456 GT: How to bleed clutch master cylinder

Locate the brake-clutch fluid reservoir at the front of the car. Fill a Motive bleeder bottle with fluid, attach it to the reservoir. Pump it up to 10 psi.

Crawl under the car at the transmission, locate the bleeder screw (passenger side), attach a hose to that bleed nipple. Loosen the nipple a tad, fluid will come out.

Wait until there is no more bubbles, tighten the screw. Remove the Motive bleeder, suck out extra fluid to make sure that the reservoir is not overfill. Clean up. Drive test.

 

Image below of the bleeder, gold alum block in lower right with rubber cap on it.
Note: you will likely have a fiberglass looking silver shroud covering the wiring that is exposed in this pic.


While a pressure bleeder is ideal, it can be done without one. Like the 2 man brake bleed process.

Notice on the MCYL the rubber line screwed on toward the rear of the reservoir, that is is where the clutch gets it's fluid. It's position is pretty high on the reservoir. Be sure to keep enough fluid in the MCYL to prevent air from getting in the line. In other words max level to start, and check after a couple strokes. Too many pedal strokes at a time without refilling, and you risk pumping air back in the line.
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I actually prefer the vacuum type bleeder (mine operates with compressed air, similar to this one http://www.rs-werkzeuge.de/1-Mann-Druckluft-Bremsenentluefter-Bremsen-Entlueften-Bremsenentlueftungsgeraet?gb4=gb&gclid=COTTyerDv8kCFda4GwodcdgMdg). It has the advantange that there is no spill at the bleeder screw. And no risk of brake fluid spraying around .

In former times things were better. How easy to reach in the 456. In the 550 the bleeder screw is on top of the clutch bell and no chance getting there without disassembling things. Removal of one cat is the most convenient way .... Why the heck did they "improve" the 550 in this way over the 456??? .