Clutch slave bleeding tips?

[Robw_z]

Man, this thing is not easy to bleed. Since I was alone at first, I tried just pumping out the fluid... then I tried "gravity bleeding" ie. leaving the hose on the opened valve for a few hours, with the rear of the van higher a bit higher than the front. NOTHING!

So, after I had a buddy come over we did it the old fashioned way, and now I have enough pressure to disengage the clutch, but it still isn't how it was before. Ideas? I bled through a whole liter of brake fluid! All I can think of is to have my friend over again and bleed through another liter.

-Rob

[Wildthings]

Why did you need to bleed it? Was it not working, was something replaced?

[zuhandenheit]

I don't think it should be hard at all!

It could be that you have a problem somewhere.

but to cover the basics, just in case you've overlooked something (I'm sure no expert, but i've done it a few times on my van and another car):

Be very careful not to let the fluid level fall too low. I keep the tank overfilled while I'm bleeding and only let it go down to the proper level when I'm almost done.

It's important to keep the bleeder screw opened just enough, if you're doing it by yourself (without a friend opening and closing the valve)--if it's too loose, air will be sucked back in.

I attach a piece of hose to the valve, loosen it, and then stick the other end of the hose in a cup of fluid, which is best kept raised, so the air will easily escape the tube while you pump it.

[Robw_z]

I just put on a new slave, that is why I am bleeding it. I came out one morning and no clutch pressure, and there was a big puddle of brake fluid under the trans... hmmmm... so I replaced the slave.

I think the problem may have been that initially I was in a big hurry and put no tube over the bleeder valve... I just let the fluid flow straight out and drip into a tupperware under the trans. Later I gave in and put a tube on it, and ran it into a cup. I have a MityVac, but that didn't seem to help.

-Rob

[zuhandenheit]

[Robw_z]

I decided to drive it as-is. At first the clutch had very little pressure, but now that I've driven it awhile it feels like new? I don't know how driving it did this, but it works great and I don't ask questions.

-Rob

[MarkWard]

If you get really frustrated, you can back bleed it. You will need a clean old fashion oil can and a peice of hose. Fill the can, pump fluid out the hose end, and connect the hose between the slave bleed valve. Open the valve and start easy pumps with the oil can. This will move any air up into resevoir along with the new fluid. You will need to be careful to not overflow the resevoir. A turkey baster will let you remove excess. Regards
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[vwKind]