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       #Post#: 100126--------------------------------------------------
       Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: AlmightyBodgeKing Date: December 11, 2015, 1:01 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Hello again all you knowledgable folk.
       Today I was mainly trying to get her fueling right. (SIIA
       Petrol).
       Anyhow, after much tinkering with the carb and deciding it
       seemed to be all ok I put it back on after a good clean and she
       was no better. In an attempt to contort myself into a closer
       look, I squashed the vacuum
       Pipe to the remote servo and she ran beautifully for a few
       seconds. I then blanked off this pipe and was able to tune her
       up to a lovely smooth engine. Upon reconnecting the servo, she
       ran like a bag of crap. I guess the servo is leaking internally
       as I hear a hiss from it.y theory is someone in the past had
       turned the idle mix right up to try and compensate for this.
       Anyway, my question is do I need the servo?
       My Haynes book only shows servo for the SIII dual line setup,
       nothing on the IIA, so I guess it wasn't a factory fit. Also I
       assume the servo is not doing anything anyway as there is no
       vacuum and I have other cars that are fine without servo. I had
       intended to replace all the shoes and wheel cylinders this
       weekend and replace the watery sludge with fresh brake fluid,
       I'm tempted to remove the suspect servo as I do. Is there any
       legal requirement to have it?
       Thanks.
       #Post#: 100127--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: D4B Date: December 11, 2015, 1:28 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I would imagine it would be perfectly safe and legal to put it
       back how it was
       when it left the factory, ie; no servo............... ?
       #Post#: 100128--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: AlmightyBodgeKing Date: December 11, 2015, 1:34 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Thanks.
       I've been looking some more. And it is definately not a factory
       fit, whoever fitted it has just used couplers to extend the
       original lines to the servo. Which at least makes it an easy job
       to remove.
       #Post#: 100129--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: hippydave Date: December 11, 2015, 1:40 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       you will have to get used to putting a lot more pressure on the
       brake peddle that you do with the servo and a wee quick double
       pump to get the brakes to bite a bit harder
       #Post#: 100131--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: AlmightyBodgeKing Date: December 11, 2015, 1:56 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       No problem with that. I got other cars without servo. Also I
       doubt the servo was doing anything anyway as it had no vacuum.
       #Post#: 100141--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: NoelC Date: December 12, 2015, 10:36 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=AlmightyBodgeKing
       link=topic=9550.msg100128#msg100128 date=1449862466]
       I've been looking some more. And it is definately not a factory
       fit, whoever fitted it has just used couplers to extend the
       original lines to the servo. Which at least makes it an easy job
       to remove. [/quote]
       Don't be too sure on that. Is it a Girling Powerstop remote
       servo mounted on the top of the N/S footwell? My '66
       ex-Wiltshire Fire Bridgade 109 had that setup when I bought it,
       evidently the emergency services wanted a bit less pedal effort
       and specified it. As to whether it was fitted at the factory,
       supplying dealer or the fire brigade's own workshops I've no
       idea. The seal went on mine causing brake fluid to be burnt on
       overrun so I did away with it. The brakes are spot on since
       using the G clamp method to bleed them a few years back, you'll
       be fine without the servo. What year is your 109? If a '66 or
       earlier have a look at the ammeter. Mine reads +/- 50 amps
       showing it had the optional alternator setup from new, another
       fire brigade option. Dynamo ammeters only read +/- 30 amps.
       #Post#: 100143--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: AlmightyBodgeKing Date: December 13, 2015, 1:32 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       NoelC, the servo is a Clayton Dewandre, made under license by
       Bendix. Or at least that's what it says. The 109 is a 1969 with
       alternator fitted from new. Also could you explain the G-Clamp
       method of bleeding which you mention?
       Anyway, I took the servo off on Friday eve and stripped it to
       see what was going on. (Sorry no update till now, I was out of
       action yesterday due to a flare-up of a longstanding health
       issue). Well first off, the main body of the servo was full of
       old brake fluid. I think about 2l came out when I tipped it
       upside down. I have to wonder who it is that keeps putting brake
       fluid in without investigating to see where it's all going.
       The main diaphragm has a huge rip in it, the smaller diaphragm
       for the release valve appears to have just dissolved and
       obviously the cylinder seals have gone. I think it's safe to
       assume that it was not doing anything to help braking effort. I
       have been doing a little internetting this morning and it seems
       the parts for this thing are not listed anywhere, so I guess
       it's destined for the scrap pile.
       #Post#: 100147--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: AlmightyBodgeKing Date: December 13, 2015, 11:00 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Quick update, I put the brake lines back together, without
       servo. Bled the system through with fresh brake fluid and she
       stops better than never. It would seem the knackered servo was
       actually hindering rather than helping with braking effort.
       #Post#: 100151--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: NoelC Date: December 14, 2015, 8:08 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=AlmightyBodgeKing
       link=topic=9550.msg100143#msg100143 date=1449991927]
       The 109 is a 1969 with alternator fitted from new.[/quote]
       Interesting. Do you have a voltmeter at the bottom of the
       combined fuel/water temp gauge? If memory serves that was
       specified in place of the charge light on suffix-D and later
       factory alternator vehicles.
       [quote]Also could you explain the G-Clamp method of bleeding
       which you mention?[/quote]
       The TLS setup is a PITA to bleed on a 109, or at least sometimes
       it is. In a nutshell the most foolproof method is to get the
       thing up on axle stands, remove all the roadwheels and brake
       drums and use G-clamps to push the wheel cylinder pistons fully
       back into their bores, making sure the dual piston cylinders on
       the rear are not closing off the bleed nipples. Once done I
       stamp on the pedal a number of times to break any large air
       bubbles up and push the fluid through with an eezibleed. Once
       done and with the G-clamps still in place you should feel zero
       movement at the pedal, it's the only way to be 100% sure all the
       air is out. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to
       which 109s are no grief when bleeding and some are the devil
       reincarnated, I do this as a matter of course now. Saves time in
       the long run.
       #Post#: 100154--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Brake servos and vacuum loss.
       By: AlmightyBodgeKing Date: December 14, 2015, 1:18 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Yes, it has the voltmeter at the bottom of the combined gauge.
       Also has a seperate ammeter, but for some reason I have yet to
       investigate, that only works if the horn is disconnected.
       As for bleeding, guess I am one of the lucky ones, it was no
       problem, bit of pipe with a 1-way valve on the nipple, fresh
       fluid in the top and pump the pedal. Job was a good un. My SIII
       used to be a little awkward, but that was fine as long as it was
       pointing uphill.
       I think I was a little out with the adjustment though, I have
       one wheel binding slightly.
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