I bled my clutch today following the Honda service manual instructions that said to run a line from the slave cylinder bleed valve to a container with brake fluid in it and pump the clutch until no air came out of the valve. I failed to keep the reservoir full and got air in the line. To get this air out, I ran at least a pint of fluid through the system, until no air came out. I had my buddy pump the pedal a few times with the bleed valve closed to check the resistance and he said it felt OK. I bled it one more time and a fair amount of air came out, so we bled it a few more times. Each time he would pump with the bleeder closed and I would bleed it afterward, we would get some air. What is going on here?

Bleeding according to the book, the fluid coming out has no air. How can operating the clutch create bubbles that can be bled out?

 

When you open the bleeder valve, is the pedal being held down ?

 

no. the pedal is pumped several times w/ valve closed. pedal is then pumped several times w/ valve open. the first couple of pumps w/ valve open yield bubbles in the fluid each time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by timsch75 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no. the pedal is pumped several times w/ valve closed. pedal is then pumped several times w/ valve open. the first couple of pumps w/ valve open yield bubbles in the fluid each time.

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huh? lol

push down and crack valve(keep pushing down), close valve off dedal. again again until no air, since you put air in the line alot you have to do like 20times?? lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by timsch75 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no. the pedal is pumped several times w/ valve closed. pedal is then pumped several times w/ valve open. the first couple of pumps w/ valve open yield bubbles in the fluid each time.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. First your friend has to pump the pedal a couple of times. Then as he holds down the pedal, you open the bleeder valve to let air/fluid out. Then close the valve. Then start pumping again. Repeat this process until there is no more air in the lines

Anytime the valve is open the pedal should be held down. If you pump with the pedal with the valve open, it will suck in air.

 

Another suggestion...

After you've opened the valve & bled off the fluid, there's nothing pushing the pedal back up. You gotta lift the pedal, but don't let it snap suddenly upwards. That seems to make it more likely to suck air into the MC. Push the pedal upwards & control it so it moves smoothly.