Noticed on the way to work that the clutch was grabbing right off the floor no free play and push it in about 3/4 down before I felt pressure. Got home and took a look at the clutch fluid and it was way low maybe I sucked in some air. Well filled it and no difference. Do you think the clutch just needs bleeding or am I looking at bigger problems? Didn't see any leaks and had no slipping prior to this.

 

Check for leaks or loss of fluid.. Don't forget the firewall under the dash where the clutch pedal hits the cylinder, in addition to the obvious places.

 

Well I've had the chance to compare different clutches from different years and found that there are a few factors. Either the adjuster nut below the fireway is set wrong. Or its just normal.

For example: Early clutches 79-82 are the 215mm ones and they engage very easily, very little pressure and engage about halfway through the pedal travel. Next the '88 SE I own is the larger clutch and engages not far from top of the pedal travel.

Then a '85 GSL-SE I tested once engaged near the floor with no air in the system so I knew it was right. This was the same for a '85 GSL I tested as well.

So the moral is that the first gen clutches from 83-85 seem to engage fairly near the floor normally in my experence.....

 

I like my clutches to engage somewhere near halfway through pedal travel. Maybe slightly below. This allows me to shift before I get the pedal to the floor. It feels like it makes me go faster.

Plenty of space below, plenty of space above. I like it.

My RX-7 did this, I have since adjusted the Honda's clutch cable to match.

 

bled then clutch and have it back now. but the fluid looked more like dirty motor oil then brake fluid. think I should flush the system or is this normal?

 

Bleed the hydraulic fluid and check it again. Maybe some air got in from somewhere.

 

Checked for leaks and found the clutch hose was seeping. But not enough to have to change right off. Had to order the part anyways.

 

When I got my SE, the clutch was slipping bad. So I put my bonez street/strip clutch in. After that the pedal seemed to engage right off the floor. a few days later I lost the hydraulics. After a rebuild the clutch engaged at the middle of the pedal travel.

I think the condition of the hydraulics as well as the rod adjustment have a lot to do with the engagement in the throw.

the pedal throw in my SE is the same as my 83 was with the same clutch. and the same as my 80, 82 and my 84 with stock clutches, just a hell of a lot stiffer.