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hydragas pump!

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:08 pm
by FrankM83
HI all I know this one can be made at home but I'm trying to find something done professionally , if anyone knows of one for sale please let me know Thanks

Re: hydragas pump!

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:35 pm
by Kevin
FrankM83 wrote:HI all I know this one can be made at home but I'm trying to find something done professionally , if anyone knows of one for sale please let me know Thanks
Well I will ask what is it and what's it for.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:46 pm
by FrankM83
well it's basically a pump to pump up hydragas suspensions as in Metros/MGFs and cars like that! :)

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:13 pm
by ASL642
Like they used in the Austin 1100/1300's?

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:21 pm
by FrankM83
yes

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:07 pm
by bmcecosse
No - that was a hydrolastic pump - I think hydragas is different ? Involving gas pressure rather than liquid ??

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:41 pm
by FrankM83
no it's liquid

well my metro is filled with hydrolastic fluid using a hydragas pump

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:47 pm
by Luxobarge
I don't think the Nitrogen in the Hydragas systems is replaceable - unless you cut a hole in the sphere and solder in a schrader valve, that is. On that basis, I believe that a Hydrolastic pump will do the fluid side of a Hydragas system too.

I do very much stand to be corrected, but that's what I remember from a discussion on this subject on another forum - where a member had got one of these pumps, by the way!

:D :D

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:49 pm
by FrankM83
that's exact spot on luxobarge :)

is it for sale? :)

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:50 pm
by Luxobarge
FrankM83 wrote:
is it for sale? :)
Dunno, I doubt it - give me a while and I'll try and find the thread.

Cheers :D

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:07 pm
by Luxobarge
You can buy them new here:

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx? ... ION%20PUMP

Not cheap though!

Don't know if they'd ship to Malta - give them a ring?

Cheers :D

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:13 pm
by FrankM83
yes I know that's y im trying to find a 2nd hand one!! I found a new one on ebay which was cheaper then that but quoted 100 pounds shipping! :(

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:35 pm
by bmcecosse
Ahh - so hydro gas is really just good old hydrolastic - with a bit of gas trapped in the springs instead of solid rubber ? Many used to just make their own - all you need is an Enerpac jack cylinder - and use antifreeze (maybe not necessary in Malta! ) instead of hydraulic oil.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:43 pm
by Kevin
bmcecosse wrote:Many used to just make their own - all you need is an Enerpac jack cylinder - and use antifreeze (maybe not necessary in Malta! ) instead of hydraulic oil.
Hmm antifreeze instead of hydraulic oil that doesn't sound good engineering.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:14 pm
by ASL642
As I said as used on my Austin 1300. I used to have to go and get it "pumped up", but in those days the garage had the equipment. Didn't know you could get it in pumps! And no not good engineering Kevin as the wretched thing kept going down! :(

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:24 pm
by bmcecosse
Maybe not good engineering - but it is what's in a hydrolastic system!
HYDRO after all - means water!!

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:33 pm
by ASL642
Yes - I know especially when it sprang a leak on the way to work! :D

Seriously though I just googled a suspension pump and the guy says "Make him an offer" Worth a try. Is anyone going to Malta on holiday and could take it with them? Worth a try surely?

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:25 pm
by linearaudio
Frank-what do you have against making one yourself? Mine was simple, an old clutch cylinder mounted on a 2 ft long 3x2 framework with another long bit as the hand operated lever. I was amazed that a/ it worked! and b/ it took very little to pump up the suspension. The bit to screw on the schraeder valve was the only part I had to source from a hydraulics supplier. Only problem was the eventual corrosive effect of the water mix, but this afflicts some of the "professional" ones also!

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:51 pm
by bmcecosse
Ahh - even easier than the Enerpac pump then - well done !

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:11 pm
by FrankM83
well the problem with the grease gun was that I couldn't find connection to connect the low loss connector valve to the grease gun pipe as these were both male threads (not sure if that's what you call them)