I just put in a new flywheel, clutch cover and disk, and pilot bearing in my 1990 XJ (4.0/AX-15/NP231/D30). I did not replace the internal slave cylinder because the FSM warns replacement should only be done if the unit is bad. I get it all bolted back up and....nada. Clutch will not disengage. Shifts smooth in all gears but won't engage. OK, I know I put the clutch disk in facing the right way, torqued all bolts to specs, rechecked the linkage on the transfer case to make sure it's in 2H. Only thing left is to bleed the hydraulic clutch line. It only takes a few ounces of fluid and no air comes out of the bleeder nipple, just straight fluid.
So that seems odd, and then I remember the last time I changed the slave cylinder it came with a notice to keep the unit compressed. It has two nylon straps that hold the bellows closed. The straps break away when the cylinder is first bled. Of course I didn't think about this when I put the bellhousing/tranny back up.
I don't know what else could be the problem. Anyone know if there's another way to prime the slave cylinder so I don't have to back the tranny out again to get at it? If I have to I'll use zip ties to compress the cylinder, but I'd rather not have to do nearly the whole job over again .
I'm reading up now on converting to an external slave cylinder, but that's a future headache. Thanks for any help.
So that seems odd, and then I remember the last time I changed the slave cylinder it came with a notice to keep the unit compressed. It has two nylon straps that hold the bellows closed. The straps break away when the cylinder is first bled. Of course I didn't think about this when I put the bellhousing/tranny back up.
I don't know what else could be the problem. Anyone know if there's another way to prime the slave cylinder so I don't have to back the tranny out again to get at it? If I have to I'll use zip ties to compress the cylinder, but I'd rather not have to do nearly the whole job over again .
I'm reading up now on converting to an external slave cylinder, but that's a future headache. Thanks for any help.