The future of Hydrolastic suspension

[iain1967s]

the vac side of both my hydro pumps is knackered

You can use one of these to re-seal the vacuum piston on the original Churchill pump. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160403613048

[mk1]

Thanks for the heads, up, I'll try one & see how it goes.

M

[winabbey]

Just noticed a post on the Google Austin1800 Group page regarding the re-manufacturing of displacers. Is there a focal point on here involved in the development who could comment further?

I have just received an update on the remanufacture of the hydrolastic units. First the good news it appears that all of the original Dunlop documentation has now been found and good progress has been made with the development of the units by a "large automotive organisation" which is partnering the sponsoring company and I was told is very enthusiastic.

However, because of Brexit the R&D budget has temporarily, we hope, been reduced which inevitably means delays. As indicated earlier it is likely that the first units to be made available will be for the ADO16 (1100/1300) range which also fit the crab rears.

Next update will be mid year.

David

[Cammsjb]

That's good news.
Will the units have the original type of herringbone pattern pipes?

[mk1]

That is great news re the displacer developments. However, I must wonder about the logic of the commercial entities involved when you think about the numbers you may or may not sell.

Top marks to the 1100 / 1300 guys who seem to have sold them the idea though.

[Peter Laidler]

Here here Mk1Mark.

Good idea but the economics must surely outweigh the realities here. Having said that and having done a lot of practical stuff and physics/volumetric maths relating to the hydro units over the past couple of years, I'd certainly be making a couple of suggestions or modifications to re-manufacture if it were in my gift. Firstly, the now totally rusted out by now internal non-valves would be pressed from tubular brass - along with anything else internal too. And the hose would be threaded on to the unit and therefore invisible to originality fiends.
Rear hose would be standard length/configuration
Front hose type 1 would be in two parts with a schrader/filler valve at the top most point to a) fill the system and b) vent the air. No need thereafter for a hydro cabinet
Front hose type 2 would be the standard rear hose so that the masochists could keep standard and continue to use the cabinet.

Just my thoughts, thinking on my feet as now retired engineers are prone to do!

[Supersonic]

Peter and Winabbey,

The 1100 Club had identified the need for replacement hydrolastic suspension units a good number of years ago. There was wide consultation within the club and 100% agreement that funds should be set aside to cover the research and development and subsequent production costs.

Unlike the Mini / Elf / Hornet the 1100 / 1300 1800 / 2200 don't have the option of dry suspension. I made that clear from the outset that we should as part of this development include the Mini / Riley Elf / Wolseley Hornet and the 1800 / 2200 Austin / Morris / Wolseley cars. I also pointed out that the ADO 16 automatic cars had heavier hydrolastic units as did the Mini, Elf and Hornet automatic cars. I did suggest that we should consider the heavier unit that would suit all. I’m sure the other people involved agreed with my thinking. Other members who were much involved with this project were Derek Bayliss, Chris Morris, Mervyn Irvine and the late David Brett, all from engineering backgrounds and knowledgeable individuals. Dave Wilkins would be able to provide much more updated information on this and can be contacted at magazine-editor@the1100club.com

Alan

[Hipwell]

Fair play, but what is the survival rate of an 11/1300, let alone an 18/2200?

[mk1]

I can't help but think that Hipwell is right.

I just don't see how the figures on this can add up at all.

I know that a certain Mini Spares supplier looked very seriously into doing Mini Hydro units, but the project hit the buffers because they struggled to find the full spec & drawings.

[Supersonic]

I can't help but think that Hipwell is right.

I just don't see how the figures on this can add up at all.

I know that a certain Mini Spares supplier looked very seriously into doing Mini Hydro units, but the project hit the buffers because they struggled to find the full spec & drawings.

I thought the same regards car numbers still around in context with the British Isles. Then think about the Southern Hemisphere, there are still large numbers of Minis and 1100 / 1300 cars that have survived in these dry warm countries.

And again, this project is about ten years down the road which has not helped, given many Minis have now been converted to dry suspenion.

Alan