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Subject:Re: Question #2 - clutch bleeding
From:Tom Young
Date:Thu, 9 Apr 1998 17:25:13 -0700

On Thu, 9 Apr 1998, KENWILFY wrote:

> So shouldn't he open the bleeder valve, depress the clutch, shut the bleeder
> and then when he releases the clutch the slave should go to it's "clutch
> disengaged" position, right?

The "clutch disengaged" position for the slave cylider is extended.  When
you press on the clutch pedel the pressure from the master extends the
slave cylinder which moves the throwout bearing against the pressure
plate "fingers."  Release the pedel and the pressure of the fingers
forces the slave cylider into its "clutch engaged" position which forces
fluid back in the direction of the master cylinder.

Without the clutch attached, the first time you step on the clutch pedal
you extend the slave cylinder to its max (there's a circlip that keeps it
from popping right out) with no way of getting it to withdraw except by
forcing it back in by hand.  So the second time you step on the clutch
pedal you're stepping on a solid column of fluid (ignoring the little bit
of air that might be in the lines) which causes you to remark "...What
the...!!!" unitl you stop and figure it out.

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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