do I need a new slave cylinder?

[kenwheeler]

I can't seem to get any pedal and I can't get the truck in gear when its running. I've bled and bled but no pedal. The fluid dribbles out when I crack the bleeder valve. I replaced the clutch. I replaced the master cylinder. Before installing the master cylinder I bench bled it and capped the end to limit air prior to connecting the fluid line to the trans. I replaced the transmission because the input shaft bearings went bad but I used the slave cylinder off my broken tranny. Probably should've changed it when I had the tranny down last time, DOH! I've gone through three bottles of DOT 3 trying to get the air out. I've tried bleeding the system with a hose in a bottle, a vacum pump, an assistant pumping/holding the pedal and just opening the bleeder valve. It seems like the system is sealed. The only time I get massive or noticable fluid leakage out of the bell housing is when I opened the bleeder valve to much. When I put the new tranny in and prior to all the bleeding, while the truck was still up on the jackstands, I was able to get it into first and reverse. I thought I was good. It hasn't gone into gear while running since then. It seems like the release bearing doesn't make to the pressure plate fingers.

This will be the third time in three months that I've had to drop the tranny. I'm sure I can beat my past record of 6.5 hours this time but I really don't want to go through the whole experience again. If I need a new slave cylinder, then I've learned an important lesson. If this sounds like an impatient/incorrect bleeding problem, I'll go get some more brake fluid.

I'll be sitting on the wheel well in the truck bed drinking beer andf waiting for some advice. Thanks for the help.

Its an 87 4x4 ext cab with a 2.9 motor and an FM145 trans

 

[country0001]

Sounds like it.

Try this when u bleed it.

Its kinda like a bench bleed on a master cylinder. Use a syringe filled w brake fluid to fill the slave cylinder on the pressure side while the bleed side is open. Filll it until fluid comes out. Tighten it back up and install. This worked for me. Good luck.