The 1994 Ford F350, with a manual transmission, has a hydraulic clutch system as opposed to a cable system. This eliminates the need for periodic adjustments of the cable for proper clutch function, but the hydraulic system is not without its flaws. Over time or due to damage, air can get into the hydraulic system giving the clutch pedal a spongy or soft feel. When this happens, the clutch slave cylinder must be bled. There are two ways to bleed the clutch: forced bleed and gravity bleed.
Open the F350's hood and locate the clutch master cylinder bolted to the top of the firewall, on the driver's side. Open the clutch master cylinder's lid and fill the reservoir with DOT3 brake fluid.
Raise the front of the F350 with a floor jack and place the jack stands under the frame rails. Lower the truck until its weight is only on the floor jacks.
Crawl under the truck until you reach the transmission's bell housing, the area where the transmission bolts to the engine. Look on the driver's side of the transmission and locate the 1/4-inch valve directly below the metal line, this is the bleeder valve.
Slide the drain pan under the bleeder valve and open the valve by turning it about half-a-turn with a combination wrench. Observe as fluid begins to flow from the bleeder. If the fluid sputters, this means there is air in the system and the fluid needs to continue flowing.
Check and fill the clutch master cylinder every 10 minutes, as running it until it's empty will cause more ear to get into the system.
Close the bleeder valve, using a combination wrench, when nothing but a steady stream of fluid flows from the bleeder valve.
Raise the F350 off of the jack stands, using the floor jack. Pull the stands from under the truck and lower it to the ground.
Check the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder, it must be between the "Min" and "Max" lines. Add DOT3 brake fluid as needed. Close the truck's hood.
Open the hood and locate the clutch master cylinder bolted on the top-driver's side of the firewall. Open the clutch master cylinder's lid and fill the reservoir with DOT3 brake fluid.
Lift the F350's front end with a floor jack and place the jack stands under the frame rails. Lower the truck until its weight is only on the floor jacks.
Crawl beneath the truck and locate where the transmission and engine bolt to each other, the flared part of the transmission is called the bell housing. Locate the bleeder valve, the 1/4-inch metal valve on the driver's side of the bell housing. Place a drain pan under the bleeder valve.
Instruct your assistant to press and release the clutch pedal about 10 times and then hold the pedal down. Loosen the bleeder valve, with a combination wrench, and observe as fluid comes from the valve. A sputtering sound indicated that bleeding is necessary. Tighten the bleeder valve with the combination wrench.
Repeat Step 4 until fluid flows from the bleeder valve without sputtering.
Check that the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder is between the "Min" and "Max" lines. Add DOT3 brake fluid as needed. Close the F350's hood.
