Does anyone have an alternative to using a pressure bleeder to flush the slave cylinder. I use "speed bleeder valves" which replace the bleeder valves in each caliper (only takes 10-15 minutes to flush the brake fluid and brake pedal is rock solid); i.e. push in clutch then open the slave cylinder valve (old fashioned way maybe works :-)). Alternatively, is the slave cylinder bleeder valve the same as the bleeder valve on each caliper (then I can replace with "speed bleeder valve"). Thanks! Jim

 

I'm pretty sure the slave cyl. can be bled the "old fashioned" way just like the brakes, since they work off the same principle. I bled my brakes/slave cyl. recently, but I used the motive bleeder. For $40 it is well worth it as it makes the brake/slave bleed go twice as fast, and gives better results than I've ever gotten manually bleeding. Besides, it will be very difficult to even install the speed bleeder, as the bleed nipple is very difficult to get to. Hope this helps.

 

Jim,

The bleeder valve on the slave cylinder is much smaller than the brake caliper bleeder valve. I am not exactly sure the thread size, but the bleeder valve is based on a 7mm nut.

 

Buy the pressure bleeder is my recommendation. Your "speed bleeder valves" to me are going to cause premature brake master cylinder wear; you're pushing the master cylinder piston inward past its normal wear point every time you bleed brakes. Went thru two master cylinders on old '76 911 in 50K miles due to similar method; since I went to presure bleeding, never had another problem in 200K miles on three different 911s.

Might be less of a problem on clutch, since clutch master moves entire stroke on each pedal movement (unlike the brake pedal).

It's only $40 - c'mon; you can afford it!

 

Thanks for the help guys (even you Ray - I get your sense of humor)! I bought a Motive pressure bleeder today after your comments and discovering you can't bleed the slave cylinder without pressure. The reason I was apprehensive about the pressure bleeder was because I have had bad experiences with vacumm bleeders and thought the same would hold true for pressure; hence the use of "speed bleeders" for the past six years. BTW Ray, the trick with with the "speed bleeders" to save your master cylinder is not to push the brake pedal (at the time of flushing the system) beyond its normal range of travel as I have done for the past 6 years (havent lost a master cylinder yet).

Thanks again

Jim

 

I've used a Mighty-vac (sp?) on every car and motorcycle I've owned or worked on for over 20 years. It sets a vacuum on the bleeder valve and all you do is open the valve and out comes the sludge, just watch the resevoir level. As Ray mentioned, the master cylinder's piston is "saved" from working past it's normal travel which, I've heard many moons ago, is not good, though this probably has to do more with brake masters more than clutch masters. Still, it has always worked well and I have never experienced any brake or clutch problems.
Ed

 

JW97C2S, vacuum/pump bleeders are garbage - they don't work (got blisters pumping those suckers)

Pressure bleeders only way to go in my opinion. Been using one version or another for 20 years.

Hope you were able to bleed your clutch successfully.

 

HMMMM,
For something that "doesn't work," the vacuum bleeder sure worked well for me for these 20 years. I'm not saying it's the best way, never having had a pressure bleeder myself. But it certainly beats NOT having one and doing it the "old-fashioned" way. Just my opinion on what DOES work for me. Peace