Advice needed from any lorry mechanics out there

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Optimist

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My very elderly leyland roadrunner's clutch is struggling to engage, you have to press it down further and further until it is almost flat on the floor before it will. I thought it was the clutch slave cylinder which has happened before and was replaced a few years ago, I checked the fluid reservoir and it was empty so I refilled it, but clutch still the same and reservoir now full. Any bright ideas as to what it might be? I know I need to get it to my mechanic, but last time he had it in for its test he had it for a month, and it was three weeks before he even looked at it..... He is just so busy, and at this time of year it is used almost daily. Aaaagghhhh!!
 
Was about to say same as mutley, try bleeding it completely dry then pumping some thru to make sure nothing in there then re-filling it.
 
If the reservoir was empty then there has to be a leak in the system. Bleeding the system will only be partially successful and then only for short time.
Find and fix the leak first.
 
Thank you for the advice - I am somewhat "mechanically challenged" so unless a job is idiot proof, I wouldn't have a clue where to start.... I guess it will have to be a trip to the garage, just can't be without it for weeks again! Don't suppose any of you mechanics are close to the Leics/Lincs border? :)
 
Try what the others have suggested, ie refill with fluid and pump to see if you can get fluid in the system. I am not familiar with the slave on yours but there might be a bleed nipple on it to let air out. If you are losing fluid there must be a leak somewhere. If you get it working check for dripping fluid. Might be a seal that has gone in the master cylinder or slave cylinder or a junction not tightened up enough.
 
Notwithstanding finding the leak first, this is a job for a mechanic. You need two people really, one to open the bleed nipple on the clutch cylinder and one to pump the clutch.
 
Yep, unless you have a fancy bit of tubing with a one way valve on it or even better have a pressurised top up system that pushes the fluid through from the reservoir. Of course if you have either of those you probably ARE a mechanic!
 
All clutches will gradualy loose fluid ,When did you last check the level .This should be checked every few weeks to give an indication of whether the rate the fluid is lost ,increases.The same applies to brake fluid levels. These things need to be checked regularly. It is probable that you dont hve a significant leak and it is just that the system has finally run out of fluid. The old leyland roadrunners are absolute gits to bleed. Find a mechanic to check it out (and check your brake fluid while you are at it):cool:
 
Fourlegsgood said:
Yep, unless you have a fancy bit of tubing with a one way valve on it or even better have a pressurised top up system that pushes the fluid through from the reservoir. Of course if you have either of those you probably ARE a mechanic!
Click to expand...

I've got the fancy bit of tubing. But I buy bangers and know a little bit about brakes and clutches.

I've bled a clutch slave cylinder myself with a lump of wood, hopping out and tightening the bleed nipple each time, but I don't recommend Optimist does this.
 
I like to think I am a reasonably intelligent human being, but I know when I am out of my depth. Having read and re read your very helpful suggestions, I am beginning to question the reasonably intelligent bit as I genuinely haven't the faintest idea what you are all talking about, call it mechanical dyslexia perhaps!! I probably falsely led you all to believe I knew what I was talking about by mentioning clutch slave cylinders in the first place - the only reason that sticks in my mind is because I paid the bill last time it was replaced (good with numbers, bad with practical stuff!)

As a result of my admission of total numptyness, I thought it best to deliver my beloved lorry to someone who does actually know what they are doing, and managed to find a highly recommended mechanic about 6 miles from home who assures me he won't keep it for the same extended period as my previous mechanic. I did this this afternoon (2nd gear all the way - things had gone downhill since our last outing... fun as you might imagine.)

Mike, you have now worried me re brake fluid - I will get him to check that too. I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't checked the clutch fluid levels since the slave cylinder was replaced about 7 or 8 years ago.... I do check oil, water, tyres, floor and ramp - I really wouldn't know how to check the other stuff... Is it a part of the testing process for drivers now? - I am too old to need to take the test but it really would be helpful to have a vague idea of what I should be checking. I suppose I assumed it is checked as part of the pre MOT stuff, but they probably just check it works.... There was a very good thread on here a while back about checks for lorries, I thought I had absorbed it but I guess not... A link to that thread would be helpful, and I will actually print it out this time!
 
Neither clutch nor brake fluid should go down by much at all. There are reservoirs in the engine compartment that usually have a plastic top on them with Dot 4 or similar written on them. Brake fluid drops as brake pads wear down, you will get a warning light on the dash when it drops below a certain level. Don't just fill up your brake fluid though, get your brake pads changed first. Otherwise you run the risk of running out of brake pad before getting another warning light.
 
For gods sake check levels and do not rely on warning lights!!!!(sometimes they dont work either)
Funnily enough neither clutch or brke fluid levels would be checked at MOT .
They should both be part of a basic routine before you leave on a journey.
Lights
Tyres
Oil
Water
Brake fluid
Clutch fluid
All very easy checks to carry out!
 
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