Short drive - schoolboy error!!

Had a drive, just to see. Braking is working, but not quite good enough to be safe. Pedal travels right to floor and DOES brake, but not quite well enough. As mentioned, still rear shoes to adjust plus there is probably some additional free play in the pedal where I have over compensated.

But the error was that, despite TRYING to remind myself to replace the split pin on the pedal push rod, I didn't. So I got a few miles before remembering this point and then gingerly drove back home again!!

If that came apart I would have had NO brakes!! Got away with that.

Optimistically looking forward to adjusting things up and having a "normal" car back again, which should be capable of getting to the ACCC summer meeting venue back at Brooklands in a couple of weeks time WITHOUT the brakes locking up this time!! (or the cylinder head gasket blowing, or something else etc.. etc... etc...!! )

Nearly there with the brakes. One bad bleed nipple though

Love the light evenings, and a gap in the rain, so whipped the front wheels off and carried on working through the problems.

As feared, could not shift the last bleed nipple on the offside right. BUT was able to bleed partially through the supply union, ok you cant see air bubbles and you have brake fluid just running onto the drive way, but it is allowing all but the last tiny piece of fluid to be bled, so it's doing something.

Noticed that the front wheels where a bit TOO free, not sure now if I had adjusted them properly in the first place, so sorted that out and now I am getting braking force on the first push of the brake pedal.

Will re-check the rears, because I didnt really look at that, was too focussed on bleeding.

But optimisitic nearly there with the brakes. Must remember to put split pin back in the push rod!!

Will need new shoe linings on the front at least, as all the locking up has taken it's toll!

Brake progress 3 down 1 to go

Quite happy so far, shame about the weather and therefore getting a wet backside crawling around on the gravel driveway, but perseverance paid off. As hoped the two rear cylinders came good.

After a night's further soaking with penetrating oil, and after looking for further tips and tricks on the old t'internet, I was able to free up the seized bleed nipples. By using a snug fitting socket, with medium pressure being held on whilst tapping firmly with a hammer it came undone pretty easily. From there, for the nearside rear, was able to do the bleeding with normal 11mm brake spanner.

The offside was a bit trickier due to the plate that holds the dust cover being bent. Got the nipple free easy enough using same method as mentioned, but had to get creative with the socket and mole grips to do the actual bleeding. Because the bent plate prevented the normal brake spanner getting there, had to try something different. Was able to pass the bleed pipe through the socket, whilst using the mole grips clamped good and tight to the socket to undo and tighten for the bleeding process.

Now the two fronts need doing, near side already OK, just the expected troublesome offside to tackle. Fingers crossed. But leaving that for next weekend as wet, muddy and cold now!

Engine work paying / paid off?...

Starting Amy has often been an issue. For varying reasons I am sure. But yesterday was encouraging. It's been a wet week, she hadn't been driven since Saturday and undercover in the wet all that time. Previously, starting her after a short layoff like that would be difficult. Dampness etc....

OK, so I had primed the carb bowl manually from the engine bay first, BUT she started FIRST time, on the nose, no hesitation whatsoever.

Must have done something right along the line!!

This head gasket has lasted longer than the previous two now! Optimistic!!

300 miles up!

Back to my favourite subject. 300 miles just turned round on the current head gasket. Just got back from a little 10 mile run, opened her up to c. 50mph for a bit. sounded nice and comfortable, touch wood no issues. Oil in water has all but dissapeared. Still some emulsion residue floating about, but has not changed for weeks, so reasonably convinced that aspect is solved.

Not counting chickens just yet - would love x-ray vision!! But hopeful.

Spring running / starting is a very pleasant experience. Brakes are the only "problem" outstanding, if I want to be able to take her further afield during the Summer.

Hmmmm....bleed nipples.. bah....

I kind of feared this, I can't move 3 of the 4 bleed nipples. To be fair, I haven't tried much yet, just soaking with penetrating oil for now rather than getting too gung ho. Then heating and maybe freezing if needed.

Hopefully combination of that will do the job.

I will hopefully be able to get a replacement set in case i end up mangling them to get them out in the end.

In the meantime, have put the master cylinder back where it was!

At least I could safely drive around town like that!

But needs sorting. Wheels off - giving better access, go from there.

Hopefully avoid needing to get any new cylinders.

Brakes - finally working on them

OK, one of the first major jobs I did on Amy was to replace the master cylinder. The original gave up the ghost within 3 weeks of having the car. No real problem with that, the car hadn't been used much at all for the previous 6 years and suddenly she was getting a hammering. I sourced a brand new replacement and fitted it back in Sept.

I'll quote my thoughts at the time:

"But that screw up has done me a partial favour. With the master cylinder now full, the onward supply pipes also being full due to capillary action and the vacuum of the pipes keeping the original (very clear and clean) brake fluid in. The flow of brake fluid out of the compression union WHILST I was connecting it has meant that I have essentially a full system once more, with only minor air bubbles at best. So figured to give her a try."

I have been driving her like that ever since, and something felt a little wrong for quite a while the brakes always felt like they were gradually applying "themselves", but it was only the journey to Brooklands that highlighted the issue - being almost locked on by the time we arrived.

So couple of issues in play here:

Firstly the brakes locking up, after some advise from some of my invaluable ACCC friends, it was apparent that I had adjusted the master cyinder piston / pedal too tight. Thus not coming back far enough to release the pressure as the system warmed up - causing the brakes to lock on. Fine for Reading / Ash Vale, you'd just about notice it then, but NOT for anything further. Easily fixed by adjusting back far enough - so you can just feel a few mm of free play. Done that. Easy.

Secondly, there is more air in the system from my effort of fitting the new cylinder than I realised at the time and my over adjustment had merely compensated for that and masked it, due to my inexperience.

So now first press of the pedal does next to nothing! Three pumps of the pedal and they work fine, which does indicate air in the system. But now I need to bleed the brakes properly!! Amateur!.. Sheesh...Too dangerous to drive but need to get it done at earliest opportunity. But as at least one of the bleed nipples are seized, I need to get wheels off again to do itand that is bizarrely a two man job!

Front near side undoes fine after a couple of sprays of penetrating oil. Hoping that the rear two will come with the wheels off giving the right angle of access. They are also soaking. Just worried about the offside front. Seems jammed fast.That was the one that seemed old compared to the rest. We'll see.