Stutz Master Cylinder Help

[shultz]

I have a beautiful 1929 Stutz blackhawk that has brake problems. The linings are good, the master cylinder pumps fluid to all 4 wheels and there is no air in the line yet I have no brakes. It is now assumed that the master itself is bad. Does anyone have any idea how to rebuild these?? Thanks alot.

[mrpushbutton]

This I believe is a Wagner master cylinder, looks like a brick with a fill cap on top, a clevis-rod to mount the pedal linkage up and an output fitting. I rebuilt one of these for a 1928 Franklin a number of years ago. I took everything apart, drew a little sketch of the piston, seals, etc. and got out the Raybestos and Wagner catalog and found a more modern master cylinder kit that would replace all of those innards, taking into account the location of feed and pressure ports in the cylinder bore. Then after selecting and obtaining the new parts sent the master housing to White post restorations to have it sleeved and honed to the ideal I.D. for the new kit. Put everything together and it worked just great.

[Ivan Saxton]

It is actually Lockheed. Cliff Rees, who had a stutz and drove 20's Chrysler to work in melbourne in the 1960's; am\nd who worked for a motor parts house said that there were common hydraulic brake parts. Sleeving is economical and lots of people do it here with stainless. It is simple to do, but it doesn't even pay me to do my own. This may not be the cause of your problem, though. If you look at the front brakes you will see that the brake cylinder is on top, with axis horizontal and the bleeder on top. For some inexplicable reason, on the back axle the cylinders are at the rear with axis vertical and the bleeder anything but on top. Poeple often had difficulty getting all the air out at the back, but if you compressed the pistons together you could give youself a chance. The best solution is to turn the backing plate 90 degrees so the cylinder and bleeder are on top. Then it is best to make and fit new tubes from Bundy tube.

Ivan Saxton

[shultz]

Thanks alot Ivan for your thoughts, I got several idea's and this weekend we will begin our attack! Take care. Scott S.

[shultz]

And thank you John! It is breaking my heart to see the "lady" sitting idle while she wants to run and be appreciated by all. Have a great day. Scott S.