So I started to bleed my clutch last night via the slave cylinder and everything was going good until I accidently let the fluid in the master cylinder go too low and now I can't build any pressure. I've topped off the master again with fluid and have tried pumping the clutch pedal but I can't seem to get any pressure in the system. The pedal just stays down.

Am I going to have to bench bleed the system or is there another alternative?

 

sounds like you just got to bleed the hell out of it.

you should tap on the bottom of the master cylinder and the slave cylinder to help the air boobles come out.

just be patient bleeding and itll be fine.

 

Ok. Before 100 people jump in and complicate this thing I will give you a simple, sure fire way to get it bled in a couple minutes. The clutch will sit on the floor every time you pump it until most of the air is out, so you will have to pump the pedal by hand until you start to get a pedal. Open up the bleeder and hold your finger over the bleeder tight (with a surgical/nitrile glove on) while someone pumps the pedal. When you feel pressure on your finger tell the pedal pumper to hold the pedal down, then take your finger off and air/brake fluid will come out. Doing that will take the big mass of air out that is keeping you from starting to get a pedal. Close the bleeder and bleed off a few more times like you normally would until you get a solid pedal. Clutches are kind of a pain to bleed because of all the bends and changes in height in the system. Its not a "by the book" method, but its very fast and effective. Make sure the master fluid level doesn't get too low while bleeding. You'll get it!

 

Just remember that anything with hydraulic pressure will expel anything compressable from the lines when the bleeder is cracked open and pressure is already applied, this also goes for brakes and anything else hydraulic, provided there is fluid in the lines to begin with, if there isn't you will need to manually pump the pedal until fluid is present at the bleeder, and then do this.

 

reverse pump it. Use a seringe and push it from the slave up.