Clutch bleeding issue

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fatboy · #1 Post by **fatboy** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 2:37 pm

I've never really had any difficulty in the past, but I've been struggling with a naff master cylinder (2nd hand perfect working order Ebay item) so I splashed out on a new one and also bought myself a reverse bleeder to simplify the job.
First go with the reverse bleeder worked to a degree, filling the resevior full of frothy fluid but no feel on the lever, second go simply sprayed fluid everywhere so I used the bleeder as a vacuum bleeder, no result at all, fluid simply wont be pushed or pulled...

Blockage ?

fatboy · #2 Post by **fatboy** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:32 pm

Well I have a sort of working clutch,still some air in there.
I decided to pull it all apart to see what's going on, I removed the slave and when I cracked the banjo there was a loud hiss and a bang as the piston rectracted into the cylinder !
I then fitted another brand new slave to end up with a worse result and a face full of fluid....
I can only conclude that the reverse bleeder is not suitable for aftermarket small bore hydraulic lines.
I hope this will work a bit better when I replace my brake lines, the trad bleeding method is so bloody slow

Greg · #3 Post by **Greg** » Sun Aug 14, 2016 7:51 pm

Hi Fats..

I did mine the other week after I'd removed the slave to get the sprocket off and the piston spring pushed it out enough to suck up all the fluid from the reservoir..

I used a syringe and a length of tube, but wound a bit of PTFE tape round the nipple as the threads were a little loose and let air/fluid dribble out.

After quite a while pumping and pulling I managed to get it done, although for quite some time I had the same symptoms as you with air in the system, so it might just be a question of keeping on with it until all the bubbles are out of the line. Just be careful not to overfill the reservoir then try and pump more fluid up the line, it doesn't work lol..

fatboy · #4 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 6:17 pm

Thanks for that Greg, I never thought of PTFE tape.
I'm thinking that the reverse bleeder was not the right tool for this particular job.... live and learn (the hard way)

Aladinsaneuk · #5 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:55 pm

You are bleeding it as per workshop manual?