Author Topic: Clutch flex hose replacement  (Read 6122 times)

waqas

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Clutch flex hose replacement
« on: August 02, 2007, 15:01:10 »
Thought I'd share this with everyone. While greasing the chassis a couple weeks ago, I noticed that my rubber flex hose for the clutch was virtually falling apart. This is connected under the driver-side firewall to the clutch slave cylinder. Once removed, I cut the hose to inspect the cross-section, and it looked exactly like an old brake hose-- constricted well beyond normal!

If you don't know when this hose was last changed, I would recommend replacement. While not as critical as brake hoses, I would hate to lose the ability to shift while driving!

I ordered new hoses from MB for my 230sl (part# 000-295-0835, length 190mm, list $35), and for my 250se (part# 000-295-0535, length 240mm, list $41).

WAQAS in Austin, Texas
Waqas (Wa-kaas) in Austin, Texas

JimVillers

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Re: Clutch flex hose replacement
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2007, 19:38:05 »
WAQAS ... (Don't ask me to pronounce you name again)... Excellent suggestion.  Remember the tip posted somewhere on the forum for bleeding the clutch; it needs to be pressure bleed from the slave cylinder and you can connect the bleeding tube from the brake wheel caliper and use the brake system to power bleed the clutch.

Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, 190E 2.3-16, MGB 5-Speed
Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-Speed, MGB 5-Speed, MGB GT V8 RHD (real MG), 2016 SLK

ja17

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Re: Clutch flex hose replacement
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2007, 20:53:17 »
Hello Waqas,

You will notice the pedal is much more responsive and it returns faster with the new hose.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

waqas

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Re: Clutch flex hose replacement
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2007, 21:26:09 »
Joe, the pedal now feels like a new car's does!

Jim, the pronunciation is easy (Wuh-kaas), the bleeding is a bit tougher. I once tried using the home-made pressure brake bleeder from the clutch slave, but I finally gave up and used the brake caliper. Nothing works as well. Once I'm done, I use the pressure bleeder to bleed the brake.
And thanks Jim for all your advice regarding all things from replacing outer trunions to improving the drivability of our cars. Very useful stuff, and not soon to be forgotten!

WAQAS in Austin, Texas
Waqas (Wa-kaas) in Austin, Texas

RCS Coupe

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Re: Clutch flex hose replacement
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2007, 09:40:52 »
Learned the hard way about the need to replace that slave cylinder hose. Years ago while driving an old Jaguar on a country road, I pushed the clutch pedal to the floor to shift from 2nd to 3rd. When I went to engage the clutch after shifting, the pedal stayed on the floor and refused all attempts to come up; I was now effectively in neutral! Fortunately I was able to drift off to the side of the road and got out of traffic.

I did a post-mortem on the slave cylinder hose (about 20 years old) and found that the internal hose liner had deteriorated and broken free. It formed a very good check valve inside, holding the hydraulic pressure on the slave cylinder piston preventing the clutch from engaging.

I have had a similar thing happen on an Interstate to the rear brake cylinder hose of my 250SL about 15 years ago. The hose's internal deterioration held the hydraulic pressure which caused the right rear brake to drag until I saw smoke coming out from the wheel well due to the heat. I had wondered why my engine power seemed to be off that day!

Ray
(268)Green 250 Coupe

graphic66

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Re: Clutch flex hose replacement
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2007, 12:34:22 »
f you do blow a clutch hose, or cyl. you can always get home without a clutch. Just start the car in 1st and shift the rest of the gears without a clutch. If you have a good tranny you really don't need the clutch for up or downshifting. Try shifting without a clutch, in higher gears upshifting it is very easy, downshifting you must rev the engine to match the engine speed to the wheel speed for the gear you are shifting to.Of course, dowshifting is unnesasary wear on a tranny, and should only be done when the brakes wont do it alone. Some trannys are better than others. My girlfriends Toyota hates it. My Dodge v-10 shifts every gear. The best car I ever drove without needing a clutch was a Pugeout. My 113 is an automatic, so no comment. My other Mercedes, a U-900, 20 speed is a little picky on cluthless shifting, I did however blow the slave cyl. miles from the road and made it home taking my time shifting. My v-10 Dodge has gone through 3 slave cyl. on warranty and I drove it to the dealer every time. Just put the car in first, engage the starter. To stop shift to nuetral, then to start, shut of the engine shift to first and start the engine.

ctaylor738

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Re: Clutch flex hose replacement
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2009, 01:53:35 »
Sorry to be so untimely with this comment, but I found this thread because I am replacing the hose in my 230SL. 

The correct part number for the 230SL is 000 295 03 35.  The 000 295 08 35 hose is for a 250 or 280.  SL-Tech tells me that the threads are different between the two.  The list price from Mercedes is up to $78.
Chuck Taylor
1963 230SL #00133
1970 280SL #13027 (restored and sold)
1966 230SL #15274 (sold)
1970 280SL #14076 (sold)
Falls Church VA