The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Brake and Clutch Questions

I just got home with my new truck. It's a 63 C60 Fire truck. It has a dual master cylinder set up with one side for the clutch and one side for the brakes. Neither of which work properly. I pulled the master cylinder off and it looks to me like the pistons are stuck all the way in. They're about an inch in from the snap ring that keeps them from coming out. I was wanting to either rebuild this one or know where I can get a replacement. Any help would be appreciated.

Have you tried Napa or Flaps as called by many? I am sure they can fix you up with either a kit or a rebuilt one. Or a brake supply house the ones that reline shoes and such should be able to help also.

I looked at the online Napa store and didn't find anything. I will try the store in town tomorrow to see if they have anything listed.

A friend of mine just had one of those stainless steel sleeved, as it was cheaper than he could get a new unit for. He still runs several of those trucks, so knows who has parts and where to to get the best deal. This time it was cheaper to have them sleeved, although lately when he has a hydraulic brake or clutch cylinder fail he just sends it out for sleeving, then he won't have to deal with again it for a long time.

If you ever can't get new cylinders, or just want some to last forever, have the old ones stainless steel sleeved. DON'T mess with brass sleeves.

The guy to have stainless sleeve your cylinders is:
Mark "the machinist" Frappier
82 Mountianview St.
Agawam, MA 01001
413-789-4588, or 800-528-5235

You send him your bare, stripped, clean cylinders, and he sends them back with a perfect looking stainless insert.
You will still need to go to NAPA and get rebuild kits, or perhaps Jim Carter sells kits?

Grigg

I just got one from Oreillys about 2 months ago. They had to order it but had it in a couple of days. Shouldnt be a problem for any parts store but you might have to find somebody to look in a book to find the part number.

Napa part numbers. Clutch kit 254. Brake kit with 1 1/4 dia. cyl. 261. With 1 1/8th dia. 253. Complete cyl. with 1 1/4 dia. brake 19089. With 1 1/8 dia. 34404.

Adam,

Not sure if you've already said: What make of Fire Engine? Pump? Tank size?

I'm a fire engine nut first, stovebolt nut second.

-Michael

I don't know a whole lot about it yet. It is a 63 chevy C60 with some sort of centrifugal pump mounted in front of the engine. I think the tank is about 500 gal.

Adam,

Let me know if you need any help about the pump. In order of likelihood, it's either a Barton, Champion, or Waterous. If the truck is made by the American Fire Apparatus Co. of Battle Creek, MI, then it's definitely a Barton (their in-house brand). They usually put a builder's plate on the cab floor or doorway, driver's side. Regardless, it's almost definitely of 500 gallon-per-minute capacity. Lot's of fun to play with, easy to use. Means your truck can do something most others can't - it can squirt!

Congratulations on your new adventure!

-Michael

I looked today and it is a Barton. It alson has a plate mounted beside the pump that gives a rate and pressure at certain rpms. I was amazed by the 500 gpm at 150 psi it stated to be able to put out, especially with only a 4 in. suction. I've run tank trucks that didn't have that capability.

On topic, I was able to get a new master cylinder at the local parts store. I got the clutch side bled and working properly. Now the brakes were a different story. Never really could get a solid pedal, nor could I find any bleeder screw on what I assume was the booster. It is mounted under the driver side of the cab and has what looks like an air brake chamber mounted to it. Is this the Hydrovac booster that I have read about?

Hy Adam Ogle, yes that sounds like the hydrovac. On the brakes, make sure you adjust the brakes and then bleed them, I'm not sure if the newer hydrovacs have bleed screws or not, hope that helps.

I ordered a new hydrovac unit today, it should be in tomorrow. It looks like the old one was damaged and in pretty poor shape. I am pretty sure I have the dual piston brakes on front and not sure about the rear yet. How do I tell what they are and how do I go about adjusting them?

On a side note, I found the original 1963 Chevrolet Truck owners guide in a plastic envelope along with a 1977 Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Guide. Kinda neat!

Hy Adam Ogle, according to my parts book your truck should have two wheel cylinders at each wheel, fronts are 7/8" bore, rears are 1 1/2" bore, hope that helps.