marbledln Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Hi all. Been a member and enjoyed the forum a little while but this is my 1st post. Need your collective caterham genius assistance if I may... I have a sigma engined academy built 2009 that I've raced in CSCC mag 7's the last few years. Had to remove the engine to change the gearbox. All replaced ok (eventually!) but I can't work out how to bleed the hydraulic clutch. There is no bleed nipple at all. 1 contact says it can only be done by pre-filling the clutch slave cylinder, which requires the engine to be removed - which I'd rather avoid, having only just put it all back together!! Any tips greatly appreciated, especially if it can be done without removing the engine! Many thanks Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Isn't it inside the bellhousing,but just accessible through an opening somewhere near the engine face. Recall someone managing to shear it off. Make sure you hold the outer part before turning the nipple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 My 2011 academy car had this clutch slave https://caterhamparts.co.uk/clutch-parts/3666-clutch-release-bearing-sigma.html From the picture you can see the white bung was where the hose went in, the other connection was the bleed, but it was just a plastic finger twist thing, that you gave 1/4 turn to open it.Both where on the side of the bellhousing. Obviously your car could be a long way from stock by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpbransfield Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 I have a 2009 with a self bleeding clutch which I have just bled a couple of weeks ago after changing the MC. I don't know how to,put pics on here so if you BM with your email address I can send you pics of what to do and instructions. A bit messy but it works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbledln Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Thanks chaps. Definitely no bleed mechanism. Mine is similar but doesn't have anything where the white bung is on the unit in the link, effectively just a blanking plate across the over hole in the bellhousing. John; thanks for the offer. Will message you. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Shortshift Posted April 9, 2020 Leadership Team Share Posted April 9, 2020 Not the same setup but I have just replaced master cylinder seals and ended up doing a self-bleed on the clutch system. I found that if you stroke the master cylinder just a small distance, it allows a stream (albeit a slow stream) of air bubbles to escape up through the pipework, through the master cylinder chambers and into the reservoir. I just stroked the clutch pedal a few mm (maybe a cm or so/) until I saw the bubble stream start. Left it alone for an hour for more air to rise through the pipework, repeat and rinse, etc. After a few cycles, all done!Might be worth a try - costs nothing!James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbledln Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Thanks James. Will give it a go. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotland North AR Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Hi, swine of a job! I used an Eazibleed kit from Halfords. The plastic pipe of the right size to fit the bottle in the kit wasn't long enough. Struggled to get the right size but longer so I could see the bibles going into a collection jar. I think the valve is half turn rather than 1/4 turn. I found it extremely difficult to get my hand down from the top to get enough purchase on the valve to turn it. I managed to open it but then nearly exhausted all the fluid in the bottle before I could get the valve shut again. Managed it in the end but much less skin remaining on my hand.Are there any clever ideas or tools for turning the valve?It doesn't help having full size hands either.Also interested in hearing what this self bleed version is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Nothing but trouble those bibles in the system ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 The CSC is a stock Ford item on both the Duratec and Sigma, the former has an extended bleed nipple which just works, in Ford aplication the Sigma have a bleed nipple ..?Do you have a photo by any chance, just about to try a difference CSC on my Duratec car with a proper secure bellhousing mounted bleed nipple set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Using one of these:https://www.motamec.com/motamec-male-bulkhead-brake-fitting-with-bleed-nipple-3-8-unf-3-an-teflon.htmlA short hose from the top of the CSC to a suitable place on the bell housing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotland North AR Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Amen:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbledln Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Hi. I have a photo of the inside of the bellhousing but can't work out how to put the pic on here! If you send a personal message with yr email address I will email you the pic. Or feel free to advise how I can include a pic on the forum. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 if you click on the symbol to the left of the smiley face it takes you to the upload - however there's no guarantee it will appear the correct way up - only JK knows that secret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 If you are on an android phone, you need to click on the 3 dots in the top right hand corner first ... then select desktop site from the drop down menu. Then you'll have access to the smileys and the black bar for uploading photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted April 11, 2020 Leadership Team Share Posted April 11, 2020 This is the icon to upload a photo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbledln Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 What’s the outside look like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 this one I think:https://caterhamparts.co.uk/clutch-parts/3666-clutch-release-bearing-sigma.htmlwhite click connection for the hose the other is the bleed nipple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbledln Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 Hopefully you can see the pic of the inside of the bellhousing as requested (Thanks for the advice to upload it). Thanks for all the info about how to bleed the clutch and especially to John for his time and guidance. I tried a few different approaches. Pumping the pedal slowly a number of times didn't seem to make much difference but using an easy bleed kit and pumping the pedal seemed to do the job. Left it overnight and was still fine again the next day. Thanks again for all the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbledln Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 No pics of the outside but definitely no bleed nipple. Just a flat piece of plastic that attempts to blank off the other hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Theres a bleed nipple when Ford use it and the hose clips in where the white plastic is.... easy to bleed by gravity or vacuum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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