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Rut

Obi Wan
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OK, I know I'm new here, but I went to the small, local parts store to get a few odds and ends and saw a 1 man brake bleeder kit. The thing is made by Lisle and it's very simple...3 adapters, 1 long tube, 1 short tube, and a container with a fluid tight cap. It was under $10 so I said what the heck and bought it. I used it to bleed the slave cylinder on the clutch and it was the easiest 1 man job I've ever done. Crack the bleed valve open, put the adapter on, push the clutch pedal repeatedly until you get clear fluid, close the bleed valve. I wish everything was this easy! The part number is 19200 if you want to look it up.
Rut
 
As I said above, the new bleeder worked wonders and I actually have a clutch for the first time since I brought the car home. The clutch travel is very short and hard, more like my brakes. I can engage the top 3 gears, but first grinds too much for me to try and force it. All of the clutch components are new from master cycinder on down and it bled until there were no bubbles. Is this normal operation for a smooth case 1275?
Thanks, Rut
 
No. expect you may have a bubble in the line.
 
Jack,
I got your post and re-bled the system with almost a whole bottle just to make sure...no bubbles of any kind The clutch is hard and travels about 3/4" and stops. The brake and clutch are both Tilton and the slave (from what I was told)is as well. The pedal goes about 3.5 to 4" when I push it in to bleed the system. Thoughts?
Thanks, Rut
 
Don't want to insult your intelligence, but, there is no syncromesh in first on those transmissions, so, will always grind some - go into first from second.
 
No insult taken! I need to be treated as if I don't know squat because I don't! The grinding is a bit excessive to me, but I may think that because I'm worried about the clutch travel. I've been pushing on the pedal until my leg hurts and if I get close to an inch of movement I'm impressed. Clutches that I'm used to have a more progressive feel with them reaching a point that it's easier to press. Not this bad boy...feels like you're hitting the brake pedal in the parking lot with the parking brake on, hard as a rock. I wish my brakes felt as good. The PO did a great job on the master cylinders and new lines.
Thanks, Rut
 
that's not right - I wonder if the fork is bent?
 
Sounds like you need a smaller diameter master cylinder, or a larger diameter slave.
 
You know, as the saying goes, you can't fix stupid! I've bled and re-bled and the results were the same, limited travel and hard as a rock. I finally took my wife's mirror and looked thru the access hole and there was only 1 bolt holding the slave cylinder on! I put a new bolt in, the top one, and she works perfectly. I'm new to PO mischief and I would have never thought about looking at the bolts...
 
Oh my gosh. Glad you found that.

Now all is well is it not?
 
Perfectly! I haven't driven her yet due to the rear main oil leak ( we're talking a pint every 15 min), but I'll re-bleed everything and try a run around the block this weekend. I want to make sure the brakes work well and the clutch is up to par. The engine is very eager and LOUD! I may have to pull the 'resonater' off and put a real muffler on.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
Rut
 
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