I need some help bleeding my clutch

[Lux]

I recently installed a new clutch, slave, and the system does not want to bleed.

I know these systems are a pain and i've already searched throughout but it didnt really help me.

I tried to do the clutch pump, crack, pump, bleed out (as the haynes manual says) but like you guys already said, thats not working for me.

I have the driver side higher then the passenger as well (just happened thats the way i jacked it up because i'm working on a hill)

I have a mighty vac, and pulled a quart of fluid through the system, easy, if not more and its still pulling air, it just wont bleed out.

I need some help from you guys, whats the trick with this horribly designed system? I still have virtually no pedal at all and it grinds going into reverse.

Thanks in advance

 

[RangerX]

First, do a search here for "bleed clutch". :

Then, unbolt the master from the dash and tilt it so it's not an air pocket. Or, I've read on other sites where people have jacked up the backend of the truck 3-4 feet to accomplish the same thing, but I think it's easier to unbolt it.

 

[Lux]

lol i did a search for titles "bleed clutch" and "bleed slave" and found about the same thing.

So how do i tilt it? as in which direction

also, ive read if i use like a turkey baster and shove it down the mc it might push the air out?

 

[RangerX]

That baster method sounds sketchy...

If I remember right, the master is mounted on the firewall at a slight upward angle. which gives a pocket for air to be trapped. If you unbolt it from the firewall, and tilt it just past level, and then bleed it, air cannot get trapped.

Are you bleeding it alone, or with a helper?

 

[Burns]

I would take it off like Bill says.

We have tried many ways on mine and never accomplish it like pulling it off the firewall.

 

[Lux]

its just the one bolt holding it on, right?

do i have to disconnect it from the pedal

i'm doing it by myself but i have a mightyvac and if i really need help my buddy will come over whenever i need him.

i'd do the same for him so he's reliable

just sucks trying to find time when i'm working 6 days a week :thumbdwn:

 

[Lux]

also im curiuos, where does air get trapped?

i mean the fluid is full in the resevoir so where is the airpocket that i'm trying to get out of the system from the mc

 

[SPORTEXP]

I use a large syringe that fits the tube down by the tranny, disconnect at the tranny, and push the syringe on the tube to the reservoir. Fill the reservoir with fluid, and push pull push pull push pull (slowly) the plunger to bleed the air out. Then quickly reinstall the line to the tranny before the fluid drains out the reservoir. This technique works well for me.

 

[randylocklin]

I'm having the same problem. Isn't the quick connect at the end supposed to not allow fluid to escape when it is disconnected.

 

[Lux]

I use a large syringe that fits the tube down by the tranny, disconnect at the tranny, and push the syringe on the tube to the reservoir. Fill the reservoir with fluid, and push pull push pull push pull (slowly) the plunger to bleed the air out. Then quickly reinstall the line to the tranny before the fluid drains out the reservoir. This technique works well for me.

Where do you find this kind of syringe? so you pull the quick disconnect line off the transmission, how does this help with the air in the slave cyilnder (i just changed the slave cylinder)

thanks!

 

[marragtop]

You will need a special tool (ford clutch hydraulic line disconnect tool) to get the line off the trans. Also, if you loosen the master cylinder and tilt it and then try and bleed it with the pedal, you may break either the bushing that holds the master cylinder rod to the pedal assembly, or worse yet break the master cylinder rod (it's only plastic). I think the best way is to remove the master cylinder and bench bleed it.

 

[Lux]

i already have the tool, i just put a new clutch and slave in it, if i remove the mc, i have a mighty vac i can suck it out with

i keep getting so many different responses

i just want this thing to bleed lol

i put a new clutch in it and a new slave cylinder

i have a mighty vac, but it keeps pullin air with no pedal feel

i'm curious to know how this syringe ordeal works

i have a battery filler (basically a turke baster, big rubber ball and a tube) or do i need like a medial type syringe (big plastic type of thing)

the master cylinder should already been bleed, no?

i never touched that and kept it full of fluid

 

[SPORTEXP]

I got the syringe from a veterinary clinic. This is what they use to AI dogs with. Or you can get it from a farm store or maybe a pharmacy. When the line is disconnected from the transmission it is pulled out as the quick connect is pushed in. If it can't be removed I would cut the line allowing room to splice with a compression fitting found at the hardware store. This opens the line to the master cylinder for bleeding. Just make sure the nipple of the syringe fits snugly into the bore of the line for this procedure.

 

[marragtop]

Here's what I discovered when I recently replaced the MC on my 150. If you try and bleed at the pedal, you will notice that the MC rod doesn't go all the way into the MC. It comes up 1/2 inch short. To compensate for this, I disconnected the MC rod from the transverse pedal rod. I then held the MC rod on the back side of the transverse rod and had someone pump the pedal. Doing it this way ensures the MC rod is going all the way in during the bleed process. This was a pita to do, but it did work. Prior to that, I tried everything that you are currently going through. Hopefully, this makes sense.

 

[Lux]

well i just wanted a follow up, thanks for the help and advice

i got it bled by pumping the pedal and using the highlift to raise the back about 2 feet up, leaving the front on the ground, took an hour or so but its done.

Mightyvac, syringe, etc didnt work for me.

I alternated fast pumping and slow pumping with pauses in between, 10-20 pumps each time, then hold to the floor, cracked the screw, let the one small air bubble come out, and after about 20 times, and it was done.