Re: 5000cstq clutch replacement snag

[Gisli Ottarsson <gisli@master.adams.com>]

Be careful with the flex hose that connects the slave to the metal
piping.  I was going to replace this hose but decided against because
I thought I would do irreparable damage to the metal pipe.  I think
you will have a hard time separating the hose from the slave cylinder
and you should not tackle this unless you know that the hose can be
replaced or you are willing to replace the plumbing all the way to the
master cylinder.

I too had tremendous difficulty separating the slave from the
bellhousing.  In the end, I succeeded by using a 4' long, 3/4" dia
metal pipe and a big mallet.  I rested the pipe on the metal tab on
the slave cylinder that keeps it from spinning inside the hole.  I
tried to keep the pipe as flat as possible and then I hit it as hard
as I could.  

I probably would have been a lot more conservative, except I had spent
5 hours fighting the lock pin and had long since run out of patience.

Good luck

Gisli


>>>>> On Thu, 28 Oct 1999 15:52:52 -0700, you said:
 
  BS> The main reason for pulling the slave is to keep the hydraulic circuit
  BS> intact.  Since you're already resigned to replacing the slave cylinder go
  BS> ahead and leave it in there and disconnect the flexible hydraulic line that
  BS> goes to the slave.  Once the circuit is open it will tend to drain from the
  BS> brake fluid cylinder unless you depress the clutch in the car.  The over
  BS> center return spring will hold the clutch pedal down and stop the fluid flow
  BS> from the reservoir.  I'd recommend that you replace the flexible clutch hose
  BS> when you put everything back together.  

  BS> Don't worry about the fact that the slave is stuck ... it is a cast iron
  BS> piece that fits tightly into an alloy bell housing, so there is probably
  BS> some galvanic action that has made the two inseparable ... for now.  Once
  BS> you get the transaxle out you'll be able to squirt some penetrating oil on
  BS> the bore ... let it sit on there then rock the slave side to side as far as
  BS> it can go ... eventually you'll be able to back it out.  You may find that
  BS> something else has failed inside the bellhousing, but there isn't much
  BS> wanything in there can do to lock the slave cylinder in place!  

  BS> HTH!
  BS> Steve Buchholz
  BS> San Jose, CA (USA)