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MG MGF Technical - Hydragas Pumping in Scotland

Anyone know a good place where I can get my suspension pumped up a bit in the Central Scotland area ?
D Jamieson

Hmmm. Was thinking about this recently (when considering fitting lowering knuckles). David C originally suggested this way back at CSMGF's first meeting.

From Mike's web site:

HYDRAGAS PUMP

Manufactured by Liquid Levers we can supply this pump for the DIY enthusiast or club at £250.00 inclusive of vat add £10.00 for UK delivery.As used in our workshop

We could club together and buy one between us all. I'd certainly be willing to chuck a few quid at it (esp since MGR charge £60 for doing it)? David, check with MGR on how much it'll cost to get done by them. If any of the (non-TF owning) CSMGF'ers fancy chipping in, stick your name on here (or send an e-mail)

Cheers,

Leigh
Leigh Reid

Good Idea Leigh. I wont go to the trouble of asking MGR on a price. I was speaking to D Clelland on this matter yesterday and I was saying that I want to go to a place where I can watch it being done and tell them to stop if I feel its too high for my preferance. Ive heard of people getting their cars pumped up and when they collect the car its that high that a small family had taken residence in the wheel arches with enough space under the car to park their caravan in relative safety.

Im all for chipping in too. Anyomre CSMGF folk willing to do likewise???
D Jamieson

Not sure what to use for the fluid though?!

Leigh
Leigh Reid

Maybe a certain Mr Satur can advise ?....................
D Jamieson

I'm game. If I recall though the fluid should not be stored for long periods in a metal container.
David Clelland

you can buy the fluid from Rover or cheaper from motor factors.....
David

OK,

Looks like at the moment, 3 people are interested. That's still expensive between the 3 of us. We'll see if anyone else is interested after the easter holidays.

David, so I take it we just ask for hydragas suspension fluid?

Leigh
Leigh Reid

This may help. As the closer Hydra pump is 1100 km away from home I bought a hydraulic manual pump -they are used for hydraulic expanders (jacks) in construction-.It comes with an attached 500ml tank, a 1,5 mts high pressure hose, and a pressure gauge which end in a spheric valve. They are capable of pressure of 300 bars. I have only had to attach a tyre pressure connector for the hydra valves and was very easy to use -even for me!-. The whole set cost me at about 150 USD.
With all good wishes.
Mike

JM VEGA-P. MD, FCPS, CCPM
jmvegap@sinectis.com.ar
JM Vega-P.

JM,
that sounds a great other solution :)
I'd be pleased putting a picture of yours on my site.
http://www.mgfcar.de/pump/index.htm

http://www.mgfcar.de/pump/fitting.htm
Some of us (Don and me) made DIY pumps after a description of Carl from Sweden. Modified hydraulic car jack with tyre hose, 3-way valve and acetylen pressure gauge.
I recently upgraded the connection (tyre hose) with a original part from a UK supplier (MS, who else *g). Huge improvement, would recommend.
The vaccum pump is nearly as easy. Double acting pressed air cylinder does.
http://www.mgfcar.de/pump/scuction.jpg

Do you mix fluid yourself ?

Cheers
Dieter
Dieter K.

Dieter,

Interesting idea about the vaccum pump. I'd be looking to use a hydragas pump to fit lowering knuckles, so would require the vaccum option. Alternative is to get Mike to do it for me, though he's a bit far to go for such a small job.

Leigh
Leigh Reid

>.... to fit lowering knuckles, so would require the vaccum option.

For this easy works you need not *evacuate*.
Drain the fluid only and pump back in right manner.
Evacuation is required only in failure case and if a hydragas unit gets changed.

:o)
Dieter
Dieter K.

<<Good Idea Leigh. I wont go to the trouble of asking MGR on a price. I was speaking to D Clelland on this matter yesterday and I was saying that I want to go to a place where I can watch it being done and tell them to stop if I feel its too high for my preferance. Ive heard of people getting their cars pumped up and when they collect the car its that high that a small family had taken residence in the wheel arches with enough space under the car to park their caravan in relative safety.>>

Dave,

MG Rover will rob you of £50 for the pleasure of them fecking up your ride height.

I had a head to head with McHargs, and wouldn't accept receipt of my car, until the had set it to the ride height I had specified.

They tried to give me the its within Rover standards etc, but you are paying them to do a job, don't leave until you are happy.

I'll also chip in for a hydragas pump, if we get enough people interested.

paul weatherill

OK, so that's 4. (wonder if we could get this on Letsbuyit)? I'd prefer to get it at about/under £50 ideally, so we're looking for a 'fifth man'!

As for storage, I don't have a garage, however I'm sure DC might be able to find a semi-permanent home for it in his garage?

Leigh
Leigh Reid

Keep asking Leigh and yes I've got space for it.
David Clelland

Dieter,
I will be very happy to send you a photo of my pump. I did read your detailled instructions to build the pump but my mechanical skills are very limited. I am a paediatric urologic surgeon, so quite useless with machinery.
About the fluid. Rover would not have it and have to order a 5 litres can. So, quite worried indeed, I prepared the mix myself following Don Lyang´s instructions. So far Don´s recipe seems to work very well.
Best wishes
Mike
JM Vega-P.

Mike,
thank you for the picture and special for confirmation that the chinese mix does the job.
http://www.mgfcar.de/pump/Mvc_901f.jpg
I'll forward to both, Carl and Don.

btw, your pump looks much more professional then ours or the original.
Please take care it doesn't rust away inside. I'd suggest to flush with spirit and fill with thin oil before storage. For the next use flush again with spirit and re-fill with fluid.

:o)
Cheers
Dieter
PS. I wonder how many other different silly pumps exist worldwide ;)
Dieter K.

Quite a lot of "independant" workshops have hydragas pumps - find one that is equiped to work on Metro/Maxi/.....

My "local" workshop even has one and were very cooperative about setting the height - and I think it cost me a tenner.

Neil.
Neil.

Bumpity-bump-bump. Ctish!
Leigh

Some bad news on this item, we are out of stock at the moment and have been advised that there will be a price increase.(Although the recommended price is about £350 IIRC)
When fitting the knuckles etc. we always use the vaccumn facility as the main cause of problems is air in the system.
Mike
mike

Bah. Ah well. Not got enough takers at the moment anyway. As I said, main reason I wanted one was 'cos of the vaccum facilty when fitting lowering knuckles (from the Car Mechanics I borrowed when visiting you Mike, job seemed straightforward if time taken over the various parts).

If we'd got 5 people I was going to order it at £250. Unfortunately only made it to 4 (Me, Paul, Dave J and DC). Never know though, more people might be interested at some point in the future.
Leigh

>When fitting the knuckles etc. we always use the vaccumn facility as the main cause of problems is air in the system

Yes, of course. Mine had air inside as well 'from factory'. Not sure whether the 'snoring' flow-noise while bouncing the front is an indication for 'air bubbles inside'.
I pumped already some DE friends cars and always evacuated at first when I heard this noise.
btw evacuating with our crazy non professional air cylinder is an *rse ;)

@ Mike, many thanks again for your special help and supply of the connector in last year. It's a pleasure now. :))))
http://www.mgfcar.de/pump/Dsc00346.jpg
Found the bleed Philips head screw very useful with the DIY pump as well.

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K.

This thread was discussed between 18/04/2003 and 26/04/2003

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