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Re: TR-4A - Flushing brake lines, how to?

To: Alan Myers <reagntsj@ricochet.net>
Subject: Re: TR-4A - Flushing brake lines, how to?
From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 01:35:28 -0700
Cc: "Philip E. Barnes" <peb3@cornell.edu>, John Cowan <jfcowan@earthlink.net>, triumphs@Autox.Team.Net
Organization: Curry Enterprises
References: <v03102807b1f8dbf78870@[128.84.47.176]> <35D54576.F6057809@ricochet.net>
Alan,
One problem with using compressed air to blow out brake lines is that
unless there is an adequate desiccator in-line, compressed air typically
carries a great deal of moisture.  Because silicon based brake fluid
does not absorb moisture the way other types do, you could be
introducing a different type of contaminant into the system.

Just a thought!

Joe Curry 

Alan Myers wrote:
> 
> How about a turkey baster? Might need a rubber hose on the end to bring
> it down small enough for the brake pipes. I agree you should keep the
> alcohol away from the rubber parts. Does your car have the restrictor
> inline to the rear brakes? Might want to remove it before flushing. The
> manual I have says to use "methylated spirits" which I looked up in my
> British to American translation dictionary and found was plain old
> denatured alcohol solvent (get it at a hardware or paint store). Might
> want to blow a little compressed air to push out as much alcohol as
> possible before reassembling. Then be sure to "waste" plenty of the
> fresh, clean brake fluid as a final flush.
> 
> Alan Myers
> San Jose, Calif.
> '62 TR4 #CT17602
> 
> Philip E. Barnes wrote:
> 
> > At 11:06 AM -0700 8/13/98, John Cowan wrote:
> > >     I plan to flush the brake lines on my TR-4A with alcohol before
> > >reinstalling the Master Cylinder.  The best approach would seem to be
> >
> > >disconnecting one line from its slave cylinder, starting from the
> > farthest
> > >most, flushing out the open line, reconnecting it and then moving on
> > to the
> > >next.  Then, when all four have been done and reconnected, opening up
> > the
> > >bleed valves one at a time on the slave cylinders to flush them out,
> > too.
> > >Then, repeating the whole process with fresh brake fluid, using the
> > >reinstalled MC.
> > >    The question is, what can I use initially to pump the alcohol
> > through
> > >the system?  I don't want to use the MC, since I only want to put
> > brake
> > >fluid into it.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> >
> > I'd be very reluctant to run alcohol through anything other than the
> > brake
> > pipes themselves. (Perhaps I misunderstand you.) Using a large syringe
> > to
> > force the alcohol through the pipes ought to work. I'd try to get a
> > good
> > lab-grade isopropyl or methyl-alcohol; they are very dry. Blow them
> > out
> > with compressed air when you're done.
> >
> > Phil Barnes (peb3@cornell.edu)
> > Cortland, NY (nowhere near New York City)
> > '71 TR6  CC61193L (21 year owner)
> 
> --
> MZ

-- 
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."

 -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer

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