I have had a few brand new S rear cylinders leak within 6 months, but after fitting new rubbers they are OK. Obviously the maker didn't use the world's best seals.
I'd say that rekitted s/h cylinders could be as good or better than new ones, particularly so with clutch slave cylinders. But I'd not run old s/h ones without putting new seals in..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Doc , where do you get your rubbers from ?

I kept the old cylinders of my car , might be worth rekitting .

ahh good point, thanks for that guys

also where do you guys go for how to guides? The section here is great but surely being as popular minis are there should be a how to guide on pretty much everything.

Years ago you could get all these from any brake shop. You still can for the slave cylinder rubber (a 7/8" cup). Perhaps they have the others too, I've not checked lately.
I bought S rear cylinder seals from Karcraft, they have been in for years now.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

start with the workshop manual

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Preferably a local one like Gregorys/Scientific Publishing, or Leyland Australia, not the Haynes `book of lies..'

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

aww dear I bought the haynes restoration guide a week ago. still on it's way. how bad is the lies?

I don't know about the lies, but the SP one is has the australian mini specific stuff, the UK manuals don't have the right details and that's where you get into trouble

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

The oil level quoted in the Honda XR600 manual was actually for the XR80, leading to an engine rebuild because I believed them and didn't check (Young man's mistake). It's a very good reference, but as to 'How to' guides, everything is on th'internet in one form or another. Usually very reliable but you'll occasionally encounter rabid discussions on how tight a ball joint should be, for example.

You shouldn't be in over your head. Minis are simple, robust and relatively tolerant of short term abuse; you'll learn heaps! I donated a rear light lens to my mechanic who is helping a guy get a WoF (Roadworthy cert) for his new Mini, which has had a shiny paint job but is lacking various important items, such as stitching in the rear seat belts. Doing it yourself will grant you a mechanical sympathy in vehicle maintenance which will carry on to other engineering areas.

sounds like a good plan, slip the mechanic at the servo a case to help with the RWC haha. either way I can see that being down the track. hopefully by the end of the year

Haynes resto manual is OK, but their Mini workshop manual is not the best for Australian built cars.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks for that Doc, I'll keep that in mind when using over seas guides

miniRock, welcome to Ausmini.

I'm having flashbacks of getting my first moke in first year engineering and reading the manuals instead of studying!

Is Colin Cole still lecturing in Rocky? He has been there since God was a lad. Lots of good engineers have come from there.

Earlier comments are right, future employers really rate someone who has had their hands dirty, so get in a do as much as you can yourself. It will make you a far better designer if you know how things can (and can't) go together. You will end up getting a lot more respect from the drafters and trades people you'll encounter too. Those guys don't rate purely book-learned engineers with no practical knowledge.

M

Haven't studied under Colin but his name pops up now and then. I can see myself doing the same, I mean it's mechanical so it's kind of like studying right?

bonus to hear about future employers too, especially considering I'm hoping to get a placement in the design field next time, as fun as construction is