Thread: clutch slave cylinder/pushrod

Originally Posted by mattmac

I purchased a 1988 county isuzu 4bd1 about 6 months ago - it was originally fitted with LT85 gearbox but previous owner swapped it with LT95 RR box -he also fitted new H/D army clutch kit at the same time- the clutch has always felt strange -quite a bit of shudder on take off and doesn't seem to engage properly(have enough travel) especially in reverse. I removed the slave cylinder today to check for leaks and have a look inside and to check the pushrod(suspecting maybe wrong length) - it looks like the original LT85 1" bore slave cylinder which i believe is the same as LT95 but noticed it didn't have the spacer fitted between slave and bellhousing. the pushrod protrudes quite far out the end of bellhousing-is that normal? I've put it all back to together as needed to use the car and bled the clutch-no air in system but just can't get enough travel to get it into gear without crunching them- I'm wondering if fitting the spacer will help or shortening the pushrod?

If the pushrod is protruding it is the correct one for the LT95, the LT85 one is quite a bit shorter. The spacer or shim wont do much at all as the system is hydraulic with no adjustment on the slave cylinder side. Shortening the pushrod will make it worse. I would be looking at bleeding the system as it sounds like you are not getting enough travel in the pushrod. They are a right pain to bleed but you have to persevere with it and make sure your bleed hose is below the fluid level in the drain container otherwise you can't get the air out of it.

okay will try bleeding again-already given my left leg a good workout! BTW- have got the end of hose in container below level of fluid. had a spare slave cylinder that i was going to try but it was the 7/8" bore and the thread for fluid pipe is different.

Sounds like you are not properly bled. Last time I did this the nose was pointing downhill a bit, and I had to reverse bleed it - used an oil syringe (carefully washed with soap and water and then metho) to force fluid into the bleed nipple. Done this way it is very easy, but be careful not to overflow the reservoir.

John

all sorted now-it wasn't air in the system but the previous owner decided to fit the slave without the rubber dust cover so all the crap could enter the slave bore and the piston was grabbing inside the bore on the stroke- as i didn't have a new one at hand i removed the piston and cleaned out the bore and fitted an old dust cover i had lying around -refitted and bled system and presto- It's operating so much better now-no more clutch shudder etc. I should mention when i removed the slave carefully as possible,using pliers to hold pushrod so i wouldn't come with it- i thought my worst nightmare had come true when i removed the pliers and the pushrod came out- but much to my relief the pushrod had a hollow end that slips over a short piece of rod attached to the plastic clip still in place on end of pivot fork- what a great idea-is that standard on the isuzu? I remember on my old V8 county having the pushrod/plastic clip saga -trying to get it back on in situ-no fun!

Originally Posted by mattmac

. I should mention when i removed the slave carefully as possible,using pliers to hold pushrod so i wouldn't come with it- i thought my worst nightmare had come true when i removed the pliers and the pushrod came out- but much to my relief the pushrod had a hollow end that slips over a short piece of rod attached to the plastic clip still in place on end of pivot fork- what a great idea-is that standard on the isuzu? I remember on my old V8 county having the pushrod/plastic clip saga -trying to get it back on in situ-no fun!

I haven't seen that before, don't suppose you got a pic of it before you put it back in.

It did cross my mind at the time because seemed a bit unusual - i will do soon as just ordered new slave cylinder as not that confident the seal will last long on the old one i cleaned out-when i pull it off I'm going to measure the pushrod and take a pic.

Originally Posted by Bearman

I haven't seen that before, don't suppose you got a pic of it before you put it back in.

How far should the pushrod protrude outside edge of bellhousing?

Originally Posted by Bearman

If the pushrod is protruding it is the correct one for the LT95, the LT85 one is quite a bit shorter. The spacer or shim wont do much at all as the system is hydraulic with no adjustment on the slave cylinder side. Shortening the pushrod will make it worse. I would be looking at bleeding the system as it sounds like you are not getting enough travel in the pushrod. They are a right pain to bleed but you have to persevere with it and make sure your bleed hose is below the fluid level in the drain container otherwise you can't get the air out of it.

Originally Posted by mattmac

How far should the pushrod protrude outside edge of bellhousing?

Probably about 10mm (from memory)