Problems bleeding clutch

[Sunk]

A friend and I picked up an 86 Bronco II today for $200. We got it to his house and he said the clutch was starting to slip a little, so since the PO said it was new, we thought we should bleed it. I checked the master and it was completely empty, so I added some fluid. We started bleeding it and some fluid came out, but the pedal started feeling worse and worse, and now no fluid comes out. We tried leaving the bleeder open, but the fluid level doesn't drop. Would this be a block in the line somewhere? Even doing the traditional bleeding doesn't create any pressure in the pedal or cause any air to escape from the nipple.

 

[MAKG]

Gravity bleeding doesn't work.

Pump it out using the pedal. Make sure the bleed screw is closed EVERY time you let off the pedal.

Leaving aside that bleeding is never a repair (it didn't get air in the lines by psychic energy), air in the lines simply will not make your clutch slip. Brake fluid on the disk might...

 

[Sunk]

We're just trying to make sure everything works for now, then If we need to we can pull the transmission we when we pull the body. I was thinking the slave could be leaking, but there would still a blockage of some sort in the line because the fluid level in the master wasn't dropping.

 

[Bajabronco]

I am the friend who sunk bought the bronco with. we can't get any fluid through the system, not a drop. We are bleeding it just like you bleed the brakes. (pump up the clutch, hold it down, open the nipple, close it, let off the clutch and repeat.

 

[envious8420]

time for a new slave cylinder.

 

[Sunk]

Well we were looking at it and decided to pull out the reservoir and saw that the rubber liner for the cap had lodged itself in the bottom of the reservoir so well we though it was part of the reservoir. So we pulled it out and had it bled by holding the master vertically. We went to put it back together thought and the line from the reservoir came off so we lost all pressure and now we have air bubbles again. So we're pulling off the master and doing it again, and this time we'll be careful not to let the line come off.

 

[Sunk]

We did it again, and got it working good, no slipping this time. Thanks guys.

 

[fastpakr]

Something's not right here. The clutch release system does one thing - release the clutch on command. If it's broken in any fashion (mechanical failure, low fluid, air in the line, etc), the problem is manifested by the inability to release the clutch. It simply CANNOT cause a slip condition.

 

[Sunk]

Yeah I realize that.. The slave is probably leaking onto the disc.

 

[King Crush]

I just had my hydrolic cluth lione replaced my my buddied dad that is a mechanic. He had to buy a special suction cup deal to bleed it.

 

[MAKG]

No, you don't.

Bleed it like brakes. Never let the pedal up with the bleed screw open. Never let the reservoir run dry. Bench bleed a new master cylinder.

That's it.

The only clue I've seen as to why people have so much trouble is a comment from AllanD to slow down a bit. I've never had trouble bleeding these things. Always very straightforward.

Suction bleeding doesn't work because the threads on an open bleed screw are not airtight.

And please proofread your posts.