Remote brake / clutch fluid reservoirs

[Maulden7]

Has anybody successfully converted the standard / very difficult to access brake & clutch fluid reservoirs to a more convenient position e.g. on the bulkhead or inner wing, without changing the standard combined reservoir / master cylinders?

Obviously remote reservoirs are readily available in various sizes (& only small ones would be needed) but can these be plumbed in to the reservoir plastic cap on the master cylinder & remain leak free (cap rubber seals to the metal of the cylinder & new seals for the remote plumbing)

This would be on a 1965 S2 that is already heavily modified for sprinting / track use etc so not concerned about originality.

Just a thought ...... as my oap body is unable to fold itself into the footwell any more to change the master cylinders!

[Craven]

Hi,
Have a look at the Gunson Eezibleed kit, the cap supplied will withstand 20 psi.
Ron.

[Maulden7]

Thanks Ron, but it's not bleeding the systems that I'm thinking about. In the garage I can deal with that & topping up using a funnel with a tube on the end.

The situation I am thinking about is more when I'm away from home & something happens that requires easier access to the reservoirs e.g. like when I had a braided brake hose fail at Castle Combe (I drive to events - car is not trailered) Replaced the hose ok, but needed to be inventive to get fluid into the brake reservoir & replace what was lost / bled through (cut a hole in one of the fingers of some heavy rubber gloves to use as a funnel!)

[nmauduit]

some people reverse bleed their system using a syringe of some sort - sometimes with a special bleeder (one need to avoid injecting air when doing so) : this way, access is that of the bleeders...

just a thought ...

[fattogatto]

google is your friend.

"lotus elan engine bay" and select images.

Enjoy

[Craven]

Hi,
A little more to my point rather than just a nudge!
Eezibleed Kit has a selection of master cylinder screw on tops, which have been adapted to accept a fluid transfer tube; this adapted top when fitted will withstand fluid transfer pressure of up to 20psi.
A top from this kit or a similarly modified one will replace the normal cap providing the required flexible tube connection to the remote reservoir and will not leak.
Ron.

[Maulden7]

Thanks all (& apologies to Ron for my being thick)

So, .... there's no reason why I can't buy a couple of new standard reservoir caps (readily available - I might even have some old ones in the garage) & fit these with a sealed hydraulic hose connection in the top, to connect to the remote reservoirs (single circuit brakes so only two needed)

Dave

[fattogatto]

Remember, you'll be trying to fill a sealed chamber by gravity through a small orifice. Much easier to get a master cylinder designed for a remote reservoir

[rgh0]

While I have replaced my brakes with a dual master cylinder and remote reservoirs my clutch master cylinder is still buried under the carbs. I carry a suitable funnel with a flexible tube extension to race meetings so I can quickly refill it from above the carbs if needed during a race meeting without dismantling things.

cheers
Rohan

[Maulden7]

Thanks all for the comments.

Obviously replacement master cylinders with remote reservoirs would be the optimal solution, but unless I pay somebody to do this it isn't going to happen (I'm just too old & stiff to undertake this myself - & tbh if I did I would convert to double circuit brakes at the same time anyway)

So, the sealed reservoir on the existing master cylinders, fed by two remote reservoirs, seems to be a solution that I can do myself (I think that the gravity feed will be fine) & the parts needed are on the way from JJC Race & Rally, plus two new brake / clutch master cylinder reservoir caps purchased on ebay.

Rohan is right about the funnel & tube, & this is what I do in the garage at home, but if I'm going to do anything I might just as well convert both brake & clutch hydraulics as described.

Thanks again - Dave