Brakes are now working!!

[michaelodonnell500]

It was a very silly mistake so i put my hands up and advise others to learn!!
I'm using the 500 pedal box which allows the master cylinder to travel 20mm.
The 126 master cylinder travels 30mm.
When i last blead the brakes they worked, but had alot of travel so I made the pin longer for the MOT. Although this works in theory, the master cylinder was always partially plunged at around 15mm, which prevent the system from re-filling when the shoes re adjust so the reservoir never dropped level making me think everything was ok.
I removed the brake pedal and used the easi-bleed and now it works. Tomorrow I'll shorten the plunger pin so it keep working!!

Thanks for everyones suggestions.

[126dave]

no offence intended,but you passed with that brake set up..it shows you what your MOT is worth eh?....and they are banging on here about bringing it in.............. :: .......

[michaelodonnell500]

I passed when it was working and it just feels very stiff very on/off, but yes, it should have probably flagged a few questions!
I picked the place because it MOT's a lot of classics, but i never set the headlights when restoring the car, so either my guess was amazingly accurate or he never went nnear them!!

[126dave]

nice one,over here its going to be all hi tech and grief for older cars........usual excuse older cars = global warming.

and the island is so small it will be impossible for any garage to be easier on classics......the authorities could check all in one day!!

[Tommo32]

I think its around 80% of the carbon emissions produced by are car are from its manufacture, so keeping an old car on the road is often better for the enviroment than buying a new one.

[michaelodonnell500]

Although you are right about older cars being more environemntally friendly due to their longevity, the number crunchers arent on our side!!
All aspects of recycling new cars will become the financial responsibility of the manufacturer, although a date hasn't been set for this.
At that point any older car will be deemed  a burden in the eye of the government. Especially as any vehicle old enough doesnt have to pay road tax. With that taken into acount it makes sense for them to push classic cars off the road so they can rake in more money. I hope we don't see anytihing like this soon, but some countries have already put this into practise where classic cars are only permitted on the road for a certain number days a year and only when consent is obtained in advance for the local authorities.
Loppholes will arise i reckon, and I'll do my best to exploit them!!

[Dom]

No point starting a new post for the same topic, so here goes....
I was driving down Sheen High Street last night, and everything was as normal, then I went to brake, foot to the floor and nothing – the car just carried on rolling! Luckily the traffic in front started pulling away just as this happened, so I narrowly avoided intruding on the car in front’s privacy.
At first I though it may have just been some severe brake fade, as it has happened on many occasions before, but it did feel worse.
I pulled over and inspected the fluid reservoir to find it empty. It was full at the start of the journey. So immediately I assumed the obvious – a leak somewhere. I couldn’t see any signs and the cylinders looked dry.
Stuck a long way from home I called the AA (may as well get my moneys worth!) We filled up the fluid to see if we could source the leak, but still nothing, no leak, and no brakes! So next step was to bleed the brakes. We started on the offside rear wheel, but the bleeding would not work and there was no pressure at the cylinder no matter how hard we tried (very confusing.)
I looked back at the reservoir to see if any fluid had been lost, and to my surprise, fluid was coming out the small hole on top of the reservoir’s cap.
I then suggested that maybe the master cylinder had had it. The AA guy agreed, but I’m still not totally convinced, as it had been fine until last night.
Do these symptoms sound like a faulty master cylinder?

[126dave]

yes,also check the pipe from the reservoir to the m/c

[Dom]

Though as much.
Will check tomorrow and prob attempt to change the master cylinder anyway - it's over 30 years old!
Is it a difficult job? I fear it will be as it has never been done!

[126dave]

its not a bad job,but allow for renewing some pipes........if you can, get some release fluid on the unions today  :wink:

[michaelodonnell500]

let me know when your ready to bleed the brakes.
I adapted my reservoir cap to take easi bleed, so it will take no time to bleed it.

[Dom]

I'm attempting to take off the master cylinder now, but stuggling with the unions!
Don't wanna force them and cause more problems.

[Dom]

ok, so worse case scenario - due to my lack of tools, technique and experience I have managed to round off 2 of the 3 hex screw/unions, and manage to get the other off and cover my arm and face in brake fluid! My mechanical knowledge seems to be going backwards - soon I wont know how to fill a car with petrol or change oil!

[Dom]

I finally maged to get the old master cylider off. Not put the new one on yet. They are both the exact same except for the fact the the new one has an extra hole on the end - see pics.



Old



New
I beleive this hole to be where the brake light switch should attach. As I have a 500R, it is not like this. Do you think I could use the new one if I block the hole with a suitable bolt?

[ChrisRLewis]

dom it is for the brake pressure switch sender. perhaps you could transfer the main hexagon nut or if not fit a 500 brake switch into the blank hole?