engine and drivetrain Clutch Bleeding Technique

[thinksound_mike]

Has anyone tried this technique before to bleed a clutch?

 

He's basically forcing fluid in through the slave bleeder screw to force the air out of the system through the top. I'm curious if anyone has tried it and what they're results were. Or if it's better to just use a normal power bleeder like Motive.

 

 

[oh2fly]

I have been bleeding these systems for 40 years and never heard of it. I am open minded and will give it a try, though. I typically put 12 psi in my pressure bleeder and use a clear bottle with hose and bleed at the slave cyl. nipple. Thanks for the idea. Some of the e36, e34 era cars get the sinking clutch pedal while bleeding and it can take a long time to regain the normal feel and pedal position.

[peterschop]

How bout http://www.bmw2002faq.com/articles.html/_/technical-articles/engine-and-drivetrain/clutch-bleeding-r17

 

Great video though, Good to be able to see it done. I wonder if using a power bleeder would still leave air in your system?

 

Edit: my link did not go where it was supposed to. It should have pointed at Bill Williams write up in the articles section showing this procedure.

Edited April 23, 2014 by peterschop

[skipsfcr]

We reverse inject hydraulic systems all the time. Works great.

[M3M3]

No reason why it shouldn't work fine. Other than the pita of sucking old fluid out of the reservoir and the contamination of the good fluid in the reservoir. if the motive is already hooked up for the brakes why bother with a second method.

Edited April 23, 2014 by mlytle

[Stefan_m2002tii]

I have never tried it, but I think it will work.

 

However I would only do it if the clutch curcuit is clean and empty, pushing years of goo up and then sucked into the master brake cylinder is never good.

 

And dont forget to not overfill the reservoar, brake fluid is a really good paint stripper.

 

I wote for a pressure bleeder

[Dev02]

This is how I had to do mine to get it to bleed all the way. I do a normal bleed (pedal) to get most of the old fluid out, then reverse bled it. I don't have a pressure bleeder though and imagine that would work the best. I bled my clutch a bunch before trying this and couldn't get it fully bled. Did this one time and was done.

[skipsfcr]

I'd never do it in the presence of old /contaminated fluid. That'd just be stupid. But when installing a bunch of brand new hardware there's no better way. Reverse inject it full. Done.

[thinksound_mike]

No reason why it shouldn't work fine. Other than the pita of sucking old fluid out of the reservoir and the contamination of the good fluid in the reservoir. if the motive is already hooked up for the brakes why bother with a second method.

 

Hey Marshall,

 

I came across the video while searching on YouTube about bleeding a clutch. I've never done it before and this is a different technique from anything that I found searching on the board. I don't need to bleed my brakes (recently done at a shop), just the clutch because I'm installing a new MC and slave. 

 

I'll grab a Motive from Amazon and give it a go. The last thing I want is to contaminate anything else with the fluid that is in the line already.

 

thanks!

Edited April 23, 2014 by thinksound_mike

[BillWilliams]

Mike Pugh taught me to reverse bleed, I use a pump oil can. Never had a clutch not bleed properly