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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Clutch bleeding easy

Changed all my clutch hydraulics and brake m/c on the V8 yesterday, so had the opportunity to try something I have been wondering about for a while but haven't seen mentioned anywhere. It worked a treat so I pass it on.

After hearing many tales of woe about clutch bleeding (worse than the brakes and they are bad enough) I wondered what would happen if I reverse-bled it i.e. from the slave up to the M/C. In fact, what about *filling* it from the slave? I assembled everything dry i.e. no bench bleeding but didn't mount the slave, just left it hanging down from the flex. Got my gunsons Easibleed and removed the cap that normally goes on top of the M/C, fitted a length of larger bore tubing between the end of the piece I had removed the cap from and the slave bleed nipple, which I opened half a turn. Gingerly connected the Gunsons up to the spare that only had 10psi in it, checked that fluid wasn't spurting everywhere, then watched and listened at the M/C with the cap off. After a few seconds there was a slight gurgling, then clear golden fluid rose gracefully up towards the neck. Released the Gunsons from the spare tyre, tightened up the bleed nipple, and mounted
the
slave to the bell-housing. Before starting I had measured the travel at the slave while the Navigator pumped the pedal (a fraction less than 1/2", I reckon) then measured again after fitting (spot on 1/2" this time).

Flushed (!) with success I wondered if it would work for the brakes too - it filled the M/C but there was still air in the system, even after two sessions with the Gunsons conventionally on the M/C. Eventually I used a combination of Gunsons and the Navigator standing on the pedal while I
snapped the bleed nipples open and shut - got a lot more air out and now have a hard pedal.

Still, it was very successful for the clutch. Total bleeding time about five minutes, and full clutch travel first time. In hindsight, I needn't even have removed the cap off the Gunsons tube.

PaulH.
http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.hunt1/
(or if that URL doesn't work try )
(http://194.168.54.52/paul.hunt1)
Paul Hunt

Very sound Paul.

Remember the later Marina and Itals had a similar clutch idea with the bleed nipple replaced with an adapter and length of pipe that came right back up to master cylinder height. The same principle could be used with MGB leaving the slave cyl in place.

Of interest I have always found the pressurised system bleed to be the most effective. The assistance of a strong leg holding the middle pedal really does shift the most awkward of air locks.

Rog
Roger Parker Tamworth roger.parker@virgin.net

I have devised my own system of replumbing the whole pipe run from the c/m/cyl to the slave in dash 4 braided hose-you do away with the troublesome loop of pipe above the m/cyl by using a 120 deg banjo so that the dash4 comes out below right next to the bulkhead-to an angle braket with a bulkhead fitting at about where the normal pressure union bracket resides-you then use a 90 deg fitting to take the pipe down the back of the Rh cyl head and follow the edge of the bell housing and swing the pipe around with a 180deg fitting onto the slave cylinder(SD1 type in my case) It almost gravity bleeds as there are no high spots(and is a doddle to bleed,using pressure)removes the awkward hard line to flexi connection next to the starter motor and takes up less room.


Regards

JB
johnbourke@panther.netmania.co.uk

This thread was discussed between 31/08/1999 and 05/09/1999

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

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