Vacume Bleeding Clutch, now stuffed!!!

[Peter Burgess]

They say "if it 'aint broke------"
However, I've just changed my clutch fluid with a Gunsons vacume bleeder run off my compessor.
I didn't need to touch the clutch pedal to do this, but now it's sitting on the floor & not coming up!
The brake pedal shares the same master cylinder & appears unaffected!
Any ideas?
Also the old fluid was green, which surprised me.
Is that significant?
Thanks,
Peter.

[Chrispb]

I've never used one of those, but did you remove the reservoir cap first

[Peter Burgess]

Hi,
Yes cap off.
It took about a minute to remove around 180cc between top ups.
I had the bleeder sucking when I closed the nipple.
It's almost like there is a vacume holding the piston in behind the pedal.
The pedal is three quarters down towards the floor.
I've got severed ligaments in my shoulder- so I'm a bit limited before my op on Monday.
I'm hoping it may gradually come back up overnight!
If not, I'll see if I can find someone to hold the pedal down while I open the nipple tomorrow.
Cheers,
Peter.

[Chrispb]

I think the because the pedal is not at the top, and the master cylinder piston is covering the port to the fluid.
You could try opening the bleed screw allow pedal to return, once the pedal is up place a block under the pedal and repeat the process of bleeding

[Peter Burgess]

Thanks Chris,
By late yesterday it was half way up. Overnight with the cap off------- and back to normal & drives fine.
Sometimes the lazy option works!
I thought the bright green fluid might be DOT 5, but it mixed with water ok!
It hadn't been changed in 10 years, but looked ok & only showed 1.5% moisture on my cheap Chinese tester! The previous owner serviced the car from new & didn't bother with hydraulic fluid change!
Thanks for your help & advise.
I'll change the brake fluid after my shoulder operation next week. I'll wedge the pedal up to avoid a repeat performance!
Regards,
Peter.

[insanitybeard]

I don't think that what you are describing is that uncommon, in my time working as a mechanic I recall bleeding numerous clutches on numerous Fords and even having used a pressure bleeder or mityvac, the clutch pedal was always very soft immediately after bleeding (though I've never had the pedal stuck part way down to the floor issue), though given a few manual pumps on the pedal after bleeding, it always firmed up and was fine, I could never explain why this was the case as there should have been no air present in the system after bleeding, unless air trapped in the master/ slave cylinders is only purged when the pedal (and cylinders) are operated (which is not the case when you use a vacuum or pressure type bleeder!), or it purges itself slowly after being left for a while!