No clutch pressure?

[youngkyle]

So There's this "parts" eagle nearby that I've been going on about for a while, and I was wondering something.  Because it's only a couple hundred dollars, I've remained interested in it, if just for parts.  Some may look down on what I did, but I did it none the less.  I drove up to where the car was sitting when I saw it last, late last summer, just to see if it was still there.  It still is, but it's not moving anytime soon.  it's beneath a snow bank, so I know it's going to be there for a bit!
well anyway, I waded my way through the thigh deep snow, and peered into it, just to get my eyes on an eagle again, because I don't have the luxury of owning one yet. 
well to the point, I remembered when it was listed on craigslist, he said it had a clutch problem.  When I was there, I dug out the door, and sneaked inside. (that's the bad part; I'm sure no one wants someone crawling in their old car, even if it is junk.)

ANYWAY, while exploring the cars interior, among other things, I remember the clutch, and tested it out.
It feels like there's no pressure when you press it in.  kind of feels like a swing.  you press it in, and when you let off, it just goes back.  my dad said something about it maybe being the clutch slave cylinder or something like that, when I looked at it the first time.
any Ideas what it may be?  If I'm getting it anyway, I figure I may as well try to fix that.  maybe I'll get a nice sx4 sport out of the deal.  I'd have one for driving, and one for playing around. 

[IowaEagle]

Yeah, the hydraulic clutch set up does pose problems after some time.  It probably needs a total rebuild with a new master, slave cylinder and lines.  Check to make sure the firewall is not soft as that will affect the clutch operation even after a rebuild.  The fluid, if it leaked, will compromise the firewall in that area.

[youngkyle]

Ok.  would this be a potentially hard job, (is it buried deep down under the engine?)   If I could pick up this car, it could probably hold me over till the other eagle is ready.  I left my number in the snowbank (I hope he can read it!)  so I just may see about this plan.  I'll probably knock on their door some time or another.

[carnuck]

Fluid fills under the hood and since it has no reservoir (from the factory), it can leak and run out quickly. It needs to be bled from underneath but the master or the slave could be leaking, or another issue inside the clutch assembly.

[mudkicker715]

Some had reservoirs. My donor for example did. I forget what year it was.

[T5258]

My 83 & 84 had a "resevoir", if you want to call it that....well, the 83 had a tube about 10-12 in long connected to the master that acted as a res....not a lot of reserve fluid there!!!  When I bought my wagon, the PO had installed a real resevoir on the firewall out of some GM product....made WAY more sense than what AMC used!!!!

[mudkicker715]

My cap for the reservoir (it might hold 4 ounces) said amc on it. Until it got lost.

[carnuck]

I've used Toyota/Honda Datsun remote reservoirs for setups like this (mostly early CJ and DJ power brake upgrades)

[Draekon]

My eagle ('81) has a reservoir.  It looks stock.

The master and slave clutch cylinders are not hard to replace.  Easy to access and change.

[carnuck]

Unless its under 8 feet of snow.

[youngkyle]

any idea what the approximate total price would be?  I'm going by maximum, like if I had to replace everything?
by the way, this is an 81, I don't know if that clears up the reservoir deal.  not that it matters that much. 

[IowaEagle]

'81 should have a reservoir.