Wondering if any Hambers in NZ know of someone capeable of rebuilding the old Armstrong lever shocks. It still dampens ok but leaks badly. Previously we had roto flo shocks but one froze up.
I cant remember who does them but a read in a recent Beaded Wheels Mag may give a result and maybe a visit to the local Vintage Car Club may help as they get theirs done somewhere. Good luck, Brian. JW
Thanks for that JW I will give beaded wheels a shot. I was given an email of a guy in Christchurch who is supposed to rebuild ford houdaille type shocks ( I was asking him about model A shocks for a buddys car) but after 10 days still no reply. So that lead may be a dead end.
I have seen some of those early shockers that had a worn bush and leather seal, re-worked to take a needle or roller bearing, backed up with a lip-type oil seal . Maybe take one to a local machine shop, and get them to look it over.
How about I pull the working shocks off my daughter's MG and send them in trade for your old Roto Flo's? I'll pay shipping both ways. Or, I have a pair of all chrome Armstrongs that I would trade as well. But I've never had them on a car so I don't know if they leak or not, so that wouldn't really solve your problem. But you sure would look good!
Do you really need to use those particular dampers? The picture is of a pre-war/early post war Armstrong with the vertical valve in the base. Shouldn't be difficult to find a pair of Morris Minor/MG B or Midget etc. rear dampers that have the valve horizontally across the base. The later ones do seem to have much better damping action. If the Levers on the dampers you choose appear in the wrong place you can press them off once you have ground off the peening where the fine splined shaft goes though the lever. If you grind the lever boss down a bit more before replacing the lever, it will leave enough material to re-peen the shaft when you press the levers back on. When you do press the levers back on, make sure to support the steel bung at the rear of the damper, otherwise the shaft is sure to push it out. If it does pop out anyway, just peen the Ali casing back over when you replace the bung once you've finished pressing.
Haven't checked beaded wheels as yet, there is supposed to be a guy near Christchurch ? There is supposed to be a guy north of Sydney AU selling new ones?? There are a couple of loosers on U tube that "rebuild" their shocks basically the show their astounding knowledge as to how they work, top them up with oil and rattle can paint them >DUH what about the oil leaks etc and cleaning out the pistons and replacing the shaft seal!!!.
Send them over to the big Island: (dont have any connection to these guys) Leslie S G & Sons Pty Ltd Suspension, Shock Absorbers & Springs - Heidelberg West, VIC 3081 19 Mologa Rd, Heidelberg West VIC 3081
I don't think Leslie's do leaver action's! There are a couple of places in Sydney that rebuild these! Cheers Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Thanks for the heads up , the old lever actions are a different animal on their own . As are the old houdaille shocks different again . There is supposed to be some place north of sydney that has new ones?? So the rumour goes.
All better now ,sent them to Barry at Autolign in Christchurch . Rebuilt and back within a week. How's that for service plus they had to traverse between two islands.
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