Clutch Slave Cylinder

[tony barnhill]

Okay - I just got out from under the '63 Midget after removing everything underneath so I can pull the engine/trans....I'm sitting here at my workbench with my clutch slave cylinder in my hand (a real bear to remove under the car, by the way) & I cannot understand how I'm gonna bleed the darned thing once I install the new one! The darned bleed valve is on the top - on the hidden side of the transmission tunel - where its impossible to reach...how do you guys do it?

 

[drooartz]

There is a little rubber plug on that side of the transmission tunnel that is supposed to be used to do this. There are also some ways to set up a remote bleed line. I'm interested in this as well, since I'll have to handle the one in the Tunebug in a couple months.

 

[spritenut]

First rule on Spridget slaves is to replace those long 3/8 x 16 bolts with shorter bolts.
The top bolt is semi easily accessable from the footwell rubber plug. As is the bleeder nipple.

 

[jlaird]

Easier way from underneath. A wrench, in my case 10mm will fit on the niple from under the car. a peice of plastic tubeing over the niple running to a bottle. Not a prob or am I just an expert from doing is so many times. LOL

 

[racingenglishcars]

Sounds like you have a 10mm bleeder screw Jack. Mine is 7/16 I'm sure.

An old trick I used to do is to mount the slave cylinder up-side-down. Bleeding happenes every time the clutch pedal is released. The air would come up to the top and out through the master. Difficult to get it started, but once the slave starts to move, it just tightened right up with a little pumping. No messing with the bleeder screw, no loss of fluid! (I do this on my Land Rover also)

 

[mccalebr]

In my Spridget Project ('62 Sprite restomod...so I'm not constrained to originality) I'm planning to install a piece of SS flex line 10 or 12 inches long with a Speed Bleeder at the far end. I had planned to have it extend down under the car; the Bleeder end being held by a spring clip. The more I've thought about it, the more I'm thinking I'll cut a small access panel (2"x2") into the tunnel and have the bleeder clipped to the back of the removable panel (again with a short length of hose attached). I should be able to take a Dixie cup, have a seat, remove the panel, open the Speed Bleeder, pump a time or two catching the fluid in the cup...all from the driver's seat.

Worth a try...

Ray

 

[racingenglishcars]

On the L/R it was easy enough to reach down to the footwell of the pasenger side to bleed it while sitting in the drivers seat, but I'm even more lazy than that. I like the idea of the bleeder moved to the drivers sitting position. Maybe just inside the shift housing.

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]An old trick I used to do is to mount the slave cylinder up-side-down.[/QUOTE]
Might work in a Bugeye - can't see how it'd work in a Midget.

So, on the driver side somebody's pumping the pedal while I'm laying on the passenger side trying to bleed through a little opening in the transmission tunnel...hmmmm, anybody know Pamela Anderson's phone number?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I think this is where a pressure bleeder is worth the hassle.

 

[jlaird]

I think installing that slave up side down is not possible.

Takes two but underneath is not a problem.

 

[Gearhead]

Tony
just get a bleeder hose made up to screw into the bleeder port and it can be bleed from the eng. compartment I have them made up at a local hose shop for under 50$ even in stainless hose which looks real nice try it you will never go back

 

[Bugeye58]

Tony, here's one possible approach.
Jeff

 

[GTsRFine]

Not a fun job for sure. You should try bleeding the clutch slave on a RHD midget - there's even less room with the pedals bonking you in the head.

 

[jlaird]

Guys, clutch bleeding is no prob when there are two of you.

Under the car with an open end wrench and a water bottle with a plastic hose on it to catch the stuff. Just did it with wife in maybe 10 min.

 

[zimmy]

with a small wrench u can open the bleeder by sticking
your arm in there next to the starter, without getting
under the car....
u can also use a short twistable "curtain/clothes"
rod to hold the pedal down while u bleed it....z

 

[RickB]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Finally, im an MG Jedi warrior!....; )[/QUOTE]

Uh Zimmy, You are now an MG Jedi Knight.

Arise Sir Knight!

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[Sportsdoc]

If you have a flexible clutch line, just fully push in the push rod a few times with the slave hanging down and It will push all the air up and out the master. That's the easiest way I found and I tried all the others.

I bought the flexible line at Winner's Circle. Worth every penny.

 

[tony barnhill]

No flex line on '63 Midget - its hard all the way.