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Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 3:45 PM
Subject: Hello from a BMC 1100 owner with a Hydrolastic question
Hello Dr. Moulton,
My name is Todd Miller and I live in California
USA. I have owned an Austin America (a 2dr Mk ll 1300) since 1983. I currently own and operate the Austin
America Website & Official Austin America Register. In order to preserve the remaining Austin Americas, and
provide support for their owners, I have endeavored to make a few of the parts that have become unavailable. Minor bits
so far, but every little thing helps.
That brings me to the point of writing. Myself and others here in the
USA and the UK are extremely interested in reproducing your Hydrolastic Displacers for our cars. I am wondering
if you would be able to help us in any way? Do you know where the original tooling might still be? Or, do
you know where any of the other equipment, etc. might be that was used to make them?
It would be wonderful to hear
back from you. We love our cars and fear the day when the displacers fail as they are truely the soul of the car's ride
and personality.
Kindest Regards,
Todd Miller
| Subj: |
Re: Hello from a BMC 1100 owner with a Hydrolastic question |
| Date: |
1/6/2003 8:45:24 AM Pacific Standard Time |
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Dear Todd Miller
I am very conscious of your predicament and am aware of the situation in the UK.
As you know, due to the typical folly of corporations the tools for this highly tooled Hydrolastic unit have been destroyed.
Therefore the first thing to know is (1) what is the failure most often experienced.
I suspect it may be the hose and its connection. (2) What sort of numbers of Austin America or MG Sedan to you think
are in service in your country? (3) The fundamental long life and durability of the rubber spring elements and the reinforced
diaphragm are very long and not essentially time sensitive.
Please respond and I will try and re-act in a positive way.
Alex Moulton
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2003 11:56 PM
Subject: Re: Hello from a BMC 1100 owner with a Hydrolastic question
Dear Dr. Moulton,
Happy New Year and thank you for responding
to my inquiry. I have to say that I am truely honored to hear from you. I know it may seem trite, but your suspension
system is the heart of our cars and we absolutely love that uniqueness, not only for it's actual design, and the ride characteristics,
but also because it sets the cars apart from anything else.
I am not surprised that the tooling has been destroyed
and I appreciate your interest in our predicament. Since emailing you and talking to your Nephew Sean, I've thought
more about this issue.
After studying both cutaway technical drawings and photos of actual cutaway displacer units,
I've been wondering if it wouldn't be possible to create a tool that would un-crimp the top and bottom halves of the Displacer
Unit. Then, whatever damaged component could be repaired.
The most common failure seems to be in the flexible
hydaulic lines. However, a member of our 1100/1300 email group, who's in Greece, has devised a way to repair the failed
flexible hydaulic hoses. He cut the fitting off of the top of the rubber Displacer, then re-threaded the remaining metal
collar that's bonded into the rubber. To this, he threaded in a fitting which had a new hydraulic hose attached by a
hydraulic hose making shop. He has done both of his front Displacers in this manner and has gotten several years of
service from them without a failure.
A second failure seems to be in the little rubber flapper valves inside the displacer.
These appear to deteriote and crumble away, although it seems very rare.
A third failure is when the actual
rubber diaphram in the bottom of the Displacer fails. Although rare, this seems to be the second most common type of
failure.
I'm sorry, but I don't know how many MG 1100's and Austin America's are left in the USA. My guess would
be that possibly 100 are still on the road and being driven regularly. While there might be another 100 sitting in peoples
barns, sheds, and shops, etc. The numbers are very low.
So, is the market there for building tooling to remake
the Displacers? No, I don't think so, even world wide probably not. Is the market there to come up with a way
to rebuild the Displacer Units? Yes, I think there is, especially if a way could be devised to undo the top and bottom
halves and then crimp them back together again.
I look forward to hearing from you and I appreciate your time and
willingness to help us.
Kindest Regards,
Todd Miller
| Subj: |
Re: Hello from a BMC 1100 owner with a Hydrolastic question |
| Date: |
1/15/2003 8:58:16 AM Pacific Standard Time |
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Dear Todd Miller
Thank you for your E-mail dated 10th January and your very
kind remarks about the Hydrolastic system. I am most concerned to help as best I can to ensure the continuity of the
serviceability of our suspension units, primarily in the Hydrolastic cars.
You very well define the areas of possible trouble and I am
gathering together information on what is available by enterprising owners in the way of repair, including cannibalising.
We ourselves will consider the various methods which exist starting with the hose replacement. There is certainly a
capability existing in UK and I will get information on this to compare with your "Greece" member.
We shall do experiments to determine the best method
of surgery to open up the units and closing them thereafter.
As a general principle, all Hydrolastic Units should be conserved
as a future source for cannibalising when we have established the best method of surgery.
By the way, a member of the 1800 Club was most helpful.
Tony Woods of Blackpool has put me in touch with the UK Hose fixer who tells me that his own car, a 1965 1800 has done 250,000
miles with units having given no trouble at all.
In closing, I would say that we are working on further developments
of our interconnected principle which is fundamentally sound and capable of interesting further advantages. Hence you
can understand my appreciation of you enthusiasts for maintaining the original installations in service.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Moulton
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