I went to put Dot 3 fluid in my master cylinders on my '75 T-3 as they had been dry for I don't know how long. While bleeding them I noticed brake fluid dripping from the inner part of the brake lever. I cursed, swore, threw a wrench at the dog, and grabbed a cold one. Never fixed one before. I figured it would suck big time.
Looked at MG Cycles catalogue on line and saw they had rebuild kits at 30 bucks a piece (the rear master cylinder was probably shot too). O.K. that ain't so bad. I called Gordon and Rick the next day and they sent the kits out. Got them a couple of Days later. Rule # 1, Always call MG cycle first.
Here it goes.
1. Remove the hand lever (duh).
2. Drain out all fluid from master cylinder and put it in a container. Cyran wrap the bodywork to be sure not to get any drippings on it (bike condom's ...whodaa thunk it!).
3. Remove the fluid line that goes to tha master cylinder and don't lose any washers.
4. With all external parts off you're going to see metal with a smallhemispherical divit in it when you look inside the fluid line side.
5. Time for a punch and rubber mallet. I didn't have a punch so I took a large nail and ground the point smooth and round. A couple of medium taps, and the little bugger should pop right out.
6. Now you can remove the throttle and master cylinder. Clean with alcohol of choice (not the drinking type... makes everything sticky.
7. Inspect the internals of the master cylinder to make sure nothing is scored.
Time to put the new one in. The Brembo Kit comes with a packet of lube.
1. Lube that sucker up well. Get it all over the rubber parts (this is starting to sound a little obscene).
2. Assemble it the way the old one looked when it came out make sure to put the circular clip on last-it's the only thing keeping the new piston in place.
3. Going in -spring,piston,washer, rubber seal, circular clip.
4. How do I get the circular clip to seat itself inside? hmm. I took a long socket of equal diameter to the circlip and tapped it in with the 'ol rubber mallet and the leftover circlip. Make sure that rubber donut doesn't pop through the circlip.
5. Visually inspect it and put everything back together.
6. I added a little fluid and worked the lever back and forth. Fill er up and start bleeding those brakes. I'm a piss poor mechanic, but it took me 30 minutes per cylinder, and half of a bottle of Macallan 12. Easy job.
Turin
turin@qwest.net
