Hi, Jack

(Just realized that sounds like "hijack." It's late and I'm getting slap happy!)

Though I've often sang the virtues of the MityVac tool for diagnosing vacuum problems, and I've used it on occasion to bleed brakes, I never found it necessary for the clutch bleed.

Leave the reservoir cap open, and have an assistant press the clutch pedal while you open then close the bleeder nipple. This is a little tricky and requires some communication with your pedal presser. My wife has become good at it, though. I tell her to press, she says "pressing." Then I crack open the bleeder nipple a tiny bit, and wait for her to tell me the pedal is to the floor. I then say, "Hold it" while I tighten the nipple, then tell her "release." This is important so that no air is sucked back through the bleed nipple. I repeat this cycle until the air is out, telling her to press again, etc.

Usually it only takes a half dozen pumps to get the air out. Watch the reservoir level and keep the fluid topped up. Your assistant will feel the pedal get hard to press as the air is removed... the sponginess will disappear.

Mike's procedure of running some tubing from the bleeder nipple back to the reservoir sounds like it would work fine, except that it would return contaminated fluid back into the system. When I bleed my clutch or brakes, anything that gets pumped out is thrown away until what's coming out is totally clean. I probably waste fluid that way, but fluid is cheap, and, in my opinion, not worth saving at the risk of putting anything dirty into my brake master cylinder.

I do, however, agree with him that you don't need the MityVac to bleed your clutch line. It's easier without it.

If you're having trouble, disconnect the clutch fluid line from the bottom of the brake reservoir and make sure the nipple there isn't clogged. Also check that the line itself is clear. Fluid should pump readily from the reservoir down to the clutch slave bleeder when the pedal is pressed.

- = M = -
'87 900T 164K

• The MIGHTYVAC...?'s on how to use on a Saab (long), Jack Crawford, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 09:22:43
  • I agree with Mike, Monster, Wed, 28 Mar 2001 01:40:06 <-- Viewing This Message
  • I've never had to use pressure to bleed, Mike 87 900s, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 13:45:13
  • Re: The MIGHTYVAC...?'s on how to use on a Saab (long), Rob C, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:36:57
    • How do you set to pressurize with mightyvac...left inst at home, Jack Crawford, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 13:48:15
  • Re: The MIGHTYVAC...?'s on how to use on a Saab (long), burlyb, Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:22:59
    • The pressure mode worked on bleeding clutch..Thanks guys, Jack Crawford, Tue, 27 Mar 2001 09:24:13

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