Alibro said:
It's been done. :)

I guess this would work but the guy in the video should have been turning the VCU to mix it properly, the disks are very tightly packed so it takes a lot of turning and flushing to clean it out.



Oh, And fools seldom differ. :oops:
Click to expand...

That is a great link, thank you, it is pretty much the same idea.
Do you think that once you have cleaned out the gunk and have mainly solvent you could spin up the discs with an electric motor or drill to give them a realy good clean out? Sorry to ask such basic questions but I have zero practical mechanical experience and usually manage to work things out logically but I don't know if you can spin up these discs with maybe half the capacity of white spirit in the VCU. What do you think?
 
Paulindre said:
That is a great link, thank you, it is pretty much the same idea.
Do you think that once you have cleaned out the gunk and have mainly solvent you could spin up the discs with an electric motor or drill to give them a realy good clean out? Sorry to ask such basic questions but I have zero practical mechanical experience and usually manage to work things out logically but I don't know if you can spin up these discs with maybe half the capacity of white spirit in the VCU. What do you think?
Click to expand...
I think by the time you have got the old fluid out you'll be so sick of it you won't bother with the last fraction. I'm not sure trying to spin it fast with only solvent in it would even be a good idea as the VCU fluid acts as lubricant between the disks.
If you want to get really lazy there is a video around somewhere of a guy linking an electric pump the the solvent so that it pumps continuously. I can't remember if he also had a motor turning the VCU but that would be the ultimate.
 
When I do it I will be using an electric pump and an old stepped washing machine motor (variable speed} to turn it, I will try and do some pix and video to post. I am going to do a test as you recommend and see if it is urgent.
warm regards
Paul
 
Paulindre said:
When I do it I will be using an electric pump and an old stepped washing machine motor (variable speed} to turn it, I will try and do some pix and video to post. I am going to do a test as you recommend and see if it is urgent.
warm regards
Paul
Click to expand...
If you only have one to do it would probably take longer to set up the equipment and get it working than it would to just use elbow grease.
If on the other hand you plan to do this as a sideline then go for it. ;)
Watching with great interest.
 
Alibro said:
If you only have one to do it would probably take longer to set up the equipment and get it working than it would to just use elbow grease.
If on the other hand you plan to do this as a sideline then go for it. ;)
Watching with great interest.
Click to expand...

Hello again and thank you for replying, if this works ok I might do it for other owners as in France for the cost of sticking it a garage you might as well buy another car. so here's hoping. I already have the electric motor mounted in a frame that will bolt onto a 3" thick oak plank and a vice, all of which I already have, so when the time comes I shall put it all together. I will try and test the VCU tomorrow if I have time but first I must go and pick up.a couple of trailer loads of oak logs that a farmer friend of ours does not want.
Pip Pip
Paul
 
I had a thought that the unit could be chucked in a lathe and spun to help get the old fluid out by centrifigal force then
the spectre of the mess that could make had me go Hmmmmm maybe not!
 
I think you are right about the mess so I will clean it out as Alibro describes using an oil pump to circulate the white spirit and turning it during this process. I would think that you can only turn it by hand initially as you get the gunk out and maybe use a slow turning lathe (which I don't have), still having the circulation pump connected to get the rest out when it frees up. I see that it could be a problem spinning it up too fast as the gunk acts as a lubricant between the discs (Alibro) and as you reduce the amount of gunk during the cleaning process whilst having a high percentage of white spirit could impact on the disc lubrication. In my case this is all a bit experimental as I have not done it before, I am trying to find an old VCU to experiment with to save damaging mine. When I do eventually start this process I shall keep the forum updated step by step.
Paul
 
Rich in Vancouver said:
I had a thought that the unit could be chucked in a lathe and spun to help get the old fluid out by centrifigal force then
the spectre of the mess that could make had me go Hmmmmm maybe not!
Click to expand...

Paulindre said:
I think you are right about the mess so I will clean it out as Alibro describes using an oil pump to circulate the white spirit and turning it during this process. I would think that you can only turn it by hand initially as you get the gunk out and maybe use a slow turning lathe (which I don't have), still having the circulation pump connected to get the rest out when it frees up. I see that it could be a problem spinning it up too fast as the gunk acts as a lubricant between the discs (Alibro) and as you reduce the amount of gunk during the cleaning process whilst having a high percentage of white spirit could impact on the disc lubrication. In my case this is all a bit experimental as I have not done it before, I am trying to find an old VCU to experiment with to save damaging mine. When I do eventually start this process I shall keep the forum updated step by step.
Paul
Click to expand...

If you have an old push bike lying in the shed you might be able to do something with the gears to let you use a battery drill, probably on slow speed.
I'm in the process of trying this to electrify a bike but haven't got very far yet. :oops:
 
I think a friend of mine in Glasgow sent me a video of a guy who has powered his bike with electric drills.
I will see if I can find it. It seemed to work ok.
 
I've seen the video. The bike goes well but I think the range would only be a few hundred metres.
It would be a fun project devising a way to get the fluid out more efficiently. Luckily I don't have a spare VCU.
I've got enough going on, this weekend is changing my Freelander thermostat, intake manifold and VIS motors
followed by the belts and water pump on my MGF-VVC. Looking forward to getting back to work next week for a rest!
 
Logically a system of a white spirit circulation pump operating whilst turning the discs should work and the more gunk you get out the easier it should be to turn. I have just purchased a thermostat, engine breather filter upgrade and an air mass thingy that I hope to install this weekend. You are right about going back to work for a rest, I feel the same and I'm retired. I tell my friends " don't buy a land rover unless you have a s**t load of money or the time and enthusiasm to do it youself" If you don't have either then buy a fiat panda as without regular maintenance the LR will end up in the scrapyard which is sad ending for what started out as a good 4X4.
 
Rich in Vancouver said:
think the range would only be a few hundred metres.
Click to expand...

It would depend on the batteries used and so the power available from them.

I've recently bought a battery powered lawnmower which can with a battery powered strimmer too. I must admit that I'm pretty impressed with the performance of both items. The mower has more than enough power to cut 50mm off the grass and the strimmer will do the edges with ease. These items are powered by LiPo batteries, which pack quite a punch. I'm not sure how much use the petrol mower and strimmer are going to get in the future.
 
The bike I saw just used a Dewalt drill in a mount attached to the rear wheel so it wasn't a very efficient system. I can't see a standard drill battery having a long lifespan driving a 150+lb man on a bike.
 
Hi not sure if people still want results posted for owu test but here goes just in case.
1.2 m bar and 5kgs weight 30 seconds
Td4 2005 hse 90k miles original vcu
Doesn't get hot to touch after driving
Some tightening on full lock reverse and forward which I hypothesis to be normal operational as per what I understand from research on Internet is land rover guidance on this subject.
 
Framtaff said:
Hi not sure if people still want results posted for owu test but here goes just in case.
1.2 m bar and 5kgs weight 30 seconds
Td4 2005 hse 90k miles original vcu
Click to expand...
Thank you.
You're VCU is fine at the moment.
Framtaff said:
Some tightening on full lock reverse and forward which I hypothesis to be normal operational as per what I understand from research on Internet is land rover guidance on this subject.
Click to expand...
Perfectly normal for there to be a bit of tightening on full lock.

Just make sure your tyre maintenance is top notch, to keep the VCU in good condition. ;)
 
I'm about to test my VCU as per the instructions, in regards to the weight you add - should the 8kg include the weight of the 1.2m bar, or is that just the deadweight attached?
 
TSR2 said:
I'm about to test my VCU as per the instructions, in regards to the weight you add - should the 8kg include the weight of the 1.2m bar, or is that just the deadweight attached?
Click to expand...

A lot of us use a 5Kg weight as it's easy (a 5Ltr container full of water) and the 1.2M extension bar will do what you need. ;)
 
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