1985 K10 clutch is out - leaking gear oil under transmission

[ejjaeke]

Lost the clutch in my 1985 K10 305. Keeps sucking Dot3, and spews fluid (looks like gear oil) from under tranny, where clutch meets. I think it may be a seal inside the transmission, so would need to rent a transmission jack and disconnect the driveshaft, etc.... but I'm wondering if it could be something simpler before I dig in. Any help would be appreciated!

[Powerdriver1958]

could be the brake fluid washing years of built up crud down

[rdfmartin]

I had a similar experience with my '86 K10; it was the newly replaced slave cylinder leaking. I put in a new cylinder, no leak, but now the clutch engages when the pedal is about 6" off the floor. Do you have a hydraulic clutch? The fluid from a hydraulic clutch would be brake fluid.

[Powerdriver1958]

Could have broken the snout off of the bearing retainer . Not unheard of . (The part the throwout bearing rides on)

[ejjaeke]

I had a similar experience with my '86 K10; it was the newly replaced slave cylinder leaking. I put in a new cylinder, no leak, but now the clutch engages when the pedal is about 6" off the floor. Do you have a hydraulic clutch? The fluid from a hydraulic clutch would be brake fluid.

I think you are right. Looks like the slave cylinder, which looks to be easy to replace although I've never done one. Is it as simple as bolting a new one on, refilling the DOT3, and pumping the clutch until it feels right? Or must the system be bled first?