 | Home > Technical > Bleeding the bleeding clutch |
 
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| L90Andy Member Since: 29 May 2014 Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon Posts: 721   
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Hi folks. Getting a bit stuck with the clutch on my '89 V8 90. Initial symptoms were softening of the pedal and with the bite point right at the floor. Quick glance underneath showed fluid leaking from the slave cylinder. Access is a b!tch due to the exhaust, but got it removed and fitted a new one (TRW so figure a good'un). Bleeding it through got a load of air out followed by nice fresh fluid, but still a really soft pedal i.e low/no pressure. Figuring that the master cylinder was now kapput I attempted to swap that (cleverly bought a new MS at the same time!) but no way in hell can I get the pipe off the MS to even begin removing it. Heat, hammers, special spanners all to no avail. Anyway, I decided to confirm my problem diagnosis before getting destructive by putting some mole grips on the clutch flexi pipe. This made the pedal rock hard, which I took to mean the MS was in fact ok (and it has no visible leaks) and the new slave must be at fault. Another bleeding session commenced (no more air, just fluid came through) and I got enough pressure in the system to be able to statically change gear. However trying the pedal this morning there is no pressure at all.
I'm now pretty much out of ideas so if you've made it through that rambling description some advice would be gratefully received! Thanks Instagram: L90andy My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD! My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD! |
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24th Sep 2021 2:21pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8140  
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Try reverse bleeding it with pressure system upwards. Flexi pipe is OK?
Fluid dropping overnight still? 2 x slaves seems unlikely to be problem, start looking elsewhere. Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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24th Sep 2021 5:03pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 820 
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How is the V8 clutch fork arrangement? Could be a mechanical fault as opposed to hydraulic.
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24th Sep 2021 6:16pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3462  
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Do you know if you have the cast iron fork or the pressed steel one? Pressed steel are known to crack, not only go through the pivot ball.
Remember that bleed nipple on the slave is top side. Did have a few stubborn bleeds... i think sometimes air gets trapped in the line... difficult to push the air down. What I do then take the slave out, pump the master until the slave piston is about to pop out, then push the slave cylinder back in while keeping the flexi tube on the slave at top side. This way expels all air out. Same result as reverse bleeding without using a pressure system. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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24th Sep 2021 7:15pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5771 
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Try propping your clutch pedal down over night.
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25th Sep 2021 6:21am |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1800  
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IIRC on my 200 bits, I had similar problems.
Resolved in the end by turning the slave so the bleed screw was at the bottom, then reverse bleeding with a new basic oil pump can from Halfords filled with brake fluid and a length of rubber pipe, very gently and it expelled all the trapped air. HTH Keith |
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25th Sep 2021 7:47pm |
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| L90Andy Member Since: 29 May 2014 Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon Posts: 721
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Thanks for all the suggestions folks. A quick update on based on your input...
I'd ruled out a mechanical issue after the hose clamping exercise and I believe the LT85 in this has a cast iron clutch fork so not suspecting that. I've already got an eezibleed kit so was planning on pressure reverse bleeding next. However thought I'd see what happens when I hold the pedal down overnight as it was minimal effort. Well this morning it seems like I've got my clutch back! Pedal feels just right so hopefully that's sorted it. I'll check over the next day or so but yeah, seems like trapped air was the issue. 
Need it operational for Friday as taking it down to my local LR place for the last pre-MOT jobs, then hopefully it'll start getting some proper use 
Cheers Instagram: L90andy My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD! My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD! |
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27th Sep 2021 12:43pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5771
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Good news. A job cured by leaving it and having a beer has got to be a winner. 👍🏻👍🏻
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27th Sep 2021 7:30pm |
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| L90Andy Member Since: 29 May 2014 Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon Posts: 721
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Or maybe not....
So having thought I'd resolved it by doing absolutely nothing, it appears not quite sorted yet. I get a good pedal for maybe 20-30 pumps, but then it goes to the floor, followed by pressure on the following pumps again. On the V8 there's a long horizontal hardline pipe across the bulkhead so I suspect there's some air stuck in there. I've jacked up the drivers side of the car to try and help and will leave the pedal down again overnight and see what happens. Definite progress though and I can still reverse pressure bleed from the slave upwards if I still need to. Instagram: L90andy My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD! My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD! |
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29th Sep 2021 10:04am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8140
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did you try reverse bleeding it? Cheers
James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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29th Sep 2021 11:25am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3462
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I doubt it is air issue. I more suspect the non return valve in the master cylinder that is acting up. When the pedal goes to the floor, fluid from the master cylinder is pumped back into the reservoir (possibly spilling fluid if the reservoir was full or nearly full) instead of being pumped into the slave pushing the pressure plate. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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29th Sep 2021 12:01pm |
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