Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 08:19:26 -0400 From: "James H. E. Maugham" <captjhemnopsamAM.waterw.com> Subject: Re: clutch replacement 84 900 s
Robert Brown wrote: > > Right you are about bleeding the air from the clutch hydraulics via > pressurising the brake fluid reservoir from above, but I'd venture to say that > you can usually replace the clutch without disconnecting the slave cylinder > from the feed pipe. Which means that if you have no air in the hydraulic > system _before_ replacing the clutch, you probably won't have more once the > clutch is replaced. Which means that you should be able to avoid having to > bleed air out of the clutch hydraulics. I've found it more effective to pressurize the _clutch_ master cylinder rather than the brake fluid reservoir when bleeding the clutch. :-) I should have mentioned that I pretty much automatically rebuilt the slave cylinder when changing the clutch. After changing clutches over the years on Triumphs, Jags, an Austin Healy and a Rustang, changing the clutch on the 99 was actually pleasant! No alignment tool (the output shaft performs that function), no having to get under the car, everything accessible. > I've replaced two clutches on two 1983's (99GL and 900 GL) and haven't had to > bleed the system afterwards. OTOH I work very slowly, takes about 4-5 hours > for me ;-) // Robert You probably had A/C in the '83s. I didn't have that headache. :-) 1) Grill, hood and hood bow off. 2) Drain and remove radiator (4 bolts, 2 hose clamps, fan thermostat wire). 3) You're there! Relieve pressure plate and install "special tool". 4) Remove cap over output shaft access, remove output shaft. 5) Unbolt pressure plate and Bob's your Uncle! I did a complete engine/trans changeout in less than a day once. Started at 0800, was driving the car at 1730 that evening, albeit without the hood and grill installed "just in case"! The only time the 99 ever stumped me was a futile attempt to change the timing chain with the engine in the car. A blatant case of NOT listening to the experts! Wound up pulling the engine/trans after 2 days of useless effort. Turns out the experts were right. (I hate it when that happens!) Regards, James