The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Adding brake fluid on a deco truck?

Gentlemen,

Sounds like a bonehead simple issue, but it has me a little concerned...how do you add brake fluid to the stock master cylinder reservoir on a 1 1/2 ton without slopping brake fluid on nicely restored floor parts? This is the first time I have had the floor together and had to think about this. Was there some type of brake fluid filler used back in the days master cylinders were put in such difficult locations? Do you all have some innovative modern solutions?

Paul

Hy Paul_WNC, I would use a funnel of the appropriate size and design.

Cannot be avoided in my experience. Frustrating fact of life which I have accepted.
Carl

This is the tool they used to use, Kent Moore J-713. This is from the Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual 1948-1951 (see Brakes 5-7).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/15501699957/in/set-72157631868452754

Denny,

That is a piece I wish I had in my collection of stuff! I actively continue to look for one but they are pretty rare. Last one I did engage in a bidding war for went for over $250.

Thanks gentlemen,

You would think that some aftermarket version of the Kent Moore tool would exist. I suppose we are too small of a market to attract product development. I was hoping there would be a filler tool similar to the old time oil buckets that had a trigger to start/stop oil flow.

In reality, it is not common to mess with the brake fluid reservoir once everything is dialed in, but it looks to be an aggravating process.

Maybe this is one of the reasons that original floor pans are so rusty as over the years they have gotten drenched by paint eating brake fluid.

The responses have given me some good innovation ideas though, thanks!

As dumb as it may sound I just pull the floor mat, jute pad and pull the floor. No mess then and I can easily fill the master cylinder without spilling one drop. The 41-46 floors just unbolt too easy.

Phillip,

With my truck, removing the floor is an ordeal. Navigating the (2) PTO levers, (2) transfer case levers, (1) transmission shifter, and (1) parking brake lever to remove the floor is not for the feint of heart.

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3176/medium/2014-09-06_06_13_55.jpg[/img]

Paul

Wouldn't be stock, but a remote reservoir might be a way around the problem.

Dennis

On the remote reservoirs, mounted up on the firewall it will add 2-3 feet of head pressure to the brake system.
That would be translated to residual pressure in the wheel cylinders.

Has anyone used one and found any problems?

Regarding the residual pressure a remote fluid reservoir would create:
Don't worry about it. At a 3ft. head and the density of light hydraulic oil the reisdual pressure would be about 0.2 psi.

Glad the question was asked because I am planning to use one and never thought of that. I was just cocerned with the cover to the MS leaking.

Anybody else remember the oldtime enema/personal hygeine water bags? The soft rubber tubing and pinch-type flow control clamp used with those things would be ideal for dispensing brake fluid in a controlled fashion- - - -just adapt the hose to the brake fluid can with a piece of copper tubing soldered into the top cap from an empty can. Retain the original cap to keep the air-tight seal between uses, or the fluid will draw moisture and ruin.
Jerry

good idea for filling any of our under-the-floor masters Jerry, and easy to find the tubing and flow controller, they're commonly used for siphoning over wine and beer

Bill

This topic seems to have gotten reborn.

Jerry and Bill, those sound like very decent applications. I am not familiar with either though, any links or pictures?

Paul

Paul, simple plastic clamp like this [50¢- $1] slipped on appropriate size clear plastic tubing, squeezing the clamp causes it to lock shut, crimping the tubing to stop the flow, very common in the home brew field

Bill

Ask any of the ladies in your family older than 40- - - -they probably have one stashed away somewhere.

http://witchesbrewpress.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/douchebag1.jpg#douche%20bag

Jerry

Jerry you about made me choke on my lunch. I am thinking I will look for new equipment if I elect to go that route. Never can tell what you may learn on this site.

Bill, thanks. I will check out our homebrew shop.

Paul

That's why my original reply mentioned "personal hygiene"- - - -sort of a diplomatic way of suggesting the hose and shutoff clamp, not the whole thing! I have made use of similar equipment, rubber bag and all, as a battery filler around the shop. The comments from the lady customers were priceless!
Jerry

I cant wait to go to the drugstore, just imagine "personal hygiene assistance needed in aisle 3". I am already laughing now, I don't know if I can contain myself at the store. Always entertaining.

Paul

Just a thought, but since the floor board is floor mat covered anyway, could a larger access hole be cut in the floor board? It hole could be covered with a thin metal plate and held in place with sheet metal screws or if wanted a few nuts and bolts. The nuts could be tack welded to the bottom of the floor board. I imagine something similar to the battery access cover used on 30's and 40'strucks could work too. Seems to me it could be less hassle in the long term than having to carry a douch bag in the old tool box?

With a good brake system, topping off the brake fluid should be an annual event at most. I usually checked fluid at every oil change back when I had an under-floor MC on some of the vehicles I drove in the 1960's, and it was very seldom I had to add any unless a wheel cylinder started leaking.
Jerry

Wow, this topic sure is dancing close to a fine line but Jerry has done a great job keeping it on point, (though I will admit to a few chuckles myself).

Sparky46, I agree with Jerry. Once you have completed the task of filling the MC, the job should be complete. If you have to constantly check the MC for fluid loss, you have another issue that needs to be addressed.

Sweet, 10K+ posts have done a pretty good job of teaching me what the PC Patrol will tolerate, which seems to vary according to who's moderating. I can live with it, I guess!
Jerry

That is true, I'll admit I watched this a little closer to make sure it stayed on task. Thanks for all your good advice Jerry. Having someone with as much experience as you on this site helps to solve many pesky issues.

Has anybody used a flexible necked 'pump' type oil can for this? (Sort of like the tin man used in the wizard of oz). I need to get in there and check mine, and saw the old Moore type, and was hoping to come across one of those, but it looks like that won't be an option. I figure it would take a lot of squirts to fill it, but for just a top off, it seems like it might work with a long necked oil can. ???

Just be sure the pump can is brand new and has NEVER had petroleum-based oil in it, or flush it repeatedly with alcohol before putting brake fluid into it. NEVER, EVER ALLOW PETROLEUM TO GET INTO A BRAKE SYSTEM, EVEN A TINY BIT!

Rant mode off- - - - -even a slight bit of oil in a brake system will contaminate the fluid and damage all the rubber parts. I've actually advised a customer to junk her car rather than go to the expense of rebuilding a brake system after someone put power steering fluid into the master cylinder. The lady's boyfriend was an alcoholic, and he just HAD to get to the liquor store for another bottle. No brake fluid handy, so he used PS fluid! The car wasn't worth the cost of replacing all the rubber parts in the brake system!
Jerry

Let's not forget, neat and clean were not issues 70 years ago. A funnel and a rag is your best bet. A small turkey baster isn't such a bad idea. "You didn't hear it from me." lol

I used a little refillable condiment squeeze bottle with the pointed nozzle to squirt brake fluid into my under floor master.

Something like this:
[img]https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/00...h=612&odnHeight=612&odnBg=ffffff[/img]

The trouble with a turkey baster is brake fluid fumes have deteriorated the rubber squeeze bulb on mike.

Ed