Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 19:33:14 -0400
Reply-To: Puzerewski <Puzerewski@email.msn.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Puzerewski <Puzerewski@email.msn.com>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject: Re: Bleeding clutch system--what gives?
I am assuming that you have one fluid reservoir that is for brakes AND
clutch. This being the case, bleed both systems. I am not sure about the
bleeding at the clutch master, for that is not possible on my 81, but i know
for a fact that the air will come out of the line by only bleeding at the
slave. It sounds as if you are using a one man bleeder, and if you are not
if you place that piece of tubing on the bleeder valve into a jar half full
of fluid, you should be able to visibly see air bubbles.
After doing the clutch, you probably will have to do the brakes.
Also, did you accidently knock the return spring off the clutch pedal???
Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tobin Copley" <tobin.copley@ubc.ca>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2000 7:11 PM
Subject: [VANAGON] Bleeding clutch system--what gives?
> Hi all,
>
> I'm just replaced a failed master clutch cylinder and encountered a
> frustrating problem. Maybe it is not a problem, I just don't know.
>
> Here's the deal:
>
> Bentley is of no use at all in this procedure. I did find Sean
> Bartnik's very helpful instructions on the Bart-no-tek site, and
> everything appeared very straight forward.
>
> Pulling the master cylinder itself was no problem at all. Installing
> the replacement hit a bit of a hitch, as the threads for the
> hydraulic fitting on the replacement were damaged (from the box) and
> I had to send it back, via courier, for a new one. Meanwhile, the
> bad threads had damaged my hydraulic line, so had to pull that and
> get the threads cleaned up.
>
> OK. Hydraulic line back in, new master cylinder back in without
> problems. Sean's instructions say to bleed the master cylinder at
> the hydraulic fitting until no more air bubbles come out.
>
> I've been doing this for over two hours now, and while it's pretty
> hard to distinguish air bubbles from squirts of fluid, I strongly
> suspect I still have air trapped in the cylinder. Pedal feels very
> light, and will not return without pulling back up by hand.
> Resistance is not even through the stroke--seems to have little
> resistance at top half of stroke, that a noticeable abrupt increase
> in resistance for the bottom third or so. Even then, though, not a
> strong pressure. The reservoir fluid level does go down over time,
> but very slowly (only trickles come out the bottom when bleeding).
>
> People's posts to me earlier about how to do the master cylinder
> replacemenr all noted that the bleeding took a long time. But *two
> hours* at the master cylinder and no real change in the feel of the
> pedal, and a pedal that will not return by itself? Can this be right?
>
> As an added cruel twist, I realize now the bleeder nut at the slave
> is substantially bigger than used for brakes, and the tubing i have
> is stretch tight over it, and not entirely over it that I may not be
> able to get an air-tight seal on that end.
>
> When should my pedal start to feel normal, or at least return on its own?
>
> I've never done this jump before. I don't have a point of reference
> on this. I think my knuckles must be bleeding more than my hydraulic
> line. I really would rather be taking my kids for ice cream than
> trying to bleed a master cylinder for two hours and apparently not
> getting anywhere.
>
> I'd be really open to any suggestions on how to get over this
> problem, as right now I feel like an idiot.
>
> Thanks,
>
> T.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tobin Copley Bowen Island, BC, Canada tobin.copley@ubc.ca
>
> '82 westy 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
> '97 son Russell =============
> '99 daughter Margaret /_| |__| |__|:| clatter
> 1995: 'Round US, Mexico, Canada 15,000 mi O|. .| clatter!
> 1996: Vancouver to Inuvik, NWT 7,400 km ~-()-==----()-~
> Previous buses: '76 westy deluxe (Daisy), '76 westy standard (Mango)
> http://www.sfu.ca/~tcopley/vw/
| 
