Clutch pedal loose, not disengaging completely - Transmissi

Hi,

I've got an '83 F-250 6.9L V8 diesel. When I start the truck it's easy to shift at first, but as it warms up it gets much harder to get it into and out of gear. I mash the clutch pedal all the way to the floorboard, and often it does not come back up on it's own. It's been like that since I've had the truck.

I've tried replacing the slave cylinder, but it's doing the same thing. However, I wasn't able to bleed the cylinder like normal. I followed the directions that came with it, but whenever I pumped the pedal a bunch of times and held it down with a stick then opened the bleed valve nothing came out, no air, no brake fluid, nothing. I manually pushed the rod in and out maybe 20-30 times and could hear the fluid up in the reservoir so I hope got the air out like that. The clutch is behaving exactly as it did before.

Thank you so much you for your time and wisdom oh gracious mechanic gurus of the internet. taow80; This transmission has an external slave cylinder, correct? Try bleeding the master cylinder, first. (I'm assuming that you have replaced or ruled out the master as being the problem). Then, after you are certain there is no air in the master, connect the line going to the slave. Some slaves are tough to bleed because of the location of the bleeder valve. I've had to unbolt them from the trans and hold them upright so that the bleeder is at the highest point. At this point, with the bleeder valve held high, you should be able to open the valve and allow it to gravity bleed. With all of this said....If the master cylinder is not fairly new, pull back the rubber boot on the inside of the firewall and check for moisture (fluid leaking out of the back of the master cylinder). Just like a brake master cylinder, it is fairly easy to rupture the cup on the piston if the travel has gone beyond it's normal limit. Happens when 'foot' bleeding. The debris, over years, will build up beyond that normal travel limit and tear the rubber cup on the piston. One time, you'll have a good pedal, the next time, poor pedal. If the resistance in the pedal always feels the same, you may have a mechanical problem. The bearing retainer on the output shaft of the transmission could be worn so that the throw-out bearing hangs up. That doesn't sound like the problem you are having, but.... Good luck.
Loren
SW Washington
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