Fly-off handbrake

[LanceNZ]

Can anyone tell me what years a fly-off handbrake was fitted to the Minors? The 1970 traveller I am restoring has a push-button fly-off type(which I personally love and will no doubt confuse the hell out of our WOF [MOT] inspectors), but I am suspicious that a conventional push-button handbrake would have been used by then.
Many thanks,
Lance

[philthehill]

Lance
Apologies in advance for the descriptions below but just need to get clear as to what you have fitted.
A fly-off hand brake is a handbrake where you have to press the button to activate the brake lever pawl to engage with the ratchet that holds the handbrake lever on after you have pulled up the lever.
With the conventional Minor handbrake you have to press the button to disengage the brake lever pawl from the ratchet to allow you to release the handbrake. Applying the handbrake lever automatically engages the ratchet with the pawl.
Fly-off handbrakes were never fitted as standard to Morris Minors.
If you have the fly-off type as described above someone has modified the handbrake to let it be the fly-off type. The modification was a typical 1960/70s modification especially in rally & competition circles.
I have a fly-off handbrake fitted to my competition Minor.
Phil

[bmcecosse]

And indeed I converted my rally Minor (and later my track Mini) to fly-off handbrake. While very good for hand-brake turns, I suggest it's perhaps not ideal for securing the car on a hill - being quite easily knocked off. So you should always park in gear, and with wheels turned to the kerb....

[LanceNZ]

Thanks guys,
it definately is a push-button fly-off type so must have been modified. Thanks for the advice.
I have my afternoon sorted now as I parked the Traveller outside this morning, went to back it into the garage and the bloody thing is stuck in gear! Its always the way - the one part I didn't strip and rebuild as I was assured it had been done!

[philthehill]

Lance
To clarify:-
If you have to push a button to release it is a standard Minor brake lever.
With the fly-off brake lever you just lift the lever and let go - no button pushing.
Phil

[LanceNZ]

Thats right Phil, it is a fly-off. You have to lift AND push the button to lock - to release the handbrake, you just lift and let go.
Perfect for a Rally MK1 Escort!

[mike.perry]

I have a flyoff kit which I intend fitting to my Traveller. I was hoping to fit one to the MM as the handbrake is easily knocked off if you lean on the release lever. Unfortunately the pawl is a different design so the kit will not work - unless anyone knows different.
I believe that flyoff handbrakes are still fitted to Morgans

[philthehill]

Mike
The function of fly off hand brake is obtained by changing over the pivot points of the pawl and application rod.
Looking at the MOSS spares list even though the pawl is different I would suggest that you could utilise the existing pawl by changing over the application rod and pawl pivots.
May be a bit of work but I do not think that there will be any great difficulties to overcome as the function of the application rod is similar.

[bmcecosse]

As I remember (and it was many many moons ago) I was sent a new pawl of different shape, and a new operating rod. But I dare say the existing parts can probably be modified. Makes me think - I have a spare handbrake somewhere.....I'll add it to my v long 'to do' list..... Now that the steam engine season is over, I may have a bit more time to spend on cars!

[mike.perry]

I think that I have a spare push button handbrake somewhere in the garage which I can fit the flyoff kit to. Trouble is I can't find anything since I moved

[mike.perry]

I have at last found my spare handbrake and have removed the pawl. I have a selection of pawls to choose from but which is the correct one for the M1000 handbrake? The replacement pawls are also too big to fit down the handbrake tube unless I remove the lever from the floor mounting

[philthehill]

Mike
I have just removed the pawl and operating rod from the Minor 1000 handbrake tube by removing the pawl pivot pin and pulling the pawl and rod assy up the tube; so it can be removed/fitted without removing the handbrake lever for access.
As you pull the pawl and rod up the tube twist it to pass the two nips/indentations in the side of the handbrake tube.
The pawl Pt No: ACA5356 is the same for handbrake lever Pt No: ACA5333 (948cc) & Pt No: ACA8153 (1098cc).
The earlier handbrake pawl Pt No: (MOSS) 311-520 is totally different and the rod clasps the outside of the pawl whereas pawl ACA5356 has a slot in its top for the operating rod to fit into which is secured by a rivet.

[bmcecosse]

But none of these are 'fly off' pawls......

[philthehill]

bmc
Correct!
The assumption is that Mike is fitting a fly-off handbrake pawl which may be correct but is not directly stated.
What he does state is that he has a selection of pawls and asks which is the right one for the Minor handbrake so my answer/post above.
If that is the case and because the pivot point of the fly-off pawl changes - then yes Mike will have to remove the handbrake lever which is what I had to do when I fitted the fly-off pawl to my Minor handbrake.

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... ic/fly-off handbrake kit.aspx|Back to search

It may be listed as Mini but is the same fly-off kit as used for the Minor handbrake.

[bmcecosse]

Good link! It does look quite like the one I fitted all these (50....) years ago to my Rally Minor, It would be interesting to know though if it is possible to modify an existing pawl to use as fly-off.

[philthehill]

bmc
When I had the Minor handbrake in pieces I did have a look to see if the existing pawl could be modified and yes it can but it does not leave a lot of metal once done. I suspect that is why the pawl in the Mini Spares kit is a little bit chunkier.
It may be easier to make up a new pawl as it is not to difficult a task.
If I remember correctly in Clive Trickey's Car and Car Conversion manual Mini Tuning/More Mini Tuning it shows how it can be done. If I can locate my copies and it is featured I will post on here.
Phil

[bmcecosse]

I too should have some of the fabulous and long lamented Trickey's books... somewhere.... Problem with making own would be the hardening of the pawl tip. Not impossible of course but would need to be done correctly to avoid the car running away down a hill into a school playground.........

[philthehill]

Whilst not Minor is BMC so may be of interest as the principles are the same.

http://sebringsprite.com/pdf-files/FlyOffHandbrake.pdf

also

http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/in ... ts_id=3774

There is plenty of info on the web relating to fly-off handbrakes on BMC/BL cars.

[mike.perry]

I have stripped the handbrake and have a choice of pawls which can be attached to the rod by wiggling the rivet into position through the open section under the lever. I have photographed the pawls, I just have to find out where this wonderful Windows 8 operating system has stored it.

[mike.perry]

[frame][/frame]
The first pawl is the original, the second is another and the third and forth are the same item in different directions.
The Mini one shown is the same as the third and forth but does not show which way to fit it