[Healeys] Brake reservoir gasket

[John Loftus]

Earl,


The gasket could be applying some pressure on the internal can when the reservoir cap is tightened down causing a less than perfect seal at the bottom to occur.  So when the clutch fluid dropped, the outside fluid leaked into the center can area (less than perfect seal on the alum. gasket under the center can or split in the can soldering).

Or maybe there is some capillary/vacuum action going on with the gasket dropping down and touching the rim of the inside can. Vacuum created as the clutch fluid level drops and splashing and/or capillary action with the outside brake fluid.

I sealed the little slit on the gasket with a dab of RTV gasket maker before installing mine (Dave Russell first tried this and didn't see a need for the system to be vented as many modern brake systems are not vented). Somehow a little bit of brake fluid still gets into the top area of the gasket (between gasket and reservoir top) so think there is some capillary/vacuum action going on.

Cheers,
John