Easy-peasy MG Midget hydraulic clutch bleeding

A quick and easy method to effectively bleed the air out of a hydraulic clutch on an MG. This method does not require any special equipment and is useful for other makes of cars as well.

[@audiokook]

I've heard the theory a number of times, but it never made sense. Now it does thanks to your explanation. Cant wait to give it a go..

[@tjsogmc]

Glad I could help! Sometimes doing "more" work makes everything easier and faster. I spent a lot of time fooling with these things until I learned a surefire method. No reason why everyone shouldn't know about this.

[@philhanson2560]

Count me as another success story! After watching several other how-to videos on bleeding MG clutches, I was not looking forward to it since most said many attempts using old school methods would be required and still non-optimal clutch action. Then I found your video, BINGO, that looked like the right stuff. First try using your method and my clutch works great after having to replace the failed slave cylinder on my '77 midget. Thanks for a great video without a lot rambling and showing a great technique!

[@PangPangguitarjam]

Your friend (the MG owner) is one lucky dude to have you sorted this out for him!!!!! ;-)))

[@tjsogmc]

It works out for both of us since he owns the largest piano and musical instrument store in the city. He pays me in guitar strings and straps 🤘

[@PangPangguitarjam]

@@tjsogmc hahaha...and the paint job seems very neat. That yellow color looks great on the car. ;-)

[@tjsogmc]

@@PangPangguitarjam I'm not much of a fan of yellow cars, but this one is sharp looking,. It's more of a mustard color than sunflower

[@PangPangguitarjam]

@@tjsogmc yap, mustard color...good taste! Would look good on a Corniche with a dark tan or black vinyl top. ;-)

[@PangPangguitarjam]

@@tjsogmc "Rule number one of any Battle of the Bands competition: beware of the girl who plays a Flying V: she's in it to win it. ;) The Lotus sounds like a good choice. Apart from the quality control iss..." Don't know why, the comment you left wasn't showing...it got eaten. ;p

[@georgedechambeau9135]

Very nice! Especially after spending three days trying to figure out why the conventional method wasn't working. Also, you saved me from spending $200 on one of those mechanical doodads! Worked beautifully. George from Prudence Island

[@tjsogmc]

If I can help just one person, then its all worth it to me. I am very glad that you got your car up and running again using this method!

[@seannelson8113]

Amazing solution and presentation. Thank you. Just changed clutch master/slave and all parts in between. Drained out dark old fluid bled through new using traditional pedal method a number of times but still had hard time finding gears and had gear grinding into reverse. After one attempt with this method and the car feels better than ever. 1978 MGB

[@tjsogmc]

Glad that it worked out for you. Believe me, I've wasted hundreds of hours fiddling around trying to bleed these clutches using traditional methods and nothing ever really worked. Not to mention how many good cylinders I've probably changed thinking they were bad when it was just a trapped air bubble. I hated these cars until I learned this reverse method that can be done with a few simple tools. Now it's actually a pleasure to do a clutch bleed!

[@hiddenacresoutdoors-gunshu838]

We just bought a restored '79 Midget 1500 - our first. After working thru some electrical issues, a spark plug change, etc etc the big thing now is to bleed the clutch and see if we need to replace the master and/or slave cylinders. This method seems to make sense and hopefully will solve the issues with the clutch/transmission that leave the car practically undriveable at the moment.

[@federicomorales6079]

👍very well explained, I do own a 1970 MG MIDGET proud of it thank you.

[@jaybourbon8608]

OK had to watch this a few times but I get it. Very well said. I'm going to tackle this today. Really appreciate the video.

[@bashstreettheatre]

Thank you - this worked!

[@tjsogmc]

You are quite welcome! It took me many years of doing it the hard way before figuring this one out. I'm very glad that it worked for you.

[@jg769]

I’m not understanding the part at 5:34 where you say to crack the line and see air bubbles come out. My master cylinder has a banjo bolt connection and I’m not aware of any ability to open and close it. I think it’s just always open. Also, it’s connected to the hard metal line so air bubbles can’t be seen.

[@rushpond808]

I understand your process, and agree it should work. But I've done it twice and I still have a soft clutch pedal that doesn't disengage the clutch. I'd sure like to know what I'm missing! It seems as though the first 2-3 inches of pedal travel do nothing at all. Could I have a linkage issue? I don't know. I'm frustrated. It shouldn't be this difficult. Any suggestions?

[@tjsogmc]

You probably have a bad master or slave cylinder then If you put a c clamp on the slave cylinder and still have a soft pedal, then you definitely confirmed the bad master or slave. If you clamp the slave and the pedal is rock hard, then your clutch pack is worn out or broken. It's a very simple process and therefore easy to overthink it. 😁

[@ydnar10]

At the beginning when you pump the clutch Do you hold the clutch in while you bleed at the master cylinder?

[@tjsogmc]

Yes. Push and hold that first time to clear the upper chamber. It's not the end of the world if you don't. It just takes a little bit longer to bleed the system out.

[@ydnar10]

@Red Scorpion 6 Thank you ,just starting my adventures with 1977 mg.

[@user-mt3sd7hs7n]

What kind of fuild do you use

[@tjsogmc]

I use DOT3 brake fluid. Same as what's in the brakes.

[@lesobliteres]

Sadly did all the steps ... Still go nothing First push on the slave a lot of air bubbles came out 2nd 3 and 4 times no air bubbles at all and still nothing at the cluch pedal 🤔

[@tjsogmc]

Then you know for certain that your problem isn't an air bubble. I would suspect a faulty master cylinder or perhaps a clutch plate failure. Something else is wrong that bleeding the system won't fix. Use a C clamp to hold the slave piston and press on the clutch pedal. If its firm, then you have a mechanical problem with the clutch pack. If its still mushy after bleeding, then the problem is most likely the master cylinder

[@lesobliteres]

@@tjsogmc The master is new flex hose also and the slave ...I'm going to work on it Friday morning and start from scratch...😏 When a crack opens the line at the master cylinder and press on the cluch pedal i do get some oil .. Will see what happens next...