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BJ8 Clutch Master Cylinder Bleeding Procedure?

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Yellowjacket

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Hello Healey owners. I just registered on this site and wanted to introduce myself and get some help. My name is Jim Stevens and have owned a 1967 BJ8 since 2002. I live in the Atlanta area and a member of the Atlanta AH Club. I look forward to learning a lot from the experience on this site.

Now my problem. My clutch master cylinder failed so I bought a new one instead of trying to rebuild the old one. I have removed and replaced the failed one and bled the brakes, but the clutch appears to still have air in the lines as there is zero pressure on the clutch pedal. I have a dual brake/clutch hydraulic reservoir. How do you bleed the clutch master cylinder? My shop manual only says to bleed the hydraulic system.

Any insights would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim
 
How do you bleed the clutch slave cylinder? The car has a brake master cylinder and a clutch master cylinder and a shared reservoir. I bled the brake master, but I am not sure how to bleed the clutch master.

Jim
 
The clutch slave cylinder is mounted on the right side of the bellhousing. Unfortunately, it's a bear to get to for bleeding. The bleed nipple is on top--of course--to bleed trapped air but that makes it all but inaccessible (it's possible if you have small hands and flexible wrists). It's actually easier to unbolt the slave cylinder from the bellhousing, but still a bit of work to re-mount it. You'll want a 1/2" or 9/16" ratcheting end wrench for the bolts (don't recall for sure which it is--think they're 3/8" fine bolts which would need 9/16" endwrench). IIRC, you can just pull the pushrod out of the cylinder and reinsert. Or, you can pull the transmission cover for easy access to the nipple.

There is a kit sold by Doug Fine--aka "Mr. Finespanner"--that extends the bleed nipple into the engine compartment. I have one but haven't installed it yet. If you end up pulling your gearbox cover you should consider putting this in (I once had to bleed my clutch line in a hotel parking lot--had to pull the cover).
 
Yellowjacket said:
How do you bleed the clutch slave cylinder? The car has a brake master cylinder and a clutch master cylinder and a shared reservoir. I bled the brake master, but I am not sure how to bleed the clutch master.

Jim
Click to expand...

HI a method I have used for years is to drop the slave cylinder off the tranny. open the bleed nipple then press the cylinder all the way in.Force t back out by pushing on the clutch lever with your hand..Repeat this cycle a couple of times to insure the air is removed. Oh Use a jar with a hose to watch for the air bubbles to stop. Put it back together so it will activate the clutch and you are good to go.-Fwiw--Keoke
 
Smith Brodie (Smitty) told me to simply use one bolt and to cut the head off the other and thread it into the bellhousing, thereby making it easier to remove the cylinder. When I ultimately fabricated a new tunnel and front (vertical) panel I cut a small door into the panel to provide better access to the bleeder, but it is still a tough job.
 
Guys,
Thanks for the information. I will have to review my shop manual to get up to speed on getting access to the slave cylinder.

Bob...Do you have contact information for Doug Fine?

Thanks,
Jim
 
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