I wrap the threads of the bleeder screws with plumber's tape (Teflon) in an
attempt to get a better seal and prevent air leaks latter on.
Reid
'79 Spitfire (original owner)
-----Original Message-----
From: Walt Fogle [mailto:foglew@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, October 29, 1999 8:31 AM
To: ddashwoo@ect.enron.com
Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Clutch cylinder rebuild?-same symptoms
Dean:
I've experienced an identical problem with my '73 1500. After doing all the
same bleeding exercises you did I finally replaced the clutch m/c with a new
one. I also replaced the clutch pipe with a new one. The car has been
great until just a couple of days ago. Same symptoms arising.
I suspect that the slave cylinder needs to be rebuilt or replaced. It may
be that the bleeder screw is sucking air or that the seals are faulty.
Anyway, that's my plan. If anyone has any other thoughts I'd appreciate it
and I know that Dean will too.
Dean wrote:
>
>Until recently, my clutch was engaging almost immediately as I started to
>let
>the pedal up - classic signs that the clutch needs bleeding. I left it for
>quite a while, and just got used to it, until one day I got in the car,
>pushed
>the clutch down, put it into reverse, and the car started moving - with the
>clutch still fully down.
>
>That weekend I bled the clutch, as I'd been meaning to do for ages. A
>large
>quantity of air bubbles came out, as I expected, but after I'd finished I
>took
>it for a drive and it felt perfect! I went back inside, feeling very
>pleased
>with myself, and had a celebratory beer.
>
>That was about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and it's been fine since - until
>yesterday.
>Last night I got in the car, and found the clutch engaging almost
>immediately as
>I let the pedal up.
>
>One or two more clues here. Before I bled the clutch, it was always bad
>first
>thing in the morning, but once I'd driven about 1/2 mile it sorted itself
>out,
>and was fine for the rest of the day, including the drive home after being
>left
>outside work for 8 or 9 hours. Also, one the few occassions when it was
>bad
>enough that I could barely get the car into gear (which only happened once
>or
>twice) pumping the clutch a few times (like 20-30) seemed to improve things
>sufficiently to get me to work.
>
>I don't believe that there was anything wrong with the bleeding of the
>clutch,
>since it was fine for several weeks afterwards. I'm currently thinking
>that the
>most likely explaination is that air is getting into the system somehow.
>Is
>there any way to confirm this? I'd have thought that the most likely
>problem
>would be either the master or the slave cylinder, but which one? Is a
>simple
>cylinder rebuild going to fix this? There is no evidence of any fluid
>leaks, by
>the way (either fluid on the floor, or decreasing levels in the reservoir).
>
>Any help appreciated, as always.....
>
>Dean
>-------------------
>
>
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