1961 Other Jeep Models BLEEDING CLUTCH and STIFF CLUTCH PEDA

MEMMMSM

MEMBER
1961 JEEP
V8
4WD
MANUAL
6,000 MILES

Sirs:
The truck is a '59 CJ6. Little is '59 anymore.

The clutch is hydraulic, the MC has been replaced twice, the slave cylinder has been replaced twice, the connecting hose has not yet been replaced.

The 1st Problem is: Clutch bled by reverse bleeding, or pumping pedal, either. Sometimes I get some pedal, sometimes not. When I do get a pedal and am able to drive the truck, in a couple days I will find that the pedal will occasionally go all the way to the limit and not disengage the clutch. I pump it once and then it is fine. Air still in the system?

The 2nd Problem: Clutch is extremely stiff, takes a lot to push it in. Transmission is SM420 4 speed. Clutch throwout, plate and disc are 6K old.

Question: Would a Clutch MC with a larger bore help the "stiff pedal" question any?

5 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Changing the bore size may help. It would be a matter of how much clamping pressure the clutch has vs. How much the hydraulic system was designed to work with. If the hydraulic set up is out of something with less, it could cause the hard pedal, which in turn could cause air to get in by overworking the seals with the extra pressure. Is the clutch master mounted higher than the slave cyl? I haev seen some hot rods with the master lower, which will cause the clutch to ingest air when it sat for long periods, using a brake residual pressure valve can solve that (Cadillac part)

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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 8:21 AM

MEMMMSM

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4 POSTS

Sirs:
The clutch MC is mounted above the Slave CL by a couple feet.

Could you give me some sort of recommendation on what MC I might want to use that would have a larger bore than the Jeep Cherokee MC that is in service now?

Thank you for your response. The first response, I might add, that has not said I was slightly looney.

MMSM

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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 10:59 AM

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
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You arent looney, when you start swapping parts around odd things can happen. What engine trans are you using? Is it the original or from the JGC?
If original I would find out what LB rating the clucth has for each so you can see whats going on. If you need to upgrade, I would go with something you know has a cluth comparable to the hydraulic set-up. Like possibly something out of a 3/4 ton truck or the such.

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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 7:11 PM

MEMMMSM

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4 POSTS

Nothing is original.

Engine is 5.3 Vortec,
SM420 Trans
Dana 300 T/C
Dana 44 Axles

Fairly certain that the clutch is a heavy duty model, since the guy that built it for me went for heavy duty, top of the line in everything.

I will research 3/4 ton trucks a bit. Can you steer me toward something? Maybe Ford trucks?

Thanks,

MMSM

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Monday, April 26th, 2010 AT 8:58 AM

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Possibly, you may need to do some research to see which trucks have the external slave cylinder vs. The type that installs in the bellhousing. Maybe even search the aftermarket, they have hydraulic clutch kits out there for just about everything