Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Defender => Topic started by: fish on August 28, 2010, 20:55:45

Title: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: fish on August 28, 2010, 20:55:45

My clutch biting point was getting a bit low (had to take the mats out to get smooth gear change!) so thought I better check it out. I was surprised when I opened the clutch fluid reservoir to find it had very little fluid in it (I can see the master cylinder pipe work and slave cylinder are all relatively new). Checked the lines over, no sign of leaks. So topped it up and started to bleed the system, one 1cm bubble was about all the air that came through, but what was very noticeable was the fluid was black, did about 10 peddle pumps still fairly black, anyone any idea why the fluid would be black and should I just keep bleeding until the fluid is clean?

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: mudplugger01 on August 28, 2010, 21:35:08

        black fluid normally means seals "going",,save future heart ache,  change master and slave soon ..whilst its "a good time" ...

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: robbie on August 31, 2010, 13:49:31

my 90 has been off the road for about 3 yrs now and only used a little to take stuff aroung the field. It was never a problem that the brakes didnt work very well as I never got out of first or reverse. i am now getting it ready for going back on the road and decided I had better take a look at the brakes, the master cylinder had black fluid in it and I renewed the rear cylinder seals and stuck a new master cylinder on, bled the brakes, jobs a gud en :)

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: robbie on August 31, 2010, 22:13:40

Typical, following this posting, i checked the clutch fluid and found that had a silvery sediment at th ebottom of the master cylinder.... so it looks like mine wants doing too... what a job too... having to take the whole bracket of the bulkhead!!!

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: fish on August 31, 2010, 22:30:56

I thought the master cylinder was just held on by 2 bolts, so no need to remove bracket and peddle box?........better check the manual

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: robbie on August 31, 2010, 22:32:28

according to Haynes.... pedal box has to come out too. I also thought it was just the two nuts.... :(

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: robbie on September 01, 2010, 08:23:15

thinking about it, because the cylinder is in back to front, the pedal box has to come out cos there isnt enough room otherwise

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: robbie on September 01, 2010, 14:58:45

yup... done the master cylinder change today and it does need to take the pedal box out..... not a bad job though

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: V8MoneyPit on September 02, 2010, 13:33:15

I've done a clutch master swap without removing the pedal box. One of the nuts is a pig to get at, but can be done.

Title: Re: Black clutch fluid.
Post by: robbie on September 02, 2010, 20:16:04

[q]I've done a clutch master swap without removing the pedal box. One of the nuts is a pig to get at, but can be done.[/q]

yeeh I guess it can be dnoe but if your referring to the bottom one of the two holding the cylinder in, I am sure it easier to undo 6 bolts from under the dash and get the whole box out. I tried to weigh up which was easiest and went for the box removal. It turned out to be a doddle of a job once it was out. I guess you also had the issue in tightening it back up again after....