need some help on bleeding my 93 Ranger

[USMCWHITENER]

So i bought a 1993 Ford Ranger back in Oct. 2008 and it needed a new engine. So i finally bought a new engine and dropped it in place. Replaced the clutch, slave cylinder, etc. Hokked everything up and went to bleed the clutch...fluid and all came out...but i still have no pedal. So now I thought it may have been clutch master cylinder...so ordered one of those and replaced it...still doing same thing. So i read about bench bleeding....i think i'm going to give that a shot tomorrow...can someone give me more of a discription on how to go about doing that...It would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[skippy]

Have not had the pleasure of bleeding these systems yet,so here is the link to the tech library writeup,good luck over there in Sharpsburg.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/bleedclutch.htm

 

[USMCWHITENER]

Thanks for the link Skippy...i'v tried just bleeding the system but read a few threads about bench bleeding...thats the information i'm looking for. Where abouts are you located in GA??

 

[skippy]

Thanks for the link Skippy...i'v tried just bleeding the system but read a few threads about bench bleeding...thats the information i'm looking for. Where abouts are you located in GA??

Not too far away,Douglasville.

 

[fastpakr]

Unbolt master cylinder from firewall and flip the low end up. Run a clear hose from the bleeder valve on the slave all the way to the master reservoir and immerse the end. Top off the reservoir and open the valve. Begin cycling the piston repeatedly until all air has been forced out of the master and cycled through the system, then close the valve.

The tech article overcomplicates things and fails to deal with the primary issue - air getting trapped in the base of the master cylinder.

 

[sfwjesse]

The tech article is straight out of the Haynes manual.....should be changed. The problem with running the tube up is it is difficult to get it to stay on the bleed screw. I may be trying that option, but i have a homemade invention i am trying tomorrow first. If it works i will post some pics.

 

[killacal]

Those instructions seem to outline the best approach to doing it. But be aware that it may take a looonnnnggg time to get the air out via pumping. when I did my clutch it took about 45 min to get all the air out.

 

[fastpakr]

What's difficult about it? As long as it fits well it's not going anywhere.

 

[fastpakr]

Those instructions seem to outline the best approach to doing it. But be aware that it may take a looonnnnggg time to get the air out via pumping. when I did my clutch it took about 45 min to get all the air out.

Those instructions will not get the air out of the system if it's trapped in the master cylinder, no matter how long you bleed. Done the way I listed above, a single person can complete the bleeding operation quite easily. If you have trapped air, unbolting the master is a necessary additional step. The more complicated instructions from the Haynes manual do not improve on the procedure in any way.

 

[sfwjesse]

What's difficult about it? As long as it fits well it's not going anywhere.

I agree, I just have retarded hose. I need something that is a closer fit, and a hose clamp.

 

[USMCWHITENER]

so when bench bleeding the master cylinder..do you have to run a hose from the bleeder valve to the reservoir??

 

[USMCWHITENER]

also..how do you know all air is out of master cylinder??

 

[fastpakr]

That's the easiest way because you can connect the entire hydraulic system and bleed it as one, then leave it connected as you bolt the master back up. Use a clear line and watch for air bubbles coming out of the system. When there is no more visible air, close the valve and check for pressure against the piston. If it's still easily compressible, open it up and keep bleeding.

 

[USMCWHITENER]

ok problem fixed.....unbolted master cylinder and did like everyone said except I didnt use the hose from the bleeder to the reserviour...just unbolted master cylinder and tilted it so it was going other direction and started pumping the piston...bolted it back up when no more air bubbles were rising from reserviour.....bled the whole system and now i have full clutch again. Thanks for the help guys!!

 

[fastpakr]

So where did you run the bleed hose - into a separate container?

Glad you got it fixed.