Greg,
I've owned, raced, and fixed Spitfires since 1968.
FWIW, I seldom bleed my clutch hydraulics, unless the
cover and whatnot are already off and it's easy to get
to, and there's a helper available.
Instead I use the 'pump and let go' method: You pump
with full strokes several times, and then push down
all the way, pull your foot off the pedal and let the
pedal slam back up. Once you start get some some
'pedal', let the system rest for about 5 minutes (lets
the bubbles rise to the top and coalesce), then
repeat.
Ever wonder why the Spitfire master cylinders are
slanted? It's so that self bleeding can take place
naturally. The air will rise to the back of bore of
the master cylinder (not the resevoir). When you
pressurize and then release, the little stem and seal
allows some of the fluid to move rearwards and enter
the resrvoir, taking the trapped air with it, where it
will then rise to the top.
When the system has lot's of air in it, pumping will
mix fluid and air together. Although this is usually
undesired, in this case it allows some fluid to make
it's way into the slave cylinder. Repeated several
times, you can achive 100% slave cylinder filling.
Note that this is *not* recommended for braking
systems. Brake systems have multiple branches, operate
at higher peak pressures, and of course are *mission
critical*.
This has *always* worked for me on Spitfires. It could
save you a lot of needless work.
But of course, others may have a different view. YMMV.
Carter Shore
--- Greg Schluge <gschluge@cstone.net> wrote:
> My clutch slave cylinder failed on my 76 mk IV and I
> replaced it with a new
> lucas part from spitbits. My first attempt at
> bleading the clucth hydraulic
> system was a complete failure. I decided that since
> I had the front end up in
> the air on jack stands, that I would never get all
> the air out of the slave
> cylinder. Today I jacked the back end up and tried
> to get to it, no luck, had
> to jack front and back up to get to the slave
> cylinder bleed. I was able to
> get it nearly level, backend just a little higher.
> Now if I drive it, I can
> get it shift smoothely if I double clutch. Must
> still have air in the Slave
> cylinder. I also rebuilt the master cylinder and
> tested it on the car.
>
> Are there any tricks to bleeding the spit clutch
> hydraulics. The only thing I
> can think of is taking the slave out again and
> pouring it full on the bench?!
> Whish I did that when I first installed it.
>
> Thanks in advance.
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