On the MB's with a clutch there is a hose that slips over a barbed fitting nipple that protrudes from the side of the master cylinder reservoir. This feeds fluid to the clutch master cylinder, where it is also a slip fit.

My question is, has anyone ever used a pressure bleeder on the master cylinder filler hole with one of these systems? Will the pressure blow the hose off, or make it leak?

If I get warm weather this week end, I need to change the brake fluid and I prefer to use my pressure bleeder rather than trying to catch my daughter to help on a weekend. It's hard to catch her between band, UIL and dates. My wife will probably be around, but she doesn't have the brake bleeding expertise that my daughter has. You know, it's a very finely honed and highly technical skill.

Thanks in advance,

Larry, the only thing I've ever had leak durning a pressure bleed is the seals for reservoir level floats. I bleed the fluid from race car every other event! I never use more than 15-20 psi.

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Larry,
I use my AC vacuum pump with a cannister inline to collect the old fluid to bleed the lines on my 190/5 spd. This way you don't have to worry about too much pressure and you can also do it by yourself. I made my 'cannister' from an old large clear plastic pickle container and screwed schrader valve nipples that 1/4" nylon tubing fits on the lid. Cheap and works great!! It's also been used for other various purposes...but not hot oil yet!!

TobiasMB
4 MBs

Larry,
It's been a while since I worked on a MB with a clutch, I remember how we bled the system. We used a horse syringe filled with brake fluid and a hose connected to the slave cylinder bleed screw.Then just give it a "shot" till fluid comes out in the reservoir. These syringes were large. Maybe an inch in dia. and probably eight or ten inches long. Knowing a few people in the horse business here in Lexington, I had no trouble getting one. You being in Texas with all the cowboys and their horses,you should have no trouble getting one. Good luck and don't despair.You will get the job done.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky.

larry,
your daughter knows how to bleed brakes?? wow! what a girl! if she's looking to date an 18 year old who knows a thing or two about 240D's as well, i'm free this weekend just kidding of course. all in good fun,
ps (i guess i have let the cat out of the bag. i am but 18 years old)
have a nice day

I guess I didn't make myself clear. I know how to bleed the clutch and the brakes. My question is, if I use the power bleeder, will it blow the clutch reservoir hose off of its push on fitting.

William,

I'm very impressed that you are only eighteen and managed tor rebuild your diesel. I got my first car when I was thirteen for $12.50 and made it run. In those days you could get your drivers license when 14 if you took the Driver's Education course.

When I say my daughter can bleed brakes and clutch, I mean that she can operate the brake pedal properly and follow my instructions.

She did replace the front brake pads on her car the weekend before last with a lot of supervision. I was impressed how well she caught onto using some of the tools. She was almost done and we ran into a caliper problem. I had to get the calipers off of the parts car and put them on, so I took it from there, but she would have done the job almost entirely herself had we not had the problem.

I was surprised she didn't break a nail or one of those kind of glamour girl things. I was proud of her.

Thanks and have a great weekend,

Larry,
Forgot to mention also that the hoses are pretty tight on those connection points. You could put a small hose clamp on the mstr/cyl reservoir and one on the mstr/cyl under the dash to remove any doubt. The push-in insert into the mstr/cyl is another story as it can't be clamped but if it has been on there for quite a long time, probably adhereing
fairly well.

As Murphy's law goes, if you don't want it off, it will, if you want it off, then it's a buggar to remove!!

TobiasMB
4 MBs

Herr Fuchs used a power bleeder to change my brake fluid a couple of months ago and there don't seem to be any leaks or problems with the clutch plumbing, nor did he mention it as an issue.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe