Should I depress the clutch pedal as a way of opening the slave to pull fluid through with a vacuum pump? I couldn't get anything yesterday but a huge mess, got mad and walked away. I'm not doing something right. Thanks for any help. Cliff

The opening to the reservoir is open when the clutch pedal is up. So you don't want to press the pedal if you're trying to pull fluid through from the slave cylinder bleed screw.

Is there a problem or are you just looking for a reason to work on the Z?

28 minutes ago, Zed Head said:

Is there a problem or are you just looking for a reason to work on the Z?

A little of both. Never really did a good job bleeding the clutch when I did all the work to it years ago. Now I bought this POS Harbor Freight 1 man pump and the weather is finally tolerable enough to get out of the A/C and do some things. The dog can only walk so much, he's getting old.

Hey Cliff….Is there anyone that can help with the old school bleed process?

13 hours ago, Yarb said:

Hey Cliff….Is there anyone that can help with the old school bleed process?

Yeah I've got neighbors but they leave me alone and I leave them alone. I want to try again before giving up on this vacuum pump. The cup's lid isn't holding vacuum, undersized o-ring that came with it is the problem but buying a single 2" o-ring around here is damn near impossible. I have a plan though.

I ended up purchasing those one-way bleeder screws and they've been great. All you need to do is loosen and attach a small bottle on each wheel. Pump the pedal a few times, fill up the reservoir, and pump again. Repeat until the fluid is completely pushed out and clean. It's probably not as good as pushing it through with pressure or suction but it works.

I put those self bleeders on my 280 in 2011. Can't remember why I didn't use them on the 240 in 2015-2016?

I've used a contraption I came up with when I realized the cup wasn't holding the vacuum, too small of an oring wouldn't let it seal.

Messing with brake fluid on 54 year old paint freaked me out when I found a small drop by the inspection lid above the brake stuff. I had driped a little refilling the clutch master. Washed that whole fender down with Dawn soap and water. Staying away from the 240, I've done my beater D21 pickup with good results.

My shade tree correction for the crappy oring not sealing was a wood clamp.

Edited October 2Oct 2 by siteunseen

Did you get it bled?

Hey Cliff, Give us an update Friend.

I did my little truck's clutch master with this contraption. Through the little hole in the bottom of the reservoir and it worked but it's the same as using a big syringe I got from a feed store. They have supplies for dogs and their DIY owners.

240 is next but I'm a little disgusted with the whole thing now so no hurry. I will post what happens when I finally do try it again on that car. Maybe I'll do the 280 next for practice? I want to bleed the slave cylinder by itself. There's a video I saw where a mechanic pushes the rod in by hand, all the way in where they usually don't travel. He had a lift though so it looks easy.

At 2:22 he talks about bleeding the slave for smoother shifting. Mine feels like I'm almost forcing it and I thought that was just from being an older car.

I messed with it for a minute or two. Not done yet though. I'm going to pull all the old out and replace. $5.99 a quart for dot 3.

It had air in there..