Activa won't rise or fall.

KP · Unread post by KP » 24 May 2010, 10:17

Could you not butcher the XM leakoff onto the BX one with the hylomar stuff fitting it from the inside to ensure that the pressure inside keep its pushed against the surface, even though th return lines don't get under pressure as such?

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 29 May 2010, 11:14

This looks very promising. That BX 'Leak off union' looks ideal.

I've not seen the ram with it's clothes off yet, so, where does the LHM come from on the ram body. Is it a small port?

Why did you need the cable tie at the bottom? I can see that it's there to lift the rubber leak off, so, is that so it's high enough to catch the leak off port?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 May 2010, 11:22

KevMayer wrote: I've not seen the ram with it's clothes off yet, so, where does the LHM come from on the ram body. Is it a small port?

Have a look at my website Kev. Lots of naked rams on there!

The leakage originates at the top of the ram from leakage (delibreate for lubrication) past the piston seals. Leakage flows down between the body proper and the black sleeve to be collected by the collar and returned to the LHM reservoir.

The black sleeve has an oil seal of conventional design at the top to prevent LHM spilling out of the top.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 29 May 2010, 12:01

CitroJim wrote:
KevMayer wrote: I've not seen the ram with it's clothes off yet, so, where does the LHM come from on the ram body. Is it a small port?
Have a look at my website Kev. Lots of naked rams on there!

So! it was you and you have shears

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 29 May 2010, 16:05

The BX one looks ideal, but I haven't got back to it yet to see if I have done something stupid, or that it may not be much use. Moting XMs is taking priortiy at the moment.

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 29 May 2010, 17:48

It looks like the BX rubber sleeve is going to be a nice tight fit over the black sleeve, so, could the leaking LHM now be coming from the top oil seal in the black sleeve. If you pull back the outer gaiter do you see any LHM coming down under the gaiter?

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 29 May 2010, 22:01

You might be onto something there Kev. I haven't looked into it at all yet. I parked it up, and haven't been near her since. It could well be the top oil seal in the black outer.

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 04 Jun 2010, 20:29

Any news?

This mod has so much promise. I'm very interested (as I assume most of us here will be) to know why you still have a leak.

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 04 Jun 2010, 23:51

Sorry not yet, if I get time tomorrow I will check it out, but MOTing Xms is priority number 1 at the moment. At least the MOT is tomorrow, so hopefully I will get a look if I get finished early tomorrow or on Sunday.

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 10 Jun 2010, 09:35

Right, a bit of an update.

Her Activaness has stopped leaking. Well it stopped leaking last night (hopefully its not leaking when i get home this evening).

The problem with my BX boot repair was LHM coming out of the top of the BX boot, when it was filled with LHM.

So the cure. I reverted back to the XM boot as per Jim's repair.

The only problem I had here was getting the bottom of the boot to seal on the ram. The XM boot has a much larger diameter than the Activa ram body, the 2 sphere seal trick for the upper part of the boot wasn't suitable either, as they have a bigger diameter than the ram body.

So I cut the bottom edge of the BX boot to bridge the gap. It has a night tight fit, and the a nice tight fit for the Xm boot over the top of it.

How did you seal the bottom of the XM boot Jim?

With everything re-assembled there was no leaking when the system was up at full pressure. This morning I went out to check if there was any leaks or mess. Thankfully the clean part of concrete I moved the car onto was dry, but there was 1 drip on the bottom of the ram which I am hoping is just all the other LHM that was on the ram after all the previous pillage making its way down there, and not a poor seal.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 11 Jun 2010, 20:50

robert_e_smart wrote: How did you seal the bottom of the XM boot Jim?

That's the tricky part Robery and why it is so important to break theough the corrosion layer and create a good bottom sealing surface. Without using a lathe, it will be hard to get it really smooth as the casting itself is a bit rough and will promote a bit of minor wetness.

in fact, my first attempt is not 100% perfect as I did not take off quite all the corrosion.

Then, pull the end of the gaiter tight with a good cable tie, or if you can get one, one of the original spring clips from a steering ram.

This shows the surface being prepared. The secret is to not take too much off as there is not a lot of difference in diameter here against the gaiter.

This shows the cable ties in place. I used two joined with their buckles at 180 degrees.

Hope that helps...

EDIT: Also be sure the outlet spigot is not being blocked off by the end of the black sleeve... If LHM cannot freely flow out, it'll find another path..

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 12 Jun 2010, 08:37

I see now how you have done it. Right, I had thought about doing it that way myself, but wasn't sure I would get a good seal.

Well thankfully it is still dry and leaking no fluid. Your method of sealing the bottom is cheaper than mine if you are eqipped with a lathe. However, butchering 1 bx boot will provide 2 lower ram to boot seals if you seal on the main body of the activa ram that previously had the old return boot. Its only an extra £3 a ram which is buttons compared to what Citroen want for a new ram.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 13 Jun 2010, 20:52

Pleased it's dry Robert

How exactly do you use the BX gaiter? Have you some detailed pictures?

I spent time at the DSM Rally this weekend seeing if rubber components intended for DSs might offer a better solution but drew a blank

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 14 Jun 2010, 12:14

Well, its mainly dry, there is the slightest, of slight weeps which accumulates into a drip at the bottom of the ram. Its very very slow. I'd say no worse than the usual drip of LHM around the pressure regulator pipes some of my cars have.

I think it would be better if I had superglued the BX gaiter bit to the XM gaiter.

I didn't take any pictures of my repair. But if you look at this picture of the BX gaiter:

You'll see a large thick ring of rubber at the top of the gaiter, there is the same at the bottom as well. These hold the gaiter to the ram in its original application. But I used a knife to cut around the bottom of this large band, right through the gaiter, and slid this band of rubber down to the bottom of the ram where the cable tie is in this picture:

I then slid the XM boot over the top of this, and cable tied it on, and used the two sphere seals to seal the top.

I took her for a good skelp yesterday morning, and noticed the drip when I checked it for dryness. I think its MOTable like that. If I take it easy on the way to the test centre, and check and wipe if necessary, it shouldn't fail on the activa ram weeping.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Jun 2010, 20:11

Thanks Robert

All is now clear!

Yes, as long as the ram is not dripping, an MOT will be OK. Dampness is permitted normally but not drips...

The old adge applies here: it's only leaking when it's dripping...