Nickodell
Donation Time
This is a project I have been toying with for some 20 years. Next to losing steering, nothing is more dangerous than a sudden loss of braking, and cars like our beloved 'pines are liable to this through loss of hydraulic fluid at any time, either because of a fluid leak or by its being ingested by the vacuum booster.
Many of us have experienced that cold clutch to the heart when the pedal goes to the floor without having any retardation on the vehicle. I've had it twice, first on my wife's Volvo P1800 and some years ago on Matilda (both using the same booster.) Luckily, both instances were on starting up and backing the car out of the garage, so no accident.
Some members have overcome this problem by installing a dual master cylinder, which is OK but doesn't totally prevent the possibility of an accident as in the case of a leak it leaves only half of the braking power. What was needed, I thought, was an automatic warning light that would illuminate whenever the fluid in the reservoir dropped more than, say, half an inch.
I am glad to say that the O'Dell Mk.1 Low Brake Fluid Warning System is finally installed and working. Being a generous sort of chap, I offer this to the Alpine world free of charge. It is applicable to the Series V, or others using the same plastic reservoir and cap, but may be adaptable to earlier models.
It was clear that some sort of switch and float would be needed, and I recalled that my Jaguar had a neat circular plunger switch that sat atop its reservoir cap. The part was obtained from the local Jag dealer, but then I encountered the first snag; there was less than 1/4" clearance between the top of the cap and the bonnet, and the switch and plunger spindle needed at least 1 1/4" clearance. I relocated the reservoir from its original location on the firewall to a new position 1 1/2" lower, attaching it with a bracket to the body/firewall brace. Using some soft copper wire I made a pattern for the local machine shop to make up a new pipe from reservoir to master cylinder.
The other requirement was a float to actuate the switch plunger, and I was stumped at first to come up with something that would a) float; b) be just the right diameter to fit into the reservoir; and c) be impervious to brake fluid.
I found that the bottom cut from a plastic bottle fit all three requirements. Hey, don't laugh; it fits, it floats (upside down, so that the trapped air gives it bouyancy), and it's made from high density polyethylene, as shown by the recyclable logo HDPE cast into the bottom. This is the same plastic as the cans Castrol brake fluid comes in.
So here is the finished float and switch:
The switch is wired to a large red warning light in my home-made walnut instrument panel. Warning lights are worse than useless, of course, if they are inoperative because of a wiring fault or blown bulb, but you can test the system by simply pressing down on the part of the plunger spindle that protrudes above the top of the switch. I thought of installing a warning buzzer too, but the lamp is so large and bright that it is not necessary:
So there it is. If anyone wants more details, give me a PM.
Many of us have experienced that cold clutch to the heart when the pedal goes to the floor without having any retardation on the vehicle. I've had it twice, first on my wife's Volvo P1800 and some years ago on Matilda (both using the same booster.) Luckily, both instances were on starting up and backing the car out of the garage, so no accident.
Some members have overcome this problem by installing a dual master cylinder, which is OK but doesn't totally prevent the possibility of an accident as in the case of a leak it leaves only half of the braking power. What was needed, I thought, was an automatic warning light that would illuminate whenever the fluid in the reservoir dropped more than, say, half an inch.
I am glad to say that the O'Dell Mk.1 Low Brake Fluid Warning System is finally installed and working. Being a generous sort of chap, I offer this to the Alpine world free of charge. It is applicable to the Series V, or others using the same plastic reservoir and cap, but may be adaptable to earlier models.
It was clear that some sort of switch and float would be needed, and I recalled that my Jaguar had a neat circular plunger switch that sat atop its reservoir cap. The part was obtained from the local Jag dealer, but then I encountered the first snag; there was less than 1/4" clearance between the top of the cap and the bonnet, and the switch and plunger spindle needed at least 1 1/4" clearance. I relocated the reservoir from its original location on the firewall to a new position 1 1/2" lower, attaching it with a bracket to the body/firewall brace. Using some soft copper wire I made a pattern for the local machine shop to make up a new pipe from reservoir to master cylinder.
The other requirement was a float to actuate the switch plunger, and I was stumped at first to come up with something that would a) float; b) be just the right diameter to fit into the reservoir; and c) be impervious to brake fluid.
I found that the bottom cut from a plastic bottle fit all three requirements. Hey, don't laugh; it fits, it floats (upside down, so that the trapped air gives it bouyancy), and it's made from high density polyethylene, as shown by the recyclable logo HDPE cast into the bottom. This is the same plastic as the cans Castrol brake fluid comes in.
So here is the finished float and switch:
The switch is wired to a large red warning light in my home-made walnut instrument panel. Warning lights are worse than useless, of course, if they are inoperative because of a wiring fault or blown bulb, but you can test the system by simply pressing down on the part of the plunger spindle that protrudes above the top of the switch. I thought of installing a warning buzzer too, but the lamp is so large and bright that it is not necessary:
So there it is. If anyone wants more details, give me a PM.
