Clutch fluid change

[Lemay88]

I want to add another job to my winter maintenance.
Beside engine oil and brake fluids, I want to do the clutch fluid change.
Went throught the net and found "how tos" and the job looks pretty similar to doing the brake fluid change.
I have some questions,
Is the bleeding "screw" at the tranny easy to access?
Any danger of having air get in if not done properly??
What would happen if air would get in the hydraulic cluth system??
Any things I should be aware of??
Of course, I will come back here when problems occur...

Thanks

Ben
1997, Stock R/T10

[Viper vince]

If it is like the gen 3 and 4 I make a fitting that uses a mighty vac and makes no mess give me a call at 219 742-4434

[dave6666]

[x] cave man simple
[x] 5 minute one man job
[x] done it many times on many cars and never an issue
[x] use stock oem bleeder

[txA&M08]

Dave - where can I find that plastic fitting for the bleed screw?

[Viper vince]

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[Viper vince]

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[hemihead]

Dave got me going on Mitivac fluid vacuum years ago from his post on the old club,s board, one of the best tools to have in a garage. Makes changing all Viper fluids s a breeze as well as changing oil in the boat, yard tractor oil, you name it. You'll have the clutch bleed and done in 10 minutes. It used to be around $100 bucks and it's paid for itself ten times over.

[dave6666]

That tapered fittings... actually, a whole bunch of them in different sizes... comes with the Mityvac.

I have about $200 worth of their stuff and can do any automotive task involving bleeding or fluid transfer or whatever. Good stuff they make.

[AZTVR]

Dave - where can I find that plastic fitting for the bleed screw?

It appears to me that Dave is using a combination of these parts: https://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-MVA69.../dp/B007QV5CGI

[Camfab]

So my question is two fold regarding the Mityvac.

1) When you crack the nut to bleed the clutch, don't up end up sucking a bunch of air past the threads and if so, is this an issue? I know Russell makes fittings specifically to prevent this issue on brake calipers.

2) Are you using some sort of reservoir to refill the tiny master reservoir.

Thanks

[71firebird400]

Others may have had different experience but here are my thoughts based on doing this job with a MityVac-

1) When you crack the nut to bleed the clutch, don't up end up sucking a bunch of air past the threads and if so, is this an issue? I know Russell makes fittings specifically to prevent this issue on brake calipers.
You do get some persistent air bubbles past the threads, but in my opinion it's fine since the entire system is under a "vacuum" and there's no logical way for those bubbles to work back into the hydraulic circuit.

2) Are you using some sort of reservoir to refill the tiny master reservoir.
I top off the reservoir and bleed it, repeating several times. The circuit is very short and it does not take an awful lot of fluid to completely flush the system.

I have used power bleeders in the past and even on the brakes of the Viper but found the MityVac to work well for the clutch. My fear with the Motive Power Bleeder is a hose burst (as some have experienced) which would really ruin your day. I replace the hose on my Motive Bleeder and the adapters about once a year to help combat this. On another note, I have bled hydraulic clutches on T56's with no equipment but it did require two people so that is always an option.

[Camfab]

Thanks, I kinda figured that would be the case with the bubbles. I feel the Motive type bleeders are a bad idea and introduce air into your system, as they are not a true power bleeder. If you look with a magnifying glass you can see thousands of tiny air bubbles being dissolved into the fluid through compression. I guess it's time to buy a Mityvac for myself.

[dave6666]

Any air getting sucked in at the bleed screw is irrelevant. It goes up the bleed hose and not into the cylinder getting bled. Been vacuum bleeding for decades. You always get bubbles. And perfect results every time.

To manage the small reservoir volume, either use a helper, or what I do is simply barely open the bleed screw so that it's just barely flowing, which gives me time to get out from underneath (or back underneath...) the car to manage the fluid level. I use one small bottle to flush.

[Steve-Indy]

Some use an automatic reservoir refiller...like this one by Mituvac:

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDi...kup=MITMVA6832

[Lemay88]

Hey,

Got the car on jack stands and went to look at this thing.
If I see ok in your photo (and un der my viper), the clutch fluid will come out of the "center" of the bolt that I would loosen up, hense the possibility of having fluid going in the clutch/pressureplate assembly area. Not quite like a bleeder screw for brake fluid.
On Dave6666's photo, the black plastic fitting goes into the bleed bolt to prevent fluid from dripping everywhere and same goes for viperVince's fitting...so I get that getting fluid in the clutch/pressure plate assembly area is not recommended.
I saw on youtube the "gravity clutch bleeding technique",,,lol... Is it possible with the viper tranny??

Thx

Ben

image.jpg

[Camfab]

Thanks going to order it all today.

[Ripper]

Hey,

Got the car on jack stands and went to look at this thing.
If I see ok in your photo (and un der my viper), the clutch fluid will come out of the "center" of the bolt that I would loosen up, hense the possibility of having fluid going in the clutch/pressureplate assembly area. Not quite like a bleeder screw for brake fluid.
On Dave6666's photo, the black plastic fitting goes into the bleed bolt to prevent fluid from dripping everywhere and same goes for viperVince's fitting...so I get that getting fluid in the clutch/pressure plate assembly area is not recommended.
I saw on youtube the "gravity clutch bleeding technique",,,lol... Is it possible with the viper tranny??

Thx



Ben

No , you don't want fluid inside the bell housing area

And Yes, Vipers can be gravity bled. I do this to mine when on my lift. Easy stuff

[Steve-Indy]

Gravity can work...IF you bleeder is not obstructed. If it does not flow freely, call me for a few helpful hints on clearing it of any debris. 317-402-9013

[Lemay88]

Couldn't start the job today but I'll be using your assistance if needed when I do it.

Thanks everyone.
Ben