Triumph Repair: CLUTCH, clutch slave cylinder, spitfire 1500

Question
I did what you told me THANK YOU.   Now it appears I need fluid for the clutch.  What type of fluid should I put in this.??
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
JUST BOUGHT A 1980 SPITFIRE 1500, AND WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR.    IS THEIR A METHOD TO BLEED THE CLUTCH, AND HOW DO I DO THIS, OR WHERE CAN I GET A MANUAL ON THIS AUTOMOBILE.
-----Answer-----
Ben,

The easiest way to get access to the clutch slave cylinder (and bleed nipple) is to remove the center dash support and trans cover.  You can get access from below the car but it's much more difficult.

There is another way to get air out of the system if you have a few days.  Fill up the clutch master reservoir, cap it loosely and prop the clutch pedal to the floor with a piece of 2x4 to the body structure just underneath the front edge of the driver seat.  It's something like 22".

Let it sit like that for a few days and normally most of the air works it's way out of the clutch system.  Doesn't work for the brakes though.

If it doesn't work then it's probably a good time to rebuild/replace the master and slave.

Manuals are available from any of the suppliers listed at the Vintage Triumph Register website (www.VTR.org).  They also pop up on auction sites like eBay and book sellers like Amazon.com.

Cheers,

Jim

Answer
Ben,

The hydraulics in the Spitfire were designed for the normal DOT brakefluid, currently at DOT3.  You can use DOT4, I personally like the Castrol LMA (low moisture absorption) formula for my cars and it's fully compatible with DOT3 that might already be in the system.

DOT5 is normally referred to as Silicone fluid.  The advantage is the fluid will not damage the paint if there is a leak.  The problem is that it tends to destroy old/used seals in the system.  If you do have to rebuild/replace slave and master then it's worth looking at DOT5.  

Keep in mind that it's best to do both slave and master at the same time.  If one is starting to go, the other cannot be far behind.


Cheers,

Jim