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Post by tony on Dec 16, 2014 1:12:08 GMT
We father has been driving the landcrab many times since we installed the modified rear left displacer unit last month. It was nearly a month ago. Very surprisingly the displacer unit still works.
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Post by tony on Dec 16, 2014 1:06:18 GMT
Hi, Chris. We don't have a Maxi. If I understand what you mean, is it called Austin Maxi 1750? I googled and found some pictures of it. There used to be some Austin Maxi 1750s in TAIWAN. And I believe there is still a very very very good white one in Taipei, northern of TAIWAN, 375 km far from here. The car owner always drove his Maxi to our garage from Taipei when he felt there was something wrong on his Maxi. In 1996 I bought two rear displacer units in London for his Maxi. Just a few years ago, he sold his lovely vehicle to someone as he was getting older and his children seemed it wasn't good for him to drive a vehicle. Two months later the new car owner phoned me if I could buy it from him. I considered and replied I couldn't. Now we have just the second hand displacer unit from another abandoned Maxi. We have kept it for a long time. There is an orange Austin 1500 in Tainan, 40 km from here. It is kept in a Car Museum. We had it and gave it to one of my uncles. Many years later it went to the museum when it was still in good condition. The museum owner liked it very much. Regards Tony Agree. Have you got a Maxi as well, or just the displacer? Chris.
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Post by tony on Dec 15, 2014 14:46:18 GMT
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Post by tony on Dec 15, 2014 1:23:18 GMT
The upper pipe ( metal net inside ) we made has been used for more than 10 years and it's too strong. I just don't like it. The lower one is a spare part, but not that stronger and its length is a little bit longer. I still remember talking to the boss of a pipe re-builder. It was about 8 years ago when our 1800 left side fell down. I had to find out on my own what was wrong. Luckily it was the broken modified pipe of the right rear suspension. I took it to the pipe rebuilder and discussed about how much pressure the pipe should be as I wanted to have it weaker. He told me it was about 300 psi. Now I believe it is higher than the one David found for us. link Neil tested it to 250 psi. Father still used the old modified pipe with more seal tape ( 5 rounds ) on the threads.
Finally done the job. This is another type of displacer unit for Austin 1750. We did the same modification and we think it could be used in the further. As it is too big and may suit for the front one of 1800s with some another modification.
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Post by tony on Dec 15, 2014 1:00:31 GMT
Thanks, David. Yes, Taiwan has been on the list just for a few months and I have been watching his videos and learning his brilliant troubleshooting skills. Regards Tony Thanks Tony, the photos and descriptions are so clear. It is so good to see real engineers at work. As an aside I see that Taiwan now seems to appear on the list of countries where Scanner Danner Professional series videos can be watched on Youtube if I am reading the list correctly. No idea how long it will take to get here sadly. Best wishes David
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Post by tony on Dec 13, 2014 9:31:45 GMT
Merry Christmas to all and sorry for the delay of showing up the final displacer unit modified job here. Thank Anthony Wood who sent me few displacer units. I apology that I almost forgot the way to show up pictures here. Anyway, I searched some information about the modification of displacer unit with a broken pipe on this website, which I am not sure where to find it now, and which is not quite the same as the one father does below: First, cut the broken pipe off and do the drilling. Find the right tool. We used two different sizes in diameter of drilling tools. The smaller one in diameter goes first in order to arm at the right centre point of the hole, the larger one just follow the patch so that the rest of pipe can be easily removed by a hammer after the drilling work.
Make sure how deep you have to go.
Use a grinder to remove any piece of metal left before doing the tapping work. The first step is finished. Have the right tool to tap. Remember how deep you are going! There are two displacer units: one is for 1800 and the other is for Austin 1750. Remember to get some grease on the tool before doing the tapping. Clockwise a little bit and anitclockwise back again each time.
Remember that DON'T TAP SO DEEPER. Tapping is done and use pressurized air to clean the displacer unit outside and inside. You wouldn't believe that these second hand units, which hadn't been used for more than 10 years, have some rusty pieces of metal inside. Luckily we found it and cleaned it. Luck still with us, the displacer unit works---really unbelievable ! But I would suggest if you have any displacer units, you'd better keep them in good condition. Hope these second hand displacer units will work for another couple of decades.
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Post by tony on Nov 21, 2014 7:28:37 GMT
I suddenly found this morning that there is a kind of hydrolastic fliud we use for Citroen and RR. It's called Total LHM PLUS. After searching its details, I realized it is NOT suitable or acceptable for Morris because of its Viscosity. Click the link below and read the file. www4.total.fr/middle-east/PDS/Auto/Total/LHM%20PLUS.pdflinkThe RR I work on has got two hydrolastic systems. There are two front accumulators and two rear accumulators. The spec of front is 62 bars ( 899 psi ) and the rear is about 16.5 bars ( 240 psi ). Thanks Chris for the more explanation of how a displacer unit works in English. This was what I meant. By the way, I have just seen displacer burst once and heard of it another time. And I think that it is beyond my ability to repair a burst displacer after reading Neil Kidman's article. Regards Tony
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Post by tony on Nov 20, 2014 9:21:42 GMT
Chris
So brilliant work on the battery tray. I wish I could have done the same work.
Regards
Tony
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Post by tony on Nov 20, 2014 5:12:38 GMT
Thanks David.
What if I use more water to reduce the viscosity, let me say 60~70 % water. I don't know if it will be fine or not. I agree with Tommy that postage could be the problem. Austin parts are not available here. There is just some snow on the top of our mountains so there is no need to worry about if we use antifreeze coolant or not.
Allow me to ask you a question, which is how long a displacer unit lasts in your country or Great Britain?
Regards
Tony
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Post by tony on Nov 20, 2014 5:01:33 GMT
David has found an article in Hydrolastic Displacer repairs. Please click here. linkThis really makes me think how to repair mine. But when I took a very close look at the diagram of the unit I realise that it will be very difficult for me to do so. Mine is the No.2 which is damaged and burst. And there is a damper valve ( No 6 ).
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Post by tony on Nov 20, 2014 4:36:59 GMT
Sorry for showing up the picture. I also add it here. You see the two different colours, which really makes me worried about the other rear displacer unit. I don't know how long it will last after the impact. This left rear displacer unit had a its hose cracked or burst about 10 or more years ago. Father did the modification on it and taped the threads with a rebuilt new hose. The rebuilt new hose was made by a nearby hose maker.
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Post by tony on Nov 20, 2014 4:02:20 GMT
Thanks Tommy.
Unfortunately there is probably no such hydrolastic fluid sold here, Taiwan. The car dealers have been changed to other business men who just sell and service new vehicles. The car parts sellers for Austin don't run big business here, some of them have closed their shops. Ford do the service for Jaguar here.
As David mentions that alcohol is known to attack rubber whereas coolant is compatible with the rubber hoses. He also talks about the correct viscosity to the displacer units. It doesn't snow in TAIWAN, except for the top of few high mountains. We have been using coolant for the displacer units for more than 25 years I believe. Perhaps if we use the coolant plus 60 ~ 70% water, which may meet the viscosity??? And we change the coolant every 3 or 5 years. Someone in US suggests that the thermostat should be changed every 5 years if it is often driven.
Regards
Tony
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Post by tony on Nov 19, 2014 9:37:12 GMT
I would like to ask anyone here what kind of fluid they use for the hydrolastic displacer system of landcrabs. We used to use SHELLZONE Antifreeze/coolant plus 50% water. This time we used ABRO Dark Green Coolant as we don't have any Shellzone products . I don't know if it is fine for this time. Any suggestions? Thanks to David who suggests hydrolastic fluid should be changed very 5 years. Our left side had not be changed for more than 10 or years or more ?? and the right side had not be changed for more than 8 years until we repaired the bushing/bearing of left rear suspension arm a few weeks ago. I did change the hose of rear displacer unit 8 years ago on my own. Thanks to Tommy, too. He wrote that there could be any indication the bearing work/replacement we did to the failure, which has made me think of what kinds of the causes were this time. I had not seen a burst displacer unit before. According to my father's saying that he had been driving on the high way and went through a junction to the hospital. Speed probably was about 50 ~ 60 km per hour and he made a left or right turn. He suddenly heard a sound and felt vehicle fall down. The picture above shows what I have thought about the impact. when the vehicle is hit at the end ( red arrow ), the body will try to fall down, which will reduce the distance between the body and rear suspension arm and less impact ( green arrow ) will go to the displacer unit. I also think of the impact of car accident that happened in March this year. The impact could have done something to the displacer unit. Of course I wouldn't blame on the age. There is a picture below of the burst displacer unit that may show an indication. Made by DUNLOP.
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Post by tony on Nov 19, 2014 8:55:11 GMT
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Post by tony on Nov 17, 2014 4:36:38 GMT
Thanks to everyone here who has given advice and diagnosing work.
Sorry for being late here. My PC at home has been refusing to work for me as it suddenly shows down within a few minutes after I turn it on. I have to turn it on for about 10 times and it could work if it is happy. Now it quits.
With good luck, Anthony has found some units for me, one front and one rear.
And good news is we fixed the problem on the following day. My landcrab seems to be back although I am worried about the RIGHT rear displacer unit.
I'll show up the rest of pictures after I have another PC at home.
Regards
Tony
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