18 replies to this topic

[The-Womble]

Model: Austin Mini 1000 City E
Year: 1982
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
I've just been trying to bleed my clutch as I've just installed a new (but used) clutch master and slave cylinder, and to begin with, it appeared to be working; Fluid was flowing out of the tube into the bottle. However for some reason after a few pumps this stopped and now, when I pump the pedal, the fluid flows into the pipe but then instantly starts to suck itself back into the slave. It doesnt matter whether I release the pedal or keep it pressed down, the fluid still seems to flow out and then straight back into the slave cylinder . Even if I do up the nut on the nipple as soon as the liquid flows into the tube, as soon as the nut is released, the fluid will flow back!

Is this a faulty part or is there some sort of technique to this?


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?
N/a

[GregH]

as i understand it you need to depress the clutch pedal,
then loosen the nipple,
then tighten the nipple,
then re depress the pedal and repeat the process
this method would need two people.
alternatively you could buy an easybleed kit which you could use on your own and it would not take as long.

Greg

[il-barba]

what i did when i had to bleed the clutch was, i attached a piece of long CLEAR hose to the bleed nipple. then i opened the nipple and sucked through the pipe until clear fluid with no bubbles came out. make sure you do not actually suck the fluid into your mouth and the smell from the fluid might leave you a bad taste to.

i did this because i had no one to help me bleed the clutch

[The-Womble]

Thanks for the replies. I did have my Dad helping me with this so I'm alright for the whole '2-person' issue. I'll give these methods a shot later on, although any more methods are still welcome

[dklawson]

as i understand it you need to depress the clutch pedal,
then loosen the nipple,
then tighten the nipple,
then re depress the pedal and repeat the process
this method would need two people.
alternatively you could buy an easybleed kit which you could use on your own and it would not take as long.

Revise the order a bit.
loosen the nipple,
depress the clutch pedal,
then tighten the nipple,
Release the pedal
repeat the process

This is also the method I use for brakes.

If you follow this two person method, you will gently flush the fluid through the system and no air bubbles will be left when you're done. If the pedal feels squishy after this, it's likely that you have problems elsewhere in the system but not necessarily air.

[The-Womble]

I did try this method earlier on, however after shutting the nipple and releasing the pedal, as soon as the nipple is loosened again, the fluid is sucked back into the slave. Is it all about the timing (ie. as soon as the nipple is loosened, the pedal is depressed before the fluid has time to be sucked back in) or is there likely to be deeper problems?

Thanks for the help!

[giles01mini]

Try loosening the solid pipe where it joins to the flexi pipe on the bulkhead and try bleeding it there, to see if any fluid comes out of master cylinder [make sure master cylinder is full first]. Get a helper to pump clutch peddle a couple of times and then hold peddle down, whilst peddle is down crack pipe on bulkhead and see if any fluid comes out then retighten joint and tell helper to release peddle. you may have to do it a few times to get fluid through. If fluid comes out, the master cylinder should be ok, next move down to slave cylinder and repeat the above procedure [but obviously on slave cylinder bleed nipple] until fluid comes out without any bubbles, keep an eye on fluid level in master cylinder do not let it get to low or else air will get into system. Always remember to tighten union or nipple before releasing peddle.

I hope this help's.

Good luck.

Giles.

Forgot to add if any fluid gets onto paint work wash off as soon as possible.

Edited by giles01mini, 08 October 2009 - 08:03 PM.

[The-Womble]

Thanks for the suggestion Giles

Update: After trying all of your methods this afternoon, I was encountering the same problems. I took the metal hose that comes out of the master cylinder into the rubber tube to the slave off to see if there was a lack of pressure; turns out there was loads of pressure so no problem with the master cylinder. So I took off the slave cylinder to see if there was a problem with the piston, and it seems that there was...the piston in the slave was being pushed out, but was too stiff to be pushed back by the rod attached to the clutch. I tried manually pushing it back in with a screwdriver head but it was pretty rock solid, whereas another slave cylinder that I have was relatively easy to push back in. Tommorrows job is to change the slave I reckon.....for the 3rd time !

[giles01mini]

Thanks for the suggestion Giles

Update: After trying all of your methods this afternoon, I was encountering the same problems. I took the metal hose that comes out of the master cylinder into the rubber tube to the slave off to see if there was a lack of pressure; turns out there was loads of pressure so no problem with the master cylinder. So I took off the slave cylinder to see if there was a problem with the piston, and it seems that there was...the piston in the slave was being pushed out, but was too stiff to be pushed back by the rod attached to the clutch. I tried manually pushing it back in with a screwdriver head but it was pretty rock solid, whereas another slave cylinder that I have was relatively easy to push back in. Tommorrows job is to change the slave I reckon.....for the 3rd time !

A long time since original post but how did you get on in the end??

[RAMPAGE]

yeah would be good to know!

[GraemeC]

I didn't see this at the time, but I would suspect a knackered flexi pipe.

[The-Womble]

Sorry guys, completely forgot to update the post!

In the end, I suspected that there was something wrong with the Master Cylinder because as I pushed the clutch pedal, I could hear a sort of 'squelching' sound....the sort of sound you get when you walk through a massive muddy puddle . So, I took it apart and found that the little rubber ring seal that sits on the piston was pretty worn out and so the hydraulic fluid was just seeping back round the edges, therefore losing a lot of pressure.
I bought a Master Cylinder repair kit (like this one), replaced the rubber seal, put it back in the car, bled it, and hey presto! It worked like a charm

Also, prior to that, as mentioned in a previous post, I had changed the slave cylinder as the one that was on there was jammed solid.

Again, thanks for all the help and suggestions,

Chris

[piquet]

Thaks to TMFs Chief Doc...had problems with a slipping clutch on my way home from a run with MOASF (Mini Owners of America/San Francisco) in my 72 Clubby. Caused me to pull off the freeway for a bit trying to figure out what had happened.

 

Was able to nurse it home without needing a tow truck. Tried calling a couple friends for advice but only got voice mail. Was almost home when one of them called and his advice was to try and bleed the lines first and your details for bleeding the Verto (hope that is what you call it) clutch slave cylinder seems to have helped. First thing out if the bleed nipple was air. Still have to test drive it but it feels better already. My assistant (my wife) said it felt like it had more pressure the more times we did it. Hope that sovles the problem.

[Austin mini 30]

Back bleed it.

[Austin mini 30]

Buy a new oil can. Fill it with the correct fluid and attach a hose from the oil can onto the nipple. Pump the oil can and all the air should come to the top.