Sphere questions

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Eddie Nuff
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Sphere questions

Post by Eddie Nuff »

It's become obvious that after more than six years use the spheres on my Xantia are on their way out. The LHM is not the deep green colour it should be but a dull green with a yellowish tinge. So before I do the whole lot I have a couple of questions;

Do the new sphere seals come with the spheres or do they have to be ordered separately?

Does the seal for the Anti-Sink Sphere have to be ordered separately?

As the filters in the LHM tank are usually cleaned with petrol is it okay to use a small amount of petrol on the rag to clean out the tank?

A good place to get the hydro-flush.
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by myglaren »

Jim's thread describes pretty exhaustively all you need to know on the subject.
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by Old-Guy »

Simple answers:

Seals should come with all the spheres except the 'A/S' sphere - use an old seal from one of the 'corner' spheres so that it doesn't rust-weld to the bracket but you'll have to order a new pipe seal separately.

Personally, I've found that to clean the tank, no solvent is needed; I just use lots of kitchen roll. By the time all the old LHM is wiped up, all the dirt will have gone too. Be gentle with the filters, they'll be getting brittle with age by now.
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by SwissSPEC »

I always use petrol on BX tanks & filters, no adverse problems, just make sure it's dry before plumbing it all back in :) i presume that Xantia one's will be ok to do this with as well? Didn't the Xantia tanks change from the green oval one's to the black square one's at some point?
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I have managed to get hydraflush from GSF in the past. However, do you need it? If you allow for the fact that Citroen recommend an LHM change every 36,000 miles, and a hydraflush cycle on the third change (around 108,000 miles) you may be OK. If you do a hydraflush cycle do not leave it in for more than 3,000 miles, as it is less 'greasy' then LHM, and so things could start to bind if it is left in for too long.
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Oops!
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by SwissSPEC »

Our Finnish cousins use diesel with the lhm to act as a cleaning agent, apparently no ill affects & a lot cheaper than hydraflush which seems to be getting harder to find. Malcolm Lockwood can normally get it though at a sensible price :)
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by citroenxm »

DO NOT GET GSF SPHERES!

You will regret it! Get them from Citroen Services they will have been gassed within the last month or two at most, be softer too and far less likely to have a "Flat" sphere.

Many times Ive had spheres from GSF that have been over a year old, or Flat! Amtex Spheres are not brilliant. The IFHS spheres though are fantastic!
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Post by Eddie Nuff »

My intention is to get them from aep direct. I just couldn't remember if the seals came with the spheres. Thanks for that.

The reason I asked about cleaning the tank with petrol is that the filters are cleaned with such so it seemed a natural step.

Tell me more about the diesel in the LHM. Do they put diesel in with the old stuff to help it flush out and the put fresh LHM in after the old has been drained?
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by citroenxm »

Never Heard of the Diesel Bit, and wouldnt like to either incase theres any seal damage. Id play it perfectly safe and just use Hydra Flush ONLY. Though - I dont know a lot, and could be wrong. But ME, NO Id never mix any diesel.

The simple steps, unhook pipes, remove tank and filters ALL together. Empty AS MUCH LHM as possible from the tank, clean the filters with petrol, re-fit it all again, Fill with Hydraflush ONLY, use for 1k miles, and drain, petrol the filters again, re fill with new LHM, bleed brakes, and expect a leak ... Oh, no , and enjoy.. :-D
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by Northern_Mike »

Diesel will be safe. It even says in the owners manual that mineral engine oil can be used as an LHM substitute in an emergency so I can't believe diesel would do damage.

What exactly are the contents of hydraflush anyway? It must be pretty evil stuff if it does all it claims (which I don't believe it does!)

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Post by Eddie Nuff »

I'm quite happy to do the spheres and change the LHM, both certainly need doing, there were just certain details I needed to clarify as the old memory refuses to play ball. :roll: :oops:
citroenxm wrote:Though - I dont know a lot, and could be wrong.
. . . and you're a master of understatement! :wink: 8-)
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Re: Sphere questions

Post by citroenxm »

What ever it does, it is useually followed by an LHM leak somewhere!!! :-D :-D
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Post by Eddie Nuff »

Malcolm Lockwood does a 5L Hydroflush for £21.
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Post by addo »

No diesel!

I've been there and lived to tell what happens. Something in the fuel, hardens the return lines from within - making them greatly more brittle.
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