MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Bleeding good!

Those with a long memory might remember about 3 months ago I posted a problem with my clutch and a sudden inability to select any gear. Thanks to all for their assistance at the time and this is a long overdue update and for once a positive story on clutch bleeding issues.
Having been run off my feet all summer the car has been languishing under a layer of dust in the garage and I finally got round to investigating problems a couple of weeks ago. A look under the car at the slave through layers of oil suggested all was not well as the rubber boot was off the slave rim and it all looked gunky. As this had to be fixed no matter any other deep seated problems I spent a miserable two or three hours trying to unbolt the B***ard thing from the car and had to attack the top bolt from the bottom as I couldn't get enough purchase through the footwell access hole. A week later once the rebuild kit arrived, a strip down and clean confirmed the bore looked pretty much ok. Getting the new seal on the new piston is fun isn't it? I was dreading bolting the thing back onto the car and anticipated having to slot the upper mounting lug per advice in the archives but my some miracle it went back on in about five minutes. Trying to get the clevis pin back through the push rod was another matter......
Anyway this weekend I finally got round to bleeding the thing and guess what, first go I had some pedal pressure but once I had recharged the battery which of course was as flat as a pancake, I still couldn't select a gear. Brilliant! Maybe it wasn't the hydraulics and the engine would need to come out after all..... However a second bleed having firmly wedged the pushrod ALL the way back into the cylinder seems to have done the trick and I enjoyed a good test thrash and around the local lanes with a nice firm pedal and somewhat higher biting point than I had before.
The bleeding process through the access hole wasn't too bad but without an eazibleed would have been a nightmare on my own. Needless to say had to fit replacement seals to the eazibleed and copious other related problems but all seems good and I'm looking forward to the Ace Caff next week after having been missing all summer. I do seem to have pulled a muscle in my shoulder though, either headfirst in the footwell or more likely trying to wedge the pushrod in with a couple of lengths of timber. Its a bit of a squeeze under there. Must get some higher axle stands!
Matt1275

Good news, Matt.
Dave O'Neill 2

vidaXL - Dopsleutel Remontluchter Vacuüm 1L 210070

That is what really helped me it get all the air bubbles out of the clutch line. Easybleed (I do have one) is not as easy as this one.

Flip



Flip Brühl

Fitting a remote bleed saves all the contorting in the footwell and the resulting visit to an osteopath.
Alan
Alan Anstead

I used a welding clamp to keep the pushrod all the way back, but have also fitted a remote bleed. Not as young as I once was and can do without the pulled muscles!

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Doh! I never thought of that. I could have possibly used my valve spring compressor! I was going to do a remote bleed valve but didn't have the bits and wanted to get back on the road asap after the long lay off. Maybe a project for a wet winter's day but I also need to look at some rust treatment too!
Matt1275

This thread was discussed between 03/10/2016 and 04/10/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now