from an auto parts store. Open the bleeder and pump until all the bubbles are gone, close the bleeder while there is still vacuum in the line so no air gets back into the system. You can also just open the bleeder and let the system bleed down by itself. '66 C10 Fleetside LWB 355/350
I used to work in a shop, and I remember helping one of the guys bleed a slave cylinder. He basically did the same thing your brother told you to do. But, be warned, you have got to keep the fluid reservoir full, period. If you let the fluid go too far down the reservoir, you'll let air back in the lines and cancel yourself out. As for the brakes, it sounds like air in the lines, or maybe a worn hose. About the easiest way to bleed the lines is to get a container that will hold brake fluid, and preferably one that can be seen through, fill about 1/3 of the container. Now, get a peice of rubber hose that will fit snugly on the bleeder valve, and put the other end of the hose in the container. Open the valve, and pump the pedal, you may need someone else to help you with this. Keep pumping the pedal till the bubbles are gone, then you're done with that wheel. Do the rest and that should get some pressure for you. It sounds like a lot, but it's real simple. Good luck. Robert
As far as doing the brake thing, I meant the old pump and hold method, open the bleeder and let air out, but that was obviously counterproductive as the cylinder immediately pump the air back up the line... I'll do the gravity bleed method and get this thing squared away. Thanks all for the assist on this. Much appreciated. Rob I can't break it if I don't know what's fixed! If there's a way to make a mess of it, I'll find it...;-)
