I'm stuck! Trying to bleed clutch slave :X

Got the POS slave in after 1 1/2hr of wrestling with bolt threads.
Started to bleed it per the instructions given on the moss site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj1dMdYgRK4&feature=player_embedded

The thing started to get pressure and then the piston got pushed half way
out the cylinder from too much pressure or possible the shaft connected to
the fork being too short. I can't push the piston back in, even with the
bleed valve open and the clutch fork can't be moved.

I am so pissed right now! Everytime I try to fix anything on this car something
has to go wrong. I'm about to go roll this thing off a cliff and just get a motorcycle.

Roll it here to NJ - I will gladly take i.

Rusty,

If you have a clamp that will fit over it ut should be able to push back in cylinder.

Glenn

Hey Rusty, can the pin at clutch fork be removed? Looks like the whole thing is at an angle.
I would try to remove piston and seal. You may need a new seal. Looks as if a part of it is hanging out near the bottom.
Could be the photo though.
Start from scratch. Remove the bleed nipple all the way, remove piston and seal. Examine bore if you already havent done this, replace seal and piston (dont be tempted to use seal if distorted or torn).
Yes, you will lose fluid but have no alternative.
RS

maybe use a small vice grips to get the pin even on the top, then tap with a punch to get it to fall out ?

First thing I would do is remove the mounting nuts so you can change the angle of the unit. Things may just be off kilter and binding from being over-extended. Not to bring more pain, but it also looks like you've torn your dust boot.

Ok, got the thing out and used the air compressor to blow the piston out.
The seal is undamaged and the inside of the slave looks good.

So why did it over extend and when I put this back in, how can I prevent it
from happening again?

How did you bleed it? Maybe that will tell? Only thing I can think of is pressure from above to push out the piston.
Did you push bleed without the piston being clamped in?
RS

If the pin is in and the parts are all correct, then it shouldn't be possible to over-extend it. Even with the pin not installed in the fork I don't think it would be possible but not sure. With the plunger out then it could easily be pushed apart. These thoughts are based on MGB slaves though, and I just realized this is a Midget slave which I'm not so familiar with.

I had my dad push the pedal to the floor, I cracked the bleeder and then gave a little push on the rod to make sure the bubbles got out.

After I thought all the air was out he pumped the clutch a couple times really slow and then the piston went too far and the fluid shot out
everywhere.

Steve, internal parts work with the same idea. A spring, rubber seal, and piston.

I know the Moss catalog only shows one - so why am I thinking that there are 2 different lengths of pushrod. Did I dream that?

While I've never experienced this, I've read a number of posts in the past that discuss brake hose deterioration where the inside of the hose will deteriorate and act like a one way valve. How's the hose to your slave cylinder?

Good point, Paul. Basil, I seem to remember the same thing, or maybe it's that the B and Midget are different.

There ARE two different push rods. I will have to measure and compare to the moss catalog.

Paul, I have no flex lines to the slave. The early midgets used only the hard line.

Clutch slave bleeding (without a mityvac ,which is easy )::
Dont bleed like you would the brakes,,,on the clutch system you have to Purge it !
1 open bleed
2 slowly pust down on clutch,,and hold it...
3 close bleed with clutch held down
4 repeat ,,,should take about 3 of 4 cycles if all mech ok ( two bodies reqd )

The worst has been confirmed tonight. My brother (the real mechanic) came by
to check it out and said the throw out bearing is absolutely toast. He took the dust
boot off and could see the damage done. The slave was over extending to compensate
for the throw out bearing causing the chain reaction of bad things to happen.

Next week I have finals! Yippee! I know what I am doing over my break... engine pull here I come!

on the plus side, exams are so easy compared to fixing ancient MG's.
That's what gets me about MGB's. You go to fix something and there is this, most often, an improbable sequence of "I don't believe it" events. it's like the universe doesn't want MG's around. I've got to say though, it has been very good for me professionally. I'm an analytical chemist, my job is to fix problems that the others can't deal with. After the MGB, work problems are just a walk in the park :D