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Post by Penguin45 on May 1, 2017 14:48:34 GMT
Wouldn't it be wonderful? With the wonders of modern low volume, low cost manufacture overseas, there will almost certainly be a way of getting brand new displacers made.
We have to be realistic about this. Last estimate I heard for survival figures was around 450 cars world wide, so any production run is never going to be massive. Two lots of tooling to be made will cost and a production run is hardly likely to exceed a few hundred units assuming that sufficient funding could be raised in the first instance.
All this means that they're going to cost quite a bit. Hence, the poll above - your vote will prove of interest in weighing up the viability of such a project in the future. We'd also like to read your comments and thoughts below.
Idle speculation or something worth working at?
Chris.
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Post by dave1800 on May 18, 2017 4:15:12 GMT
I have sent a copy of this note to your registered email account. If you do not receive it please ensure your account details are correct. Please note the deadline of 31st May 2017 for replies.
Thanks David |
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Post by motorgnome on May 18, 2017 11:07:49 GMT
Hi there guys.
Thanks for the invitation to put my "2 bobs worth in"
In regards to your question regarding the importance of hydrolastic suspension in the land crab.. Well, it's essential! The suspension is an integral part of the car. It's what makes the soul of the 1800.
The conversion to springs/shocks is simply not going to cut it. Being interconnected brings a level of stability & "calmness" to the ride, that can not be Replicated with conventional springs & shocks.
I also own 3 Metro's, 2 of them being mark 1's. The Metro runs Hydragas as you know, but on the mk1, they are individualised,that is not interconnected. I have since interconnected them, & found the difference in ride quality to be astounding.
So, summing up, for me, there is no substitute for hydrolastic suspension.
But, let me also add, owning a landcrab, I've recognised long ago, that the situation regarding replacement displacers would be a problem in the future, so I've been collecting units over the years for spares. I also have NOS units, so I wouldn't be in a position in needing your units, should you choose to get them remanufactured in the future. This may also be the case with other owners.
I hope this helps in your decisions.
Cheers, Jason
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Post by dave1800 on May 18, 2017 11:46:38 GMT
Hi Jason
Thanks for your comments. I do hope that your stock of displacers are in good condition. I have heard reports of some NOS items failing shortly after having been installed but it may be just the hoses. If anyone has experiebce and some hard facts on this it would be appreciated.
I agree with your views on the importance of the hydrolastic and hope we don't have to go down another route, but some other memers are not that concerned.
regards
David
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Post by mike on May 19, 2017 7:26:40 GMT
Hi Guys
might be known already but there is a company web page-hydragasandhydrolasticservice.com - might be of interest?
I agree the 1800 suspension is great, haven driven mine through Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa over all types of road and at one time towing a caravan over good, bad and indifferent roads the suspension is far superior to most
best wishes
Mike
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Post by 1800heap on May 19, 2017 10:14:40 GMT
I also have NOS units, so I wouldn't be in a position in needing your units, should you choose to get them remanufactured in the future. This may also be the case with other owners. I hope this helps in your decisions. Cheers, Jason Hi Jason Well done for saving displacers. I also think the car is no good without the original suspension. I have done the same and tryed to keep good units for future use. Unfortunately the used units can suffer badly from inturnal rust when left open to air, out of the car. It is a good thing to have NOS units too as you may need them! Hence our concerns over replacements! Is there any chance you could post a couple of pictures of the hose end of your 1800 NOS displacers. I am interested in the as new shape of the rubber at hose end of both a front and rear displacer, if you have both types. Most used units have some deformation of the shape of the rubber. Particularly interested in a front unit as I don't have any nice examples to go by. Any information we can get is helpfull to the cause. Particularly if new units are to be made! Thanks Nick |
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Post by dave1800 on May 20, 2017 2:59:10 GMT
For those readers holding NOS units as spares I would like to refer you to comments I received from Tony Wood who probably has much wider experience than most of us here:
"Prices are a thorny issue. Old rear displacers on the open market with old pipes are commonly found around the £100 mark. This is a lot higher than a few years ago, and it is fuelled by the demand from the 1100/1300 range. New old-stock rear displacers, now rarely found can command a lot more money, but in my opinion are a less reliable purchase as I have found new-old stock parts more likely to fail than a used unit."
Tony also asked me to remind LOCI members about a kit that could be recommisioned that helps reduce shock to the rear unit.
"In recent years, members of LOCI have found that by fitting the competitions department rear assister kit helps to support the rear end of the car, and to reduce some of the extreme shocks on the rear displacers. LOCI has produeced over 100 of these kits, and with only one exception, members have found it to be an exceptionally good modification that improved the ride height without any negative effects. Although this does not address the problem of ageing rubber and unit failure it certainly seems to be prolonging life."
Currently there are no kits available, but Tony would certainly commission another batch if there was demand.
As an aside, I have some rubber components (not displacers) that have been fine for the last ten to fifteen years and within a twelve month period or so have all deteriorated with the rubber becoming sticky and soft; no idea why and why so suddenly; the storage has remained stable.
David
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Post by dave1800 on May 24, 2017 6:56:28 GMT
For those of you who only drive on smooth roads here is a video posted by "Utebasher" a few years ago. Have a look at him drinking from a flask at what I guess is around 50+mph at around 1 minute 35 seconds. I wish I could do that in my SUV on good roads. The wonders of hysrolastic! Here David |
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Post by dave1800 on May 27, 2017 8:00:22 GMT
I have just sent a reminder by mailshot to your registered email address that it would be helpful to receive all responses to the displacer remanufacturing survey by 31st May. Apologies to members who have already replied with very helpful comments but the system doesn't allow me to remove your name from the mailing list.
If you do not rceive the mailshot please check your email details are correct and your spam boxes.
David
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Post by foglaursen on Jun 1, 2017 18:22:53 GMT
I was away from home a couple of days driving the Wolseley (luckily). When I came home the Morris looked like this:  It looks like it wanted to tell that the displacer problem has to be taken seriously. Peter  |
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Post by Penguin45 on Jun 1, 2017 23:11:22 GMT
Oh dear. Hopefully just a hose, pipe or valve problem.
The poll is now closed. The Admin Team would like to thank all members who have completed the poll, responded on the thread or have sent their thoughts by PM or email; it is very much appreciated. Dave1800 is now trying to collate the information into a format which will allow us to understand what members want, expect and hope for.
Thanks again,
Chris.
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Post by dave1800 on Jun 2, 2017 1:44:47 GMT
Peter, so sorry to see this. Did you get any possible warning symptoms? As Chris says, hope it is repairable. regards David I was away from home a couple of days driving the Wolseley (luckily). When I came home the Morris looked like this: View AttachmentIt looks like it wanted to tell that the displacer problem has to be taken seriously. Peter |
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Post by spencer1885 on Jun 2, 2017 20:28:29 GMT
Would it not be possible to replace with solid rubber?
This could be a new silicone type reducing the cost.
Matthew
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Post by dave1800 on Jun 3, 2017 12:29:31 GMT
Hi Matthew Thsnks for your suggestion. As you are probably aware the Mini used rubber before the hydrolastic was introduced and then reverted to rubber on cost grounds. The only other vehicle I have travelled in with rubber suspension was an Austin Gipsy which proved to be just a little less harsh than the original Land Rover on cart springs. If the hydrolastic remanufacture isn't a viable option then it is something people may wish to consider instead of say coil springs. However, it appears that the vast majority who responded to the survey are not interested in a crab without its best feature so that will be the focus of our efforts for now. regards David Would it not be possible to replace with solid rubber? This could be a new silicone type reducing the cost. Matthew |
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Post by spencer1885 on Jun 4, 2017 15:36:22 GMT
Just seen two new displacers listed on eBay if any one needs one now.
All so I was in Suffolk today at Ray houses yard he has masses of new land crab spares including new displacers,pipes,wings and so on.
Cheers
Matthew
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