Mr Riggs Hydraulic Clutch Conversion

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The project is not dead in the water just yet guys!

Life has altered inexplicably for me in the last twelve months and it’s only relatively recently that I’ve felt the desire to renew this endeavour.

I’ve been back at it with somewhat tenacity of late and I believe we’re right on the cusp of success after so much time, effort and untold £/$’s. More details to follow to explain my absence very soon.

Always the kindest regards.
Daniel.
 
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The project is not dead in the water just yet guys!

Life has altered inexplicably for me in the last twelve months and it’s only relatively recently that I’ve felt the desire to renew this endeavour.

I’ve been back at it with somewhat tenacity of late and I believe we’r right on the cusp of success after so much time, effort and untold £/$’s. More details to follow to explain my absence very soon.

Always the kindest regards.
Daniel.
Great to hear from you Daniel! Hope you are doing well now and look forward to hearing more news on the progress of this project.
 
Right then gents... as promised here are the reasons for my absence these last 12 months.

So, if you remember, back in the beginning of May 2021 my MK3 model leaked quite dramatically. It was after this latest setback whilst feeling rather deflated with the project that I found out that I was going to be made redundant with four weeks notice due to close of business.

Now I am an arborist of 10 years, 8 of those for the aforementioned employer, and I always felt the next step for me would be self-employment. I just wasn't sure when or in what capacity this would be.

I've grown very close with my ex-employer over the years and consider him a good friend. Very soon after he informed me of his decision he told me of his desire to see everything that he had built for the last seventeen years be carried on.

Which is exactly what I've done. As part of my redundancy package I was left with a tipping truck and some small machinery. I took out a loan to purchase the rest of the various small machines and miscellaneous kit required. I then bought a wood chipper and a shipping container to store it all in at a yard I rent space in.

I've been very fortunate to have all existing customers and new enquiries referred on to me as well as managing to retain some of the larger commercial clients we'd previously held. Therefore I've been incredibly busy over the last 12 months, my life has changed massively, I'm working longer and harder than I ever have (and I've always loved to work hard) but I wouldn't change a thing, it's been hugely rewarding and immensely freeing.

Now back to our regular broadcasting...

So when the early R6 calliper was dissected we discovered the oil seal groove was tapered, next to impossible to discover unless you could see a cross section and not by much less than 0.75mm over 3mm.

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We've actually managed to cut the new oil seal groove design into the MK3 body (we've also made 2 more slave cylinder bodies) and so this morning I cleaned everything thoroughly and assembled the entire system, filled with fluid and low and behold...

She holds fluid, not a drop of fluid escaped!

XS650Post1.jpg


Daniel.
 
Congrats on the new endeavor! Glad to hear everything is on the up and up. I've been following this with great interest lately and look forward to the progress you make

Thanks Jessee,

It's felt great to of been attacking this thing again, it always niggled at me that I hadn't cracked it, not saying that I have just yet but we're definitely on the right path.

Daniel.
 
So when the early R6 calliper was dissected we discovered the oil seal groove was tapered, next to impossible to discover unless you could see a cross section and not by much less than 0.75mm over 3mm.
Just so it's clear in my mind.... the groove at the far left in your pic is just for a dust seal?
 
Welcome back Daniel, and congrats on the new endeavor (/endeavour)! Glad to see you back and picking the torch back up.
Many thanks Somerville!

To be honest I had no real choice as I couldn’t see myself working for anybody else ever again and been given the opportunity of taking on the clientele of one of the most well respected Arboricultural contractors in the UK, well I think I would of been crazy to of not tried.

Daniel.
 
Hi Daniel
I've just read this entire thread from the start.
If there are going to be any cylinders not already taken from the first batch can you put my name down for one please?
I'm in the UK, Midlands.
Great work and glad to see your making a succsess of things.:)
Neil
 
Quick update guys…

I borrowed this from a friend (I will definitely be investing in one) as I wasn’t convinced I was getting the system fully bled.

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Unfortunately my concerns were confirmed and I found I had a faulty bleeder screw so I don’t think we’re 100% up to pressure and all the air is completely bled out of the system.

That said we’re getting the required piston travel already and it has a very strong motion (you can’t stop it’s movement by hand) the pull is incredibly light (almost like a V brake on a bicycle?) so I’m confident once it’s fully bled it will be a touch harder and even more responsive.

I’m over the moon and this is all really encouraging!

I did film a short video where you can see the piston travel and hear the snap of the lever (which I think goes someway to showing the relatively small amount of force required to actuate).


Daniel.
 
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Great stuff Daniel.
Did you get any kind of rough measurement of distance travelled by the piston with one pull of the lever?
I think I remember you mentioning that you are using a 14mm bore MC, is that still the case?
Thanks
Neil
 
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