TD4 Bleeding the clutch

Problem:- Clutch pedal floppy and is hard to engage gears. It has a new slave cylinder, clutch and housing. I have lost fluid and merely wish to bleed the clutch so the clutch works properly.
Issue:- Bought pressure bleed system. Connected it all up to the brake reserviour as instructed. Filled the pressure bleed system and connected it to the tyre. I can see the fluid being pressureised in the reserviour. I undid the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder hoping the brake fluid would start to come out of it nothing!!!.No effect! It as if there is no pressure in the system to push the fluid around the system. Pedal still floppy to the point where I have to raise it by hand after pushing it down.
Question:- Am I being blonde and missing something. Any help would be gratefully recieved

do yu have separate brake and clutch master cylinders?

try connecting it to the CLUTCH master cylinder :doh:

The Mad Hat Man said:

do yu have separate brake and clutch master cylinders?

try connecting it to the CLUTCH master cylinder :doh:

Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response. The clutch master cylinder is a sealed unit and the haynes manual says use the brake reserviour.

Willie said:

The clutch master cylinder is a sealed unit and the haynes manual says use the brake reserviour.

Click to expand...

uKinel does it say that! They're separate systems!

You have two options, fit a new master cylinder at £100+ or attempt to bleed the conventional way. The rubber top on the clutch master will come off, problem is it doesn't have a reservoir as such so keeping it topped up while bleeding will be tricky.

I haven't done it but I think i'd try.

Chaser said:

uKinel does it say that! They're separate systems!

You have two options, fit a new master cylinder at £100+ or attempt to bleed the conventional way. The rubber top on the clutch master will come off, problem is it doesn't have a reservoir as such so keeping it topped up while bleeding will be tricky.

I haven't done it but I think i'd try.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the information. You were bang on the marker. The clutch has now been bled and it now works correctly. Still think its the master cylinder, so I await in a couple of days time for the pedal to go to the floor, and I will then replace the cylinder. Fingers crossed it doesent though. Strange why the haynes manual says to use the brake resevoir. idiots

Chaser said:

uKinel does it say that! They're separate systems!

Click to expand...

It certainly does. Just checked my copy. In the Hydralic clutch system - bleeding section, TD4 diesel engine, step 9, it states "Connect the pressure-bleeding equipment to the brake fluid reservior in accordance with manufactures instructions."

A quick check of the Brake system bleeding instructions shows that this was not a error due to 'cut and paste'. The authors mind was else where on that day it seems.

Had exactly the same problem replaced master cylinder £106 fifteen minute job and was fine for about a month and has now come back again does seem to get better as you use it but terrible to get gears in morning topped up master reservoir and is now ok but not holding my breath hopefully not slave cyl dont want to take box out

Hello I also have a clutch problem, its now on its second.

first slave went, so new one replaced, clutch at the same time and master cylinder. a month later pedal back on the floor.

just had the it replace again, this time genuine slave and master, clutch replace again as it had glazed. but no pedal and cant get gears.

anyone help?

Steve

onelifeliveit1 said:

Hello I also have a clutch problem, its now on its second.

first slave went, so new one replaced, clutch at the same time and master cylinder. a month later pedal back on the floor.

just had the it replace again, this time genuine slave and master, clutch replace again as it had glazed. but no pedal and cant get gears.

anyone help?

Steve

Click to expand...

The problem could be that when the slave and master cylinders are connected together at the self sealing coupling that a small amount of air is entering the system. Has the system been bled? If not I recommend you try that before changing anything.

'Haynes' would appear to be 'losing the plot' yes some manufacturers do in fact feed the clutch hydraulics with fluid via the brake fluid reservoir but not Land Rover.

yes the system has been bled, but still pedal is on the floor.

onelifeliveit1 said:

yes the system has been bled, but still pedal is on the floor.

Click to expand...

Since you have new cylinders and everything I can't see how that is possible if there is no air in the hydraulics.....

The clutch cover assembly would exert a force on the slave cylinder and return it which if you have a solid column of hydraulic fluid would return the master cylinder and the pedal.

yes the clutch has been bled but still no pedal

is there anything else to look at. could an issue with the flywheel cause this, im clutching at straws now, but all clutch side has been replaced

the pedal does not stay on the floor, but it just wont get a gear.

onelifeliveit1 said:

the pedal does not stay on the floor, but it just wont get a gear.

Click to expand...

So what are you saying ?? you have to bury it into the carpet to try to get it in gear??

yes but its hard to get a gear then when engine is running.

OK, the clutch is dragging, i.e not clearing, it can be various things.....


1. Air in hydraulic system will give reduced travel of the slave cylinder so ensure it is bled through to new fluid.

2. Faulty master or slave cylinder, not likely to have failed so quickly

3.Clutch pressure plate faulty, unlikely if it has really been changed twice.

4. Rust, oil/crap on gearbox splines preventing clutch driven plate from clearing flywheel properly. Shouldn't be that if box has been out twice.

Sounds like you have a lack of pressure in the system to enable full stroke of the slave push rod. Are both master and slave sealed units as per typical MGR parts? If so they cannot be bled 100% and are unreliable. If that were me I would be looking at a quality replacement via a Honda parts bin. Can you post some pictures of both cylinders and then I can see if they look similar to those used on other models. On the PG1 gearbox as used on the KV6 and K-series 1.8 you can get a kit that swaps the plastic OE system for a quality Honda derived one It can be bled and is metal, not plastic! Also this kit is cheaper than the OE slave or master alone as parts are swapable.

It can be bled like any other, hardest part is making up some kind of pourer to keep the poxy little reservoir topped up....

Better to use your hand to pump the pedal cos the return spring isn't very strong and sometimes the pedal doesn't return and you have to lift it.