Bleeding clutch

[GDCobra]

The joy of running silicone fluid is that I've only ever bled the system once in the last 30 years!

I run mineral fluid and have changed it several times, never had to bleed it though. Not for that reason anyhow.

Ran Silicone originally and all it did was swell the seals

[mylesdw]

Yes, I've heard that mentioned before but have not experienced any ill effects. It seems that the dot 5 silicone is getting hard to find (in this part of the world anyway) - the usual parts stores don't seem to keep it anymore. Amazing how many try to sell the Dot 5.1 fluid as an alternative.

[kdavies3]

I'll just stick with DOT4.
Never been an issue.

[ChrisP]

I'll just stick with DOT4.
Never been an issue.

Me too!! Keep it simple. Also the only bleeding tool I have ever used (until now) is a jam jar and a short clear hose. As long as you have a happy helper to shout 'up' and 'down' to it works fine! However, I did buy the £4.99 vacuum pump mentioned in this thread earlier, and tried it on the GT40 clutch and it worked without the happy helper!

[aaronjb]

Yes, I've heard that mentioned before but have not experienced any ill effects. It seems that the dot 5 silicone is getting hard to find (in this part of the world anyway) - the usual parts stores don't seem to keep it anymore. Amazing how many try to sell the Dot 5.1 fluid as an alternative.

Dot 5.1 is a great alternative than Dot 5 (I'd argue better) ..... just not in the same system at the same time

[aksportscars]

Hi,

clutch bleeding is very easy and simple, save your money, all you need is a jam jar , piece of clear pipe and a couple of mates. Connect your pipe , undo the nipple , one mate to pump the pedal and the other to keep the master cylinder full. you don't need to lock the nipple every press of the pedal. Due to the height of the master cylinder and the slave being low it will nearly bleed just through gravity, it's also quite a short run compared to the brakes.

Jon
AK

[JamesB]

Its the couple of mates that's the problem for me in lockdown, I know how to bleed anything with a helper but in lockdown I have had to find new ways of doing many things on my own.

[aaronjb]

Its the couple of mates that's the problem for me in lockdown, I know how to bleed anything with a helper but in lockdown I have had to find new ways of doing many things on my own.

Can you push the car outside and claim it's their 1hr of exercise? "Leg presses, officer, very heavy clutch!"

[jon1d]

With the vacuum method you can lock off under pressure knowing no air is getting back into the system. I have tried all the methods of single return valve one man operation, Gunson pressure system on the cap under tyre pressure all with different results. The hand vacuum is the easiest and had the best results on my Jag Dax breaks . The rear brakes were always difficult to bleed.

[Chris1]

I'll just stick with DOT4.
Never been an issue.

I will trump that with Super dot 4.
In the long time I had my cob I've never been tempted with the silicon stuff,
perhaps we are missing something.
The other thing is I only do road use, if it were used for track would proberbly
choose something else .
Chris.