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MGB STILL working on clutch slave

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Gary, an Eezi-bleed is one of the tools that has saved me dozens (if not tens of dozens) of hours in production time, in shops. And plenty of time at home NOT fiddling with pedal props or imposing on other folk. About one of the best aids to hydraulic system maintenance/rebuilding ever offered. A small price for a tool making a task requiring either two people or a lot of fuss into a ten minute drill. If you expect to keep the MG, it'd be a fine investment.
 
Well I can't seem to stick with this project with other things coming up all the time :(. Just got back to the bleeding process today and I'm befuddled. Trying to do it the "old" way...Carla slowly pushes the clutch pedal down three times then holds it. I open the bleeder and all that comes out is fluid. No air bubbles. Problem is that there is still no resistance on the pedal and the push rod doesn't move on the slave cylinder. It could be a "short" between my headset :smile: Could the new slave cylinder have an internal problem? I'm trying not to take it off and tear it apart. HELP !!!
 
Gary is the bleeder higher or lower than the clutch hose? If lower, there could be a bubble that can't come out. Alternately (and remember I have a Midget) air will seek the highest point, so, is there a bubble in the hose itself before it loops down? (This is always where it gets Midget 1500 owners in trouble)
 
JP...the bleeder is higher than the hose. How would get an air bubble out of the hose? I initially was trying to bleed it with a vacuum pump but that wasn't working.
 
From description you've got a master cylinder problem.
 
Oh boy Doc...that's just what I wanted to hear. I was starting to suspect that :(
 
Gary, try one more thing. Wife pumps three times, but before you open the bleeder, get a large screwdriver in place to push the slave rod back into the cylinder. Open the bleeder and pull or push the shaft in as far as possible. Close the bleeder and see when the wife pushes the pedal if you get movement. If you do then about 5 pushes will get you a clutch. Be sure and check fluid after the first push.

Wayne
 
Thanks Wayne I'll try that when Carla gets home from school.
 
As Doc has said, I have said in the past and also others, Ezee-Bleed or other pressure, (not vacuum!), is the best way to go! You pressurize the slave cylinder by pumping fluid in it and on to the master cylinder! The Master cylinder being last in line, not first. Empty the reservoir periodically to prevent overflow and all bubbles disappear. I've done it this way for years and have no problems. Yes clutch slaves also. What else can be said. PJ
 
Paul, the Eezi-bleed pushes fluid from the master to the ends of the circuit. About a 5~6lb PSI pressure is enough to do it.
 
Oh, Sorry about that Doc, I use a pressure bleeder pushing the other way. I thought Ezee-Bleed did the same thing. I made bleeder fittings out of old ones so no fluid leaks out at the hose from the pressure tank. I know this is not the norm as history goes, we started doing it this way back when we were in racing to speed things up and always had good results. Sometimes the brakes would get so hot that the heat transfer would boil the fluid out of the wheel cylinders. It also cooled them down and took all the air out! I've been doing it that way ever since. PJ
 
A technique I've used on MGB's with reluctant slave cylinders that seems to work for me is this:


  • Have someone push and hold the clutch pedal down fully. Then ensure the reservoir is topped up.
  • Go under the car and release the bleeder. Caution! it will spurt out unless directed with a tube.
  • With the bleeder still open, manually push the slave piston completely back into the bore. tighten the bleeder and release the slave.
  • Go topside and check fluid level. Top it off and slowly release the pedal, checking to ensure the fluid level stays up.
  • Once the pedal is up, push it slowly again, continuing to watch the fluid level. It may take two or three strokes, but at that point the system should be air-free.
 
Gary, did you sell the car? Inquiring minds want to know what happened.

Wayne
 
Sorry for not reporting in :smile: No I didn't sell the car. Carla and I got the clutch bled and all is well. Runs and shifts just like it should. She sure is fun to drive !!
 
YAY! :thumbsup:
 
Gary, glad to hear all is well. Now for the big question for future trouble shooting, which system worked in the end???

Wayne
 
Didn't buy an ezbleed yet so we just used the old "pump the pedal and hold while opening the bleeder". Old technology but it still works :smile:
 
Nothin' wrong with that!
 
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