On Mon, 21 Jul 1997, at 13:03:55, John Steczkowski <stecz@pswtech.com> wrote:
after David Littlefield (dmeadow@juno.com) wrote:
>> flow, but not enough to make a difference. Given the troubles I have had
>> with all the "one man" systems, and I have tried them _all_, I have come
>> to the conclusion that there is no substitute for a helper.
>I found the secret.... speedbleedersI don't have them on my MGB yet, but
>they worked great on my Scorpio. All they are is a bleeder screw that
>replaces your stock ones, the trick is that the speed bleeder has a
>check valve in it. I did the Scorpio brakes without a helper and they
>did a great job. I'm going to order a set for the MGB as soon as I can.
I can relate to this scenario. So can BarneyMG.
The RF brake hose on the Lil' Darlin' [1961 MGA] collapsed Sunday night
about 75 miles north of San Antonio, as Barney and I were on our final leg
of the Brit Run to the Sun trek. The wheel locked up nice and tight, but,
fortunately, not at a critical braking moment.
On Monday Barney diagnosed the problem, dictated a list of parts, and we
called Classic Restorations for "roadside assistance." Tuesday three new
hoses (one rear, two front), new disc pads (the 'new' pads with about 1000
miles on them were toast), and a rebuild kit for the master cylinder showed
up at UPS in Marble Falls, TX.
All the parts were installed beautifully. Then... true-test time: bleed the
brakes and clutch cylinders.
Okey doke. Let's do that.
The four wheels bled beautifully. Now for the clutch... Well... one can
only pump a pedal for so long. Whoops! There's an air pocket in the clutch
line. We need to pressurize the master cylinder. "You have a balloon?" Yah,
sure...I always carry one in the boot. Not!
So, drag out the extra fuel line/part-time ice-chest-drainer hose and wrap
enough black electrical tape to be able to jam it into the cylinder filler.
"OK, Carol, just put your lips together and blow while you hold the other
end of the hose into the cylinder filler." So here I stand looking like a
well-fed ground squirrel blowing on this hose. (BTW, we were in the city
park on display for the local populace!) No go.
Wait a minute! I says. There's an antique bicycle pump in the boot. You
didn't see it so you didn't tell me I had to leave it behind when we left
for Dallas. [inside joke] So, Barney McGyver tapes the end of the bicycle
pump to the fuel line/part-time ice-chest-drainer hose and hands me the
pump and the other end of the hose. "Here. Stand on this end of the pump,
pump with a quick stroke so the pump will work, and hold the other end of
the hose tightly in the cylinder filler neck."
Whoosh!! The outdated, almost non-functional bicycle pump did the trick!
The clutch burped it's air bubble, and the car was ready to drive. And she
drove just fine.
I have a keen respect and total confidence for Barney's talents as an MGA
wizzard, so I let him test drive it. When I saw that it really did brake, I
got back behind the wheel.
This evening I struck up the list and when I read about ez-bleed and speed
bleeders, you all know I just couldn't resist. ;-)
Carol
|