I have just put some new displacers in the front on my mini.
My question is, how do you get the air out of the system? I have the proper dalek pump, however the vacuum pump will not hold a vacuum. The pressure pump works.
I have read here that I should pump it up on a hoist and then put the car on the ground and let the pressure down to get the air out. Is this correct? Cheers.

Don't pump it up on a hoist. I have heard of the rear struts falling out if the car is on a hoist.
Seeing how you have a proper pump, I would pump it up and let it down a few times till you get the air out. The air will come out as you let it down but it may take a few goes to get it all out.

What M1100 said ^^ but let it down FAST, so the front displacers push the air (sitting in top of their hoses, highest point) out the back.
Just push the valve in with the pointy dome of the std steel valve cap.

BTW, this is how my local BMC used to do it for general pump ups, they seldom used the vacuum feature of that pump.

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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.

if he had the flash valve chuck like some of us use, he could neatly squirt it into a container like I do

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I just use a valve chuck and a bit of hose into a bottle. (Then I let the bottle sit for a long time and the crud settles on the bottom and I re-use the stuff off the top)

I regard used hydro fluid like used brake fluid, only worse...

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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.

Frightened that something that is 66% water is going to be hydroscopic?

Frightened that it has rust molecules in it..

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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.

And the hydro bags don't?

The rust and rubber (mostly rubber) settle to the bottom of the bottle leaving nice clean fluid on the top.

I'm amazed the plated steel hydro pipes last as long as they do (touches wood).
Toyotas Mazdas etc use similar pipes for the heater lines around the motor, and they rot out way faster.
Maybe their plating is crap....

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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.

If you think about how the system works for a moment it becomes a little clearer When you pump it up from scratch, the system is full of air. The fluid you put in finds its way into the displacers, compressing the air as it does so. Put enough in and you get to the point where the displacers are filling up, and the air has to find the highest point in the system to accumulate, which is in the front hoses.

Then as Doc says, if you release the valves quickly the pressure in the displacers will blast the fluid in the lines out, shortly followed by the compressed air. It's the closest thing to a wet fart I've ever seen a Mini do

You can't do this in one cycle and get all the air out, because there's more air volume than will compress into 300psi with one fill. Do it 3 or 4 times and there'll be no air left.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

I have tried this only once since putting everything back in. The front still sits a lot lower than the rear so I guess I will just repeat the process to get the front a little higher (even front to back).

Cheers

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

I've had some old fluid sitting for at least 9 months and there is absolutely no settling out of anything. The fluid still looks like rusty water, exactly as it came out.

Steve

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

Sounds like the helper springs on the rear are a little bit tired...

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

don't worry - I don't re-use it, but I do prefer not to have it spray up my arm and in my eyes

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?