one step forward two steps back

[healeyboz]

What a day!!
The plan was to have my girl go out and pump the brakes and clutch to bleed. All went well and the pedals seem to be nice. I have to pump the brakes once and then they are real nice. I think a re-bleed is in order....

I went to set the valve lash to something reasonable in anticipation of receiving the carbs back from Hap in a few weeks. One of the valves do not line up with its rocker as well as the others. It looks like it was dropped or something.. I don't know. After a cold beer I decided that it was best to pull it now and have it checked out before I try to fire it up. Urrgh!!

The brake and clutch pedals aren't perfect so more adjustments are in order along with the re-bleed. I heard some noises coming from the rear brakes as she was getting pushed back into the garage. I plan on taking off the drum tomorrow and taking a pic for you all to tell me what in the world is misaligned!! Shoot, for all I know I could have the wrong shoes in there................

 

[healeyboz]

Okay, I couldn't wait. Look what I found!! The bottom spring must of popped off and got caught on something!! How in the world are these supposed to hook up? I thought I had it right. Obviously not.

 

[bugimike]

How did that spring get like that?...Wow! That is really stretched!

 

[healeyboz]

I know. The only thing I can think of is that it popped off because I didn't have it on correctly and it caught hold of something.

 

[Bugeye58]

Hate to tell you this, but the top spring is incorrectly installed, too. The hooks come through from the back of the shoe, not the way they are now. Same for the bottom spring. If you put them in from the outside, they can snag. But, I guess you know that.
Jeff

 

[healeyboz]

HA HA!! Thanks Jeff.

Do I at least have the correct shoes? Is the top spring coming in through the correct holes? Which holes do the bottom spring attach through?

 

[Bugeye58]

Yes, the shoes look fine, and the top springs are in the right holes, just installed from the wrong side.
The bottom spring attach holes are self evident when you have the shoes installed, as they are the only two holes that are spaced correctly. I don't know if I have a rear brake setup that I can take a picture of, but if I do, I'll snap a shot for reference. The rear wheels are off the racer right now, so I'll try to take a picture tomorrow.
Jeff

 

[healeyboz]

Thanks Jeff. I will look for the pic and print it off to help get this aligned correctly.

 

[jlaird]

I don't see those center spring keeper things. you know the ones that are a pain to get on and off.

 

[racingenglishcars]

This comes from the Vizard "Modify your Mini" book. The springs are the same as on the sprite. What it doesn't show is the holes in the shoes. But I think you got that correct.

 

[healeyboz]

I got the Vizard's "Tuning the A Series" book earlier this week. In all of the books that I have on Sprite, there aren't any pictures for how the rear brakes are supposed to be. There are exploded views but I can't figure out how the springs actually align.

Jack,
Are you talking about keeper springs? I only have two springs per side. The top and the bottom. I thought it was strange that there weren't keepers in there????? There aren't even holes in the backing plates for them.

Oh yeah, I am running the later Sprite brakes in the rear. Not BE!

 

[racingenglishcars]

Your rear brakes should be like the one on the left above. Except that it is turned with the cylinder at the top. the springs mount on the inside side of the shoes, therefore providing a little force pulling the shoes into the backing plate. Keeper springs are therefore not necessary.

 

[healeyboz]

Thanks for the info. Is there supposed to be a picture embedded somewhere?

 

[Bugeye58]

HB, these aren't very good shots, as the double bearing hub gets in the way.
Jeff

 

[bugimike]

racingenglishcars, for some reason, and I have noticed this before, your pictures are not attatching correctly! there is nothing on your post that we can open at this end!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[healeyboz]

Thanks Mike. I thought it was me!

 

[healeyboz]

My shoes don't have the holes that you are hooking the bottom spring to Jeff. I have the other side in place because the lower spring is still ok. I know that one of the shoes is "upside down" but it all looks really good. The drum fits on snug, but it does fit. All seems as if it should be. Thoughts?

 

[Bugeye58]

In your first picture, brakes004, the shoe on the right is upside down. The lower spring attaches in the little oval slot on that shoe.
I forgot that I had to drill that hole for my lower spring to clear the hub.
Jeff

 

[healeyboz]

I turned the one around in the front and got them to fit. I'm sure that the driver's side is exactly the opposite?

 

[Bugeye58]

Should be a mirror image.
Jeff