Re: TA/TB Master Cylinders & Oilers

[Skip Burns]

TA Terry may be correct when he states that dual Master Brake Cylinders
were used on TA trials cars. However, responding to Ray McCary's
question, I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that he was talking about a pro-
duction car. Who wants to mimic a TA trials car with dual M/Cs? I'm
sure trials cars had many mods...no fenders, blowers, etc.,...but most
of these never made it into procuction cars. Therefore, my position
remains the same; to wit, no PRODUCTION TA/TB cars had dual Master
Cylinders. Knowing the strictures of "never say never," I stand ready
to be corrected on this.

Regarding oilers, I recently rebuilt the entire oiler system on my TB.
The bracket that holds the oiler nipples is welded to the leading edge
of the firewall; i.e., there are no wood screws. For the life of me, I
can't imagine what wood (there is none)the screws would go into. The top
weld is about 3/4" long with a spot weld located on the lower trailing
edge of the bracket where it touches the firewall. Atop each of the
brackets is a brass plate with lettering that identifies each of the
nipples: one for the front trunnion, the rear trunnion and the brake
cables. In the latter instance, the brass tubing leads to a connection
located along side the frame about half-way between the beginning and
end of the cable housing. Now to oil. The manual and other members
have
cautioned that only oil is to be used in the oiling system. Again,
with apologies to my good friend Terry--rubbish. Grease technology has
advanced by leaps and bounds since 1939 when the use of grease was
forbidden, mainly because it hardened. I use Sta-Lube extreme pressure
moly-grease which has low viscosity, provides better lubrication than
oil, and doesn't harden. It flows almost like oil and the trunnions/
brake cables love it. BTW, for those thinking of rebuilding their
system, the brass tubing can be purchased from any tubing outlet, but
the US-made compression rings require some grinding in order to fit
the nut that attaches to the nipple.
As before, I stand ready to receive the counter opinions of those who
maintain that oil is the only lubrication for the TA/TB oiler system.
Cheers, Skip (TB 0304)

[VSavelli@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/30/99 6:38:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,
aristarcus@aol.com writes:

The central chasis lubrication system on my TB is exactly as Skip describes.
I have read that decades ago the grease that was used hardened in the brass
lines causing clogged lines and lubrication starved trunnions and cables.
Modern grease does not harden. When I restored my TB the brass lines were
clogged solidly with hardened grease. After attempts to heat the brass and
melt the grease proved inefficient, I replaced all brass lines and fittings.
If you choose the latter, shop around for the brass. Prices for the same
tubing ranged from $38 per 8 foot section all the way down to $8!