Howe HTOB not moving

[dfhotlm33c]

Put our engine and trans in car..hooked up llines to Howe hydraulic throwout bearing..bled throwout bearing..Has Wilwood 3/4 master cylinder. After bleeding, pedal just goes to floor and doesn't move TOB. No leaks anywhere.

Would this mean bad master cylinder or bad TOB? When bleeding using remote line, we didn't get that strong of a stream each time..fluid came out of the bleeder, but certainly didn't shoot out...

[Chaps46]

Did you bench bleed the master cylinder?

[dfhotlm33c]

the master came in the car when we bought it and had some fluid in it..kind of assumed it was ready to go...perhaps not..

[Chaps46]

plug it with an 1/8 inch pipe plug and pump it till there are no bubble in reservoir. Hook it back up and bleed the TO bearing again.

[dfhotlm33c]

That will be first priority at shop tomorrow morning.

If, when doing this, I continue to get bubbles, even after ten or 15 pumps, would I then assume the master cylinder is bad?

[Chaps46]

If you continue to get bubbles then it would be leaking an awful lot of fluid also.

[dfhotlm33c]

Well, that makes sense!!

By that rationale, if the TOB was not functioning properly, ie seals/o-rings, would it not be leaking as well?

Thanks for your help!!

[let-r-eat]

Sometimes these throwout bearings are tricky. How did you bleed? I use a power bleeder and it takes a while to get the air out. *not using power bleeding equipment* I like to hang the throwout bearing below master cylinder to start and put the bleeder in the upright position. Loosen the bleeder and tap the pedal a little to get it going then when all fluid you can tighten bleeder and the bearing should move when you work the pedal.

If you loosen bleeder/push pedal to floor and tighten bleeder/ you will never get all the air out IMO. Its best to loosen bleeder and let the fluid gravity feed until stream is coming out bleeder. Then pump pedal.

[dfhotlm33c]

Thanks for all of your assistance!

Bled master cylinder first..had to make a line that hooked around from outlet fitting back into master..filled with fluid, submerged said line..pumped..lots of bubbles for 5 or so pumps..by ten pumps, no bubbles...

then rebled TOB, gravity first..then pumping..

TOB works like a charm now..


how important is the .060" clearance..when I installed it I measured and had about .065" with feeler gauge...then after pumping pedal a few times looked again and the bearing was just barely touching fingers...you could spin the bearing, but it was just rubbing a bit...used small screwdriver to wedge between..and then bearing had clearance again...is this ok?

Finally, pedal doesn't seem to have much travel..the bearing moves about 3/8" like it's supposed to...pedal is firm but not extremely difficult...less difficult than the RAM 9000 clutch in my street Camaro for instance...just wanna make sure all is good!