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Did my clutch just bleed itself?

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Jim_Gruber

Jim_Gruber

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Removed the PSeat and did all of the dastardly and ungraceful things to access Bugsy IV's Slave Cylinder. Working by myself today. So decided figure out what size bleeder screw is on the Slave 10mm in this case and cracked open the slave cylinder and to my surprise, brake fluid began dripping out. And dripping out at a pretty good rate. I closed the bleeder valve and crawled back out. Walked around and depressed the clutch. To my surprise it fells like I have clutch action about 1/2 way down. There may still be a bit of air in there but it sure feels like clutch is working.

Now here is the scenario, I swapped a 7/8 Slave for Gerard's Resleeved 3/4" Slave. I unbolted both brake and clutch lines, and reassembled a few minutes later. So there was fluid in the clutch line. Could opening up the bleeder valve without depressing the clutch and with the aid of gravity have worked. I like to think so as trying to maneuver a Mity Vac down there is just not possible for me by myself. Now I've read reports of folks leaving the bleeder valve overnight to let gravity help bleed but this is the first time I've ever experienced this myself. Thoughts gents? I'm tempted to slap in the old gas tanks( issue was new tank does not fit) not worry about a gas gauge sender that does not work or the missing muffler and see if Bugsy is indeed ready to go back on the road tonight. Thoughts?
 
Short answer... yes. Leaving fluid in the line, and I assume you immediately filled the reservoir as well, would have even you that advantage.

Assuming the air is at or near the master, letting it sit a bit might even allow any remaining air to migrate out the return port.

BTW, I'm sure you meant "master" and not "slave"
 
It seems like whenever I'm prepared to face a nasty and challenging task ... stuff often falls into place and it is eazy-peazy, BUT when I tackle some simplistic quick task it turns into a week long nightmare due to mission creep or domino effect, or just general hidden difficulties.

BTW Jim, I have the new tilton MC pedal box in my Sprite and I might venture to Cincy British car days tomorrow.
 
I did, OK time for me to swap out to the old tank, add some gas and get it to start, and see just how **** loud it is with no muffler. Pull it off of blocks and see if I can rig up something temporary from the old pipe to the Harley Muffler. A section of Flex Pipe and adapters looks to be in my future this evening.
 
Well I swapped in the old tank, hooked up a couple of pieces of flex pipe, a few adapters to ad some length. a few tack welds, coolant, gasoline, turn key, tick, tick, tick.That's good, pull starer, crank, crank, crank. WTH sounds like not getting any spark. Pull plug, to see if any spark, no spark. Then I realize Dumb Ass you forgot to turn the key on. At that point things fired up but plugs are all sooted up. Dampers needed oil. Not raising and lowering at the same time. Engine is not happy yet, and then all of a sudden will take off and revs right out and then quits. About to pop in a new set of plugs. I could pop in the new Dizzy for the new engine. If all else fails. Some work with carb cleaner about to go on as well. The way it's running it isn't going to Fairfield, Cincinnati British Car Days Show tomorrow. But I will be heading down late morning.
 
Jim
10mm?? Standard bleed screw on slave is 3/8-24. 7/16 wrench. Same bleed screws that are on the stock calipers. Did Gerard retap your slave cyl when he resized it??
Also, I really hate getting down in the footwell to bleed the clutch. I added about 4 foot of AN 3 SS flex line with a Wilwood bleed screw on the end to the bleed port. The line is long enough to reach the front of the car. I also use gravity to bleed the slave cyl.

BTW, I know that the HD muffler is considered the way to go. I tried two of them last year, one baffled and one with baffle driven out, and was disappointed by the sound and got some unfavorable comments from the local shop where I usualy hang.
Switched to a Flowmax. Much better sound and no noticeable loss of power
 
Well didn't make it to the show with Bugsy, Ignition gremlins kept him in the garage but I did spot a familiar face there as Trevor drove up from Louisville with Ugly Bug, a True Bugeye Rat Rod. We spent 3 hours talking all things Sprite so it was fun to get together with him, swap lies, and future Sprite Engineering projects. 2 other BE's one from Cincinnati and another from Ft. Wayne. Nice Aconite '74 Midget that was absolutely beautiful and a really nice Red '72 that won the class last year. All in all a capital day. Now back to the garage to sort Bugsy's Electrical gremlins. And Joe BTW, stock Slave as far as I can tell. and I've have others with 10MM Bleeder Screw so likely not an OEM Slave.
 
Jim
Sorry big brain fade here, forgot you put in a 5 speed
 
Regarding the muffler, sorry again brain fade. It is a Magnaflow 11133, 1 3/4 in and out. center in, Offset out, 14 inch body. I cannot remember if I got it form Jegs or Summit. $81 on Jegs website.
 
Joe, Not yet on the 5-speed. Just trying to get Brakes and Suspension upgrades sorted at this point in time. 5 speed late Summer install along with new engine.
 
Joe,

It's not unusual to find reproduction slave cylinders (and other brake parts) with metric bleeders and screws. I would never resize any OEM unit to metric when refurbishing. Sometimes the master cylinder cores people send me have corroded, stripped out ports for the hard lines, but those are restored with a Heli-coil to original thread size.

Joe Schlosser said:
Jim
10mm?? Standard bleed screw on slave is 3/8-24. 7/16 wrench. Same bleed screws that are on the stock calipers. Did Gerard retap your slave cyl when he resized it??
Also, I really hate getting down in the footwell to bleed the clutch. I added about 4 foot of AN 3 SS flex line with a Wilwood bleed screw on the end to the bleed port. The line is long enough to reach the front of the car. I also use gravity to bleed the slave cyl.

BTW, I know that the HD muffler is considered the way to go. I tried two of them last year, one baffled and one with baffle driven out, and was disappointed by the sound and got some unfavorable comments from the local shop where I usualy hang.
Switched to a Flowmax. Much better sound and no noticeable loss of power
Click to expand...
 
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