Humber FV1600

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Hi Stephen,
Ahhh Land Rover Brakes, that would be one of those oxymorons. Got used to the SII only having brakes on the second push.....
In this case the brake fluid looked like runny brown custard, with large amounts of crud in the cylinders.
The single hydraulic piston sits in a vertical position which helps contamination and crud cement it in place.
Although all four cylinder pistons went from frozen closed, to jammed open with a desperate kick, we were unable to move a single piston hydraulically in the workshop next day. That and the aching thigh muscles showed how heavy my emergency braking had been.
Interesting too is the design that sees the single piston in a "blind" cylinder. Can't knock out through the other end, near impossible to pull out unless the cylinder is in good working condition.
The handbrake system runs a cable to each of these wheel cylinders, but as it actuates the same piston, was also out of action.
thanks for the comments
Rich

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

The single hydraulic piston sits in a vertical position which helps contamination and crud cement it in place.

Interesting too is the design that sees the single piston in a "blind" cylinder. Can't knock out through the other end, near impossible to pull out unless the cylider is in good working condition.

Rich,

These are the same wheel cylinders as a Ferret. They are alloy and hence why corrosion can take place, especially if the gasket between backplate and cylinder is not in place or damaged, then water can easily enter. as with all brake systems, if neglected and not checked they can suffer. Once you have the cylinders off the vehicles, clean up the bore that is visible then drop them in a pot of boiling water, for a few minutes, take out, holding it with a leather glove and thump the open end down on a block of wood. This usually frees them, might take several goes at heating and thumping. You could also rig an airline on the pipe connection, but stuff a rag in the open end to save injury.

[lynx42]

This is great info. I've got the same problem, no brakes. So I'm learning without doing anything. I'll look at mine in a month or so.

A funny little aside,
When I went to look at mine before buying it, I was told that it ran like a swiss watch. As smooth as anything. Well.. we started it and it had a bad, bad knock. This knock increased with the increase in engine revs. The owner couldn't beleive it, he said the usual, "Never heard that before" I took that a a sales pitch. Anyway I negotiated down quite a bit as it sounded like a full engine rebuild was needed.
I had the Humber/Commer backloaded to my place on a tiltbed tray truck. After it was unloaded I started it and there was no sign of any knock. It ran as sweet as anything. This was a worry as an intermittant knock is worse than a constant knock.

With the engine at idle I checked out the other controls and all but the brakes worked ok. Then I engaged the tyre pump compressor and low and behold there was that knock again. the tyre pump clattering away. Faster with more revs and slower without. Just like up on that NSW farm.

So who was a luck boy then??

Still the brakes and gaiters are next.
Regards Rick

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Richard F.
Wondered about those special gaskets between the cylinder and backplate, disintegrated when the cylinder was removed, any idea what they were made of originally?
We tried a hot air gun to heat and expand the cylinder, but with little effect, had not thought of boiliing water, but sounds like it will be worthwhile.... of course having the hand brake cable attached the whole time is a little restricting. Did find that part of the trick is to keep the piston perfectly straight in the bore, once it gets cockeyed it jams, and the further it is out, the harder it is to keep true.
Anymore tips??

Rick.
Bob Moseley has some pics of the cylinder if you want to see what you are in for.
Have you tried Rus. Altman at Stawell for hood bows? He has a couple of Humbers amongst all his Champ bits. Could be a good spot to start for the gaiters, I assume yours are hanging of in bits like mine. He does make the ones for Champs, but these are smaller, and you need twice as many. The Bandiana Humber, that Russell did up has, gaiters made out of canvas, this maybe because:
You can put them on without removing the entire wheel station, or
As a museum peice will not move much, or
Impossible to get the proper ones.

Just thinking, ripstop canvas with a velcro seam???? Easy to put on/replace and I would imagine a lot cheaper...
Or would these be the same as Ferret gaiters?
Just remember that we need two sets!
Woner if your Humber was the one that Mike Kelly mentioned...
Rich.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Rich - Ada appreciates your comments but says SSHHHH!!, keep it quiet otherwise everybody will want some.

To say it was an "interesting drive" is an understatement. I was only a pilot vehicle and I was "packing it".

I have attached two images of this convoluted brake system. The first one depicts the complete cylinder whilst the second one depicts the cylinder with the brake actuating levers and piston removed. The other interesting thing was that the brake shoe can simply be removed by pulling it out as it is only attached by a spring plate for want of a better description. However you can have this system on your own.

BTW, canopy stowed away secure as are all the stores. Just need to get a good cover to protect that fine paintwork.

Bob

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Richard F.
Wondered about those special gaskets between the cylinder and backplate, disintegrated when the cylinder was removed, any idea what they were made of originally?

.... of course having the hand brake cable attached the whole time is a little restricting. Did find that part of the trick is to keep the piston perfectly straight in the bore, once it gets cockeyed it jams,

Anymore tips??

Rich,

Will PM you.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Hi Bob,
just in time with those pics, nearly ready to see the cylinders again. Thanks for packing everything away, still that Humber will be a good conversation starter at any BBQ's.
All the best to the three of you for the new year.
Rich

[Humber-One-Ton Tom]

Hi - first off, congratulations Richard on your fantastic truck, looks really tidy. Sorry to hear you injured yourself, though.

But here's a funny thing. Sitting down to Christmas dinner, pulled a cracker, a small plastic truck fell out. "At least it's got wheels", I thought, better than a yo-yo or whatever. "Actually, looks a bit like a Humber....BLIMEY! it IS a Humber!"- There is no mistake, with the two hatches, the spare wheel hatch on the left, the ridged bonnet, split screens...no two ways about it, this is a Humber GS truck...

You will see it is tiny, photographed with a penny (for you guys in Oz, a penny is pretty small, 20mm accross and 1.8mm thick -Thanks to photographer Simon Marriot - not an easy thing to capture!)

So how is a truck produced in such low numbers 56 years ago getting into a cheap Xmas cracker made in China? My guess is that this is a scaled-down copy of the Dinky Toys Humber - Once I found a low-grade miniature copy of the Dinky austin K9 water carrier so this appears was common practice in Chinese toy factories.

The truck is in packs of Sainsburys foil crackers - now reduced to 62p per pack, picture of gifts on back of the box so you can be sure...I bought a few packs so if anyone is desperate for one of these for their collection I will send a couple out for free to folks if you want one. It will never be a valuable collectors piece but is an interesting curiosity and part of the story - how the Dinky toy of a prototype vehicle with one-piece hatches (LYN 69?) spawned more toy trucks than real ones....as I speak there are more of these toys in circulation than real trucks ever produced, but most will be in the bin by the weekend!
Check out photos.
Happy New Year!
Tom
Portsmouth
UK