No clutch pressure

L

Laldog

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My coupe spent the past 4 months idle for the New England winter.

I took out one of the dual webers I have to replace the secondary throttle shaft bearing. Easy enough. (It shouldn't have taken 4 months but...)

Anyway, bolted the carb back on, hopped in the car to start it, put my foot on the clutch pedal... right to the floor. Absolutely no pressure or resistance.

Car started right up, but the clutch problem remains.

I can't see how the carb and clutch would be related, and I haven't crawled under the car to look around yet, but any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Is the clutch and brake fluid reservoir only part full. if so suspect a leak in clutch system, if empty, suspect brakes.
Clutch pretty much self bleeds, so i suspect a leak.
C
 
1+. Clutch slave seems to leak when cold weather sets in. Seals age and retract and crack. Brake fluid reservoir is joined to the clutch via a sidehole in the reservoir so if clutch leaks, fluid drops to level of hole and some fluid remains and you still have brakes.

I have lived this 3 times with this NE weather.
 
If you have a power bleeder (white bottle with pump on top) then your job is easy, if not bleeding the master and slave can be a pain. crack the bleeder on the slave and let it drip ever so slightly overnight, tighten in the morning and you should have a good pedal.
 
Thanks for the help.
It took a while, (too much rain lately) but after cracking the bleed screw, leaving it to slowly drip (for a week !) with no results, I've come to realize my bleed screw is plugged.

So next question...is this an interchangeable part with the brake bleeder screw and will newer model bleeder screws fit?
In other words, can I walk into the local BMW dealer and expect to walk away with one?

Thanks for your help.
 
I may have one floating around. If I find it, I will PM you tomorrow.

I believe there is nothing special about the bleed screw and most places that deal with foregn autoparts will have it.
Do you have a Tap and Die set? If not, get one. . I use mine mostly to figure size and pitch/thread of something so I know what I am looking for.
 
laldog said:
Thanks for the help.
It took a while, (too much rain lately) but after cracking the bleed screw, leaving it to slowly drip (for a week !) with no results, I've come to realize my bleed screw is plugged.

So next question...is this an interchangeable part with the brake bleeder screw and will newer model bleeder screws fit?
In other words, can I walk into the local BMW dealer and expect to walk away with one?

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

Your problem may not be a clogged bleeder valve, and if it is you need to determine how it got clogged. One of the few ways this can happen is when a rubber seal somewhere in the system deteriorates and pieces of it get into the system. This is usually only happens in a car that has been sitting a very long time.

Instead, I suspect you have still not properly bled your system. I tried Peter's method overnight method and for whatever reason it did not work for me. I was unable to get my clutch slave bled in place when I installed it and ultimately had to remove the slave cylinder and hold it above the clutch and brake master in order to get it bled. Then, of course, I leaked brake fluid on the tii brake booster I had just painted and that baby still looks like crap to this day. I subsequently acquired a brake bleeder and highly recommend this.
 
Your rubber clutch line (from clutch master to slave) may have swelled shut internally. This would prevent the slave from operating and bleeding correctly.

This is a very common failure. If it is the original line, I would replace it.... Takes maybe 5 minutes.

Ed
 
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