ebay bleed pipe extension on ebay

[AndyPen]

For those who don't wish to make their own up, I spotted this when trying to help another member on here:



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393762944654 ... B282057736&

[Peter Laidler]

Blimey......, a £45 lesson in how to complicate things!

[Ronnie]

Blimey......, a £45 lesson in how to complicate things!

He has sold 16

[Peter Laidler]

Got that Ronnie......... Obviously 16 needy customers but not 16 forumers from this forum. That reminds me. I'm going to go into my workshop and knock up a hurried version as shown elsewhere on the thread. Hang on for an hour chaps.....

[Dr.Mabo]

Here you see my easy DIY solution.

viewtopic.php?t=28477&start=460

[Peter Laidler]

That is the one we referred to earlier Doc. I have just submitted a semi tech article on the actual make-up of the bleeder. But, it seems as though many just don't see the advantage of it. Such is life!

[Allen Brzeczek]

Thank you Peter, I fail to understand that many fail to acknowledge any advantage in the bleed pipe extension. Over the years I have had my engine in and out of my car several times and have carried out all my own repairs and adjustments and struggled to bleed the clutch on several occasions. With age I don't know if my hands have grown but certainly they lack some of the dexterity I once had and I now cannot seem to access some of the tight and restricted areas I once did.
To me the e-bay thing appears to be a bit of an expensive overkill. I am not too sure whether it was on this forum or elsewhere but I once noted and have kept in mind a relatively easy fix for the next time I have easy access with either the head off or engine out.
The extension consisted of a piece of metal brake pipe with a compression fitting into the existing bleed point, this pipe passed straight across the top of the clutch housing having been secured by small brackets to the 2 top bolts and terminated with a compression fitting with in line bleed nipple protruding slightly to the front of the of the engine adjacent to the oil pipe.

[Tim]

How often are you blokes bleeding your clutches? I reckon in my entire life I've only spent maybe an hour bleeding clutch slave cylinders. It would take longer than that to get the stuff and make the modifications.

Tim

[Dr.Mabo]

How often are you blokes bleeding your clutches? I reckon in my entire life I've only spent maybe an hour bleeding clutch slave cylinders. It would take longer than that to get the stuff and make the modifications.

Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they think the modification makes sense or not. Basically, there are 3 weak points in the hydraulic clutch system: seal in the master cylinder, rubber hose, seal in the slave cylinder. One or the other of these may fail and require replacement and bleeding. The less frequently the hydraulic fluid is replaced, the more frequently the aforementioned fails. And this also happens via the bleeding. So theoretically, you have to bleed the clutch from time to time. I can also confirm this from experience. I really appreciate the modification and also regret that I forbid myself to install it on my Mini, which is kept as original as possible.

[111Robin]

How often are you blokes bleeding your clutches? I reckon in my entire life I've only spent maybe an hour bleeding clutch slave cylinders. It would take longer than that to get the stuff and make the modifications.

Tim

I'm kind of thinking the same thing. I can see the benefit but to be honest I've never had any problems bleeding the clutch and never felt like it had to be modified to make things easier.

[Peter Laidler]

I say that it makes life easier simply because you are bleeding the bleedin' thing at the front of the engine where there's plenty of room. Unlike the rear of the engine where the bleed nipple is pointing towards the rear face of the block, just where the exhaust is at its hottest and the bleed tube has to do a 180 degree turn and....... and....... and....... As for spannering the bleed nipple while the bleed hose if draped aroun and hanging down so that you can see when the bubbles stop, words fail me.

BEST modification that I have even done after 50 years of faffing about
Where there's a will, there is ALWAYS an easy way

[111Robin]

Peter I do see the advantages, I'm not knocking the idea at all so please don't go on the defensive every time someone says they haven't adopted the idea. It's not something I need to do often, once every couple of years when changing brake fluid, hence why I haven't seen the need to make it any easier. If it was something I was doing much more often I would certainly consider the modification.

[mab01uk]

Might make bleeding the clutch slave cylinder on later injection Minis a little easier....especially if it is a Japanese import with air con!

[mini_surfari]

Might make bleeding the clutch slave cylinder on later injection Minis a little easier....especially if it is a Japanese import with air con!

I’d make your pipe long enough so the bleed nipple pokes out the grille

['S'-type]

Might make bleeding the clutch slave cylinder on later injection Minis a little easier....especially if it is a Japanese import with air con!

I remember how mechanics back in the day always used to moan about lack of room when working in the early Mini engine bay. Now, your heart would sink if you had that Japanese one come in.

['S'-type]

I am in favour of Doc and Peter's mod as it is very neatly done, cheap, reversible and in the case of the Japanese example, pretty much essential.

However it wouldn't have helped me do a one man roadside fix once when I had ignored a weeping slave cylinder for too long. I ended up with no pressure at the pedal hence no clutch. Having little choice I discovered I could just about reach a ring spanner placed on the slave nipple (no rubber tube) while simultaneously pressing the clutch pedal with my left leg. So release nipple, press pedal, hold, tighten. Repeat. That was enough to bring back pedal.
I'm not the tallest and it was a bit of a stretch. I'm not sure I could do it now as I'm a bit wider these days. A bit of fluid went down the case but it was a get you home thing.
Alternatively wait for someone to help. Just one of many roadside adventures.

[hanlminiman]

You get a random assistant to sit in the driver's seat put their left leg down until you say "do the Okekey" and bring it up again when I say so.