MG Car Repair: Clutch hydraulics 74 MGB, clutch hydraulics, fluid reservoir

Question
hi Howard - I have read your instruction on bleeding the master cylinder etc. Q: how can I access these, I heard it can be done without getting under the car? Is there a web site with diagrams of the hydraulics? thanks in advance! Paul

Answer
Hi Paul,

I have worked in several MG dealerships when they were in the US and I started in 1960 and still work on MGs as a hobby and I only found a few ways to bleed a clutch hydraulic system. But they require that you or someone get under the car because that is where the slave cylinder is mounted on the bell housing.

The clutch hydraulic system is nothing but a cylinder with a piston in it at the top and a line to a cylinder with a piston in it at the bottom.

The cylinder at the top (master cylinder) has a fluid reservoir and the rod that pushes the piston is attached to a foot peddle. The cylinder at the bottom (slave cylinder)has a rod that is pushed by the piston and it pushes a lever that pushes on the pressure plate to disengage the clutch.

You seem worried that it is a complicated system but it is not. But you do need to jack the car up and put it on jack stands or take it where you can put it on a lift.

If you jack it up to do the job, DON'T GET UNDER THE CAR WITHOUT JACK STANDS TO SUPPORT THE CAR and NEVER!! GET UNDER A CAR WITH JUST A JACK OF ANY KIND!!!

Jack stands are not expensive.

If you read my instructions just follow them in detail and don't skip anything.

Howard