Station Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 Hi there!I'm looking to get a new hydragas pump as this is the second time I've had to get the system pumped up, and having two cars with the lovely floaty system, it sort of makes sense at 25 quid for a fill up. It's something that I think would come in handy ... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Hydragas-Hydr ... 2a0e1b982b How do these things work? I saw an old version (I think it was called a Churchill?), which was a big box with a handle on top. I know you have to put fluid in, but I have no idea how it would go in?
Mr_Bo11ox Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 That one's just a grease gun with a schraeder connector on. I made and sold a few of these a couple of years ago. It'll work perfectly OK but be a bit slow to pump up a car from empty. They just pump fluid in and thats it! The churchill ones have a vacuum facility on to suck the air out before the fluid goes in, its bollox though cos you can never suck all the air out and theres no means of bleeding themI have one thats just a hydraulic hand pump, it works gr8.
Craig the Princess Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 I bought one of those when my original grease gun type pump died. It's ok for top ups but too small really and not having a cap means it can be tricky not spilling fluid everywhere. I've gone for another grease gun type one, they appear on ebay at about £60-£70 but the extra is worth it IMO.
Richard Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 I had a real one for a while. It was a delight to use compared to the stirrup pump I'd been using before that.
M'coli Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 Yeah, they're quite slow to pump up from nothing. I made one with a truck Schrader connector, if you weren't dead-on when unscrewing it the fluid would leak out and the car could end up low again! I also made up one using a brake master cylinder, a ball valve and the truck connector - this worked fine, and it wasn't such a ball-ache if it dropped all the fluid when taking it off because it didn't take half an hour to get it refilled.Ugly, but useful none-the-less.
stoterstangen90 Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 I need one for my Princess too. That breakmastercylinder one is a good one.
Des Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 The last 'professional' one of those pumps I used looked to have a Mini clutch slave worked by a foot and a half lever, was hard work, the pipe was nylon and it had the proper Schrader connector with the T handle to open / close the valve, the Schrader bit is available on its own, but very pricey. I wonder if an electric pas pump is up to the job, probably not unless the relief valve is hammered shut, or a normal pump with a hand crank, or that nice compact abs pump on old Rangies.
M'coli Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 ^^^ Possibly, but consider the pressures involved: I've got a 600psi gauge on the ugly one, and it regularly sees more than 500 when pumping...
Station Posted March 7, 2011 Author Posted March 7, 2011 Power steering is capable of 20,000 psi!Think I'll get it done by the garage up the road! Are they filled with anti freeze? I've got a few brake cylinders, I might make my own. Wonder if getting vacuum of the engine will help with bleeding?
Richard Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 They are filled with special fluid, which is indeed basically antifreeze. I used to use water.
Mr_Bo11ox Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Could use piss, somehow seems apt for a manky old allegro or something.
Barry Cade Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Made in Fife, just down the road! http://www.liquid-levers.com/psp.htm
M'coli Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Made in Fife, just down the road! http://www.liquid-levers.com/psp.htm Aye, at 285 quid I decided to see what I could bodge together for a lot less, and seeing as I had the master cylinder lying around... I think in total it cost me something like 35.
Barry Cade Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 LOL, yeah, I'd be the same. a footpump and a bleed tube and coffee jar or something like that...
Station Posted March 9, 2011 Author Posted March 9, 2011 I got it done by an MGF specialist whose garage is down the road (about 5 minutes). He had one of those Liquid Lever things. They're not 250 quid, they're 700 quid! He said it's paid for itself many times over by now. He had one of the old ones from the 70's and the seals go on them after time, meaning harder work. The LL one filled the whole system in a couple of minutes (air evacuated an all).My system was completely empty. He brought it round with the pump full, and had to go to the motor factors to buy another 2 litres of Hydrolastic fluid, which used the lot. He charged 60 quid, which I'm OK with seeing as he came out on the day, and then went back and came back again out of work hours to finish the job (4l of fluid included in price). Have to say I preferred the look before, but at least I can get a jack underneath now. It was ridiculously low, 2 inches clearance underneath. I was told it'll settle after a couple of miles, but if not, just hit the schrader valve and DIY. Befo': Azitisnow:
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