I just got back last night from down in S.C. I noticed the truck was not hitting the gears like normal on the way back, it would go in, but have to wait a little longer than normal. I figured I'd check it out today. I pulled down to the stop sign, and the clutch pedal went soft, like a brake pedal does when a line blows out, then it wouldn't go into gear. I started it up in 2nd, and got it home, but it don't want to go into any gears really. It will go into all gears with the truck shut off. I am thinking slave cylinder blew out, whats you guys take????

Thanks much!!

 

Sounds like a pretty good assumption. Any fluid leaking from the bellhousing?

 

Are these slave cylinders able to be bled? Ford dealer has no pre-bled units in stock, I need one yesterday. I haven't been under it yet, but will be later today.

 

Here are the in-vehicle bleeding instructions:

Fill the clutch master cylinder reservoir to the full line with DOT 3 Brake Fluid.

Raise and support the vehicle.

Unlock, and remove the slave cylinder from the transmission.
Compress and twist the slave cylinder to unlock it from the transmission.

Disconnect the clutch hydraulic tube from the floor pan clip.
Position the slave cylinder and the hydraulic tube so that there are no high points that could trap air in the system.
Position the slave cylinder push rod downward. Route the hydraulic tube upward as straight as possible toward the master cylinder so that the air can flow freely to the fluid reservoir.

CAUTION: Do not allow the clutch master cylinder reservoir to run dry.

Purge the air from the clutch hydraulic system.
Push the push rod slowly into the slave cylinder until it bottoms out the piston. Hold the push rod in this position for five to ten seconds to allow all trapped air to rise through the system. Very slowly, so that air is not drawn back into the slave cylinder, release the push rod (the spring in the slave cylinder will force the piston outward). Wait five to ten seconds for the air bubbles to rise. Repeat this process until all air purged from the system. Verify that the fluid in the reservoir is free of air bubbles.

Install the slave cylinder.
Compress and twist the slave cylinder to lock it onto the transmission.

Connect the clutch hydraulic tube to the floor pan clip.
Lower the vehicle.
Slowly depress and release the clutch pedal 20 to 25 times to bleed any air still trapped in the system. Verify that the fluid in the reservoir is free of air bubbles.
Verify that the fluid level in the reservoir is correct, and install the cap.

 

A bent fork, and good hydraulics would make a hard pedal that won't depress because the slave cylinder is already bottomed out.
You have failed hydraulics from your description.
.
I'm still running on the original......

 

its funny that ford said that this was a non bleedable system. Thats what they told me anyway when I put my clutch in and I had no pedal. I don't know where I got the idea to pump the piston in the slave cylinder. . . but it worked. Never a problem since. However if you just lost your pedal. . . I'm thinking something had to leak out. Keep us posted.
Timmy

 

Okay , I have removed the transmission, the clutch fork seems great, looks very heavy duty. I don't see any excessive wear on the pressure plate either. The t/o bearing has no excessive play or noises. The slave cylinder goes out when the pedal is pushed, however thats with it out of the bellhousing, and any pressure pushing inward. I am thinking it needs a new slave cylinder. These transmission are heavy beasts!! Where does the plastic clip on the clutch fork end of the slave cylinder hook to?

 

You pulled the tranny??
Well, I guess no harm done, eh?
That plastic clip is simply to retain the plunger on the slave for shipment/installation. Once you get it installed on the bell housing, you step on the clutch and it breaks away.
Well now, since you have the transmission out, do yourself a favor and get a new clutch for it along with a Kevlar pilot bushing. That cheapo roller bearing of a Ford piece of junk pilot bearing is what killed my transmission a couple of years ago.
Did I mention..

 

I agree. . . as long as you have pulled the tranny. . . might as well put in the clutch, pilot bearing and throwout bearing. . . murphy's law states that two thousand miles down the road one of them will give out. . . and that tranny is a bear!
Timmy

 

Well I got the truck back together today. As stated before I removed the transmission to check the clutch fork. I replaced the plastic clip that holds the fork in place. I happened to shine a light in the pilot hole to find that there was a piece of metal hanging in there. I tore the p/p off to find the clutch disc had broken around the 2 of the 3 springs, and the pilot bushing was just about completely gone. I went to napa and got a complete clutch set, I got it back together today. Ford dealer didn't have a pre-bled unit so I got a slave cylinder from napa to find out that wasn't the problem so it was back to NAPA for the clutch master cylinder, it shifts great now, I have never had a clutch pedal this easy to push in this truck. All in All I think it should be good for a while till I'm ready to do the Cummins! What a headache!!

Thanks for the advice on correcting this problem, thats what makes this the best PS forum on the net!!

 

thanks for the final disposition

 

Thats exactly what happened to my clutch disk a year ago

 

Another job well done.