400 treadle-vac failure

Posted by Randy Berger On 2015/5/9 21:56:18

The treadle-vac in my 400 failed last year coming home from Summit Racing. It was a rather strange failure. My right rear tire blew the tube (wire wheels usually have tubes) because of the heat generated by the brake shoes being constantly in contact with the drum. The drum was so hot we had to be careful not to touch it. I am lucky it did not catch fire. The heat had destroyed the return spring for the primary shoe allowing it to rub against the drum and causing the secondary shoe to ride on the drum also. The lining was destroyed. As a result I had to get flat-bedded home, a little over 70 miles. At the time I did not blame the Bendix master, but instead thought it might be the brake hose to the rear brakes. I had previously installed Venezuelan hoses purchased on ebay. I installed new American-made hoses and also all new wheel cylinders. I replaced any brake lining that looked suspect.
I finally bled the brakes myself the other day and drove the car about five miles to the car wash and home. By the time I reached home the brakes were locking up again. I jacked up the front end and could not rotate either front wheel. I cracked open the right front bleeder and got a small amount of fluid out. I could now rotate either wheel. Last night I removed the Treadle-vac and am going to ship it to Ross Miller for rebuild.
Now before the white knights ride up and proclaim the BTV the worst thing since they no longer required virgins to wear a chastity belt - take it somewhere else. I've been running that BTV since 1992 and have many thousands of miles on my 400 (speedometer has rolled over and now read 5,000 plus miles) so I think it has proved to be a more than adequate unit.
You are of course entitled to your opinion - just DON'T clutter up my post with it!.
I will let Ross determine the problem and resolution.
Stay tuned.