New guy here, needing help with bleeding slave/clutch

[swynx]

My advice to get it pushed through that last inch is just to push as hard as you can forward. Sometimes it helps to wiggle the back end around a little bit, the input shaft can be difficult to line up with the pilot bearing just right and you are pushing against the spring on the slave cylinder too. It is entirely possible to move the clutch disc off center of where it should be too and that makes it even harder.

There is some advice floating around regarding sucking the engine and trans together with bolts/allthread ... use this method with caution, if the input shaft is not in the pilot bearing or the bellhousing dowels aren't lined up, it's easy to break the bellhousing.

i always get the transmission in there and hook up the slave (so the fluid can move), put the transmission in gear and try to rotate the shaft so you know when its engaged, then wiggle the back end of the transmisssion all around, and try to push on the bell housing with your feet.

 

[bossbob]

Swynx, that's a great idea, but being in my 50's, I'm not as limber as I once was, there is no way I could get in that position.

I've cleared the exhaust, a little penetrating oil and all the studs came loose.

On, the 87 which does not have the quick connect for the slave cylinder, is it possible that the slave still has pressure in it that is holding me back.

Everything should be lined up, just need to push the it home.

 

[bossbob]

Still can't get last inch. Guess I'll pull it apart again to see what's up.

 

[Shran]

I have fought every single one and I've done a bunch. There is always a point where it slides into place after you wiggle and move everything around, but if it's just not going in, it's totally possible that the clutch disc moved. I've had that happen before. Insert your clutch alignment tool and see if that's the case, if the tool slides in real nice, you just gotta keep wiggling and pushing.

 

[donaldcon]

Sounds like input shaft is not lined up with clutch and or pilot.

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[Jimmyrig]

Sounds like input shaft is not lined up with clutch and or pilot.

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That's possible. Or the disc could be slightly misaligned. Some of the plastic alignment tools that come with the new kit are smaller than the pilot, sometimes this allows the disc to drop just enough to cause an issue stabbing the tranny.

If it's within an inch I usually start a bolt on one side, than pull the tailshaft toward the side without a bolt. A little wiggle here and there, then get a bolt started on the opposite side. After that it's gravy. Another trick an old timer taught me is ton get bolts an inch or so longer and use those to pull it in. Get them started, get the tranny level with the engine (same gap top and bottom ) then run them in until you can get the bellhousing bolts in. As long as they turn easy with a wrench or ratchet everything's good, if they get hard your misaligned.

 

[bossbob]

Good news, persistence paid off. Got it in, and everything is working great. Tranny is making some noise, but will probably get another 50k miles before a rebuild is needed.

By the way, how much fluid goes in, I put 2 quarts of 80-90 gear oil in and it didn't leak out of the fill hole, however, the way I had the truck on the stands it was lower on one side, higher on the fill side, hoping that once I leveled it out it would be enough. Should I double check it after a few miles?

Thanks again, all of your input helped me out.

Next thing on the list is the rear brakes, they seem to lock up way to early. But I guess I'll post that issue in another section.

Appreciate all the input I received, thanks again, time for a beer.

 

[Jimmyrig]

I'd check it again just in case, I don't know the exact quantity but if it's low that's a good way to turn it into a 500 mile tranny. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Shran]

2 quarts sounds a little on the low side, if you want an easy way to fill it, remove the shifter and fill through there. Or those jug pumps work well too.

The transmission I removed from my daily driver last year made a lot of noise and I put probably 20k on it, plus who knows how many miles under the previous owner. Would have kept going too but it was leaking as fast as I could put oil in it. I personally wouldn't worry about it too much unless it starts getting worse.

 

[bossbob]

On the way to get the smog check, I lost the clutch again, the pin that holds the hose to the slave cylinder fell out. Thought I had it in there pretty good.

Anyway, I got it home, and have the pin back in, but how do I know it's in all the way?

Can't really see it, it feels tight, but want to make sure. The curvy side goes towards the bleeder correct. As it is right now, I can't tell if it is in the first curve of the pin or not.