Hi David,

Your problem is that when your wife lifts the clutch pedal, air is being
drawn in.

I use one of two methods to bleed brakes/clutch.  They have both worked well
on 20+ vehicles i have owned since 1974.

Method 1.  1 person needed.

Buy an automatic bleed tube with a non-return valve in it.  Loosen the bleed
screw and put the tube over the nipple.  Pump brake/clutch pedal very slowly
(slow down AND slow up) until clean fluid appears, keeping flud reservoir
topped up throughout.  Tighten bleed nipple.  Remove automatic bleed tube.
Job done.

Method 2.  2 persons needed.

Loosen the bleed screw.  Get second person to slowly press down the
brake/clutch pedal, keeping flud reservoir topped up throughout.  Tighten
the bleed screw.  Allow the brake/clutch pedal to return to the up position.
  Repeat all this over and over again until clean fluid appears.  Tighten
bleed nipple.  Job done.

In the first method, the non-return valve in the automatic brake bleed tube
prevents air getting in.  In the second method, the fact that the bleed
nipple is always closed when the brake/clutch pedal is rising makes sure
that no air can get in

Hope this helps.

Tony

--- Original Message ---
>Date:    Tue, 8 Jun 2004 19:18:31 -0700
>From:    David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
>Subject: How do I adjust (bleed?) the clutch?
>
>I just finished installing a 1.9TD in my Syncro Single Cab.  In the process
>of having the original engine out, the clutch cylinder in the rear ruptured
>and leaked brake fluid all over the place.  Today I installed a new clutch
>cylinder.  I got the wife to push the clutch pedal to bleed out the
>majority
>of the air.  Then I used a 2x2" piece of wood to keep the clutch from going
>down and the wife pressed on the clutch pedal ( that wouldn't go down at
>this point ) and I slowly let more fluid come out until it was clean and
>bubble free.  Figured that this way it would be like bleeding brakes.   Now
>I can engage the clutch but it feels very soft and you have to go to the
>floor to get it in and out of any gear.  Is there something that I am
>forgetting to do?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>David Marshall