hydraulic clutch query
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
hydraulic clutch query
I have a 90 f150 w/ the 5speed OD tranny. I had a post up a while ago concerning the engagement point on my clutching changing. It used to let out about halfway off the floor and then at one point it would let out only about an inch off the floor. I have a hydraulic clutch and someone suggested a had a leak in the system w/ air possibly being trapped in it. I made sure the fluid for the clutch was topped off and the situation seemed to stabilize itself for the last few months (clutch position stayed the same, no drop-off in clutch fluid level). But just other day it changed again and now i'm back to letting it out quite a ways off the floor before it catches, which I find isn't as efficient as it was before. The fluid level is fine. Is this a sign of air being trapped in the system? Pedal feels OK - gears engage OK..just don't like how the clutch position keeps changing....any ideas? Thanks!
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
FYI,
A properly adjusted clutch system will fully disengage the clutch when the pedal is depressed about 1/3 of the way down.
As the clutch wears out you will have to press the clutch pedal further down along its travel. So after a while you will be pressing the pedal about 1/2 of the way down to completely disengage it. The stumper in all of this is the self adjusting clutches that take up this slack in the system so the pedal stays at the same sweet spot. Now add to this the POS Ford hydraulic system and the pedal can start to go to the floor before it completely disengages. The system, specially the slave cylinder, is prone to leaking. So the last thing to look at is the actual clutch. Only after looking for and not finding any leaks should the clutch be examined. Bleeding the system might bring back up the pedal but if you are having to bleed it then there is a leak. You may go for thousands of miles before having to bleed it again but you still have a leak. Finding the leak and fixing it is the only cure. As a preventative measure always replace the slave when changing a clutch.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
A properly adjusted clutch system will fully disengage the clutch when the pedal is depressed about 1/3 of the way down.
As the clutch wears out you will have to press the clutch pedal further down along its travel. So after a while you will be pressing the pedal about 1/2 of the way down to completely disengage it. The stumper in all of this is the self adjusting clutches that take up this slack in the system so the pedal stays at the same sweet spot. Now add to this the POS Ford hydraulic system and the pedal can start to go to the floor before it completely disengages. The system, specially the slave cylinder, is prone to leaking. So the last thing to look at is the actual clutch. Only after looking for and not finding any leaks should the clutch be examined. Bleeding the system might bring back up the pedal but if you are having to bleed it then there is a leak. You may go for thousands of miles before having to bleed it again but you still have a leak. Finding the leak and fixing it is the only cure. As a preventative measure always replace the slave when changing a clutch.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier