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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Armstrong damper tech stuff (re-valving etc)

Does anyone know of any links that might help me get a handle on the design of the Armstrong damper? I was hoping for an exploded diagram and maybe some tips on fluid, valve shimming and damper identification.
There doesn't seem to be much out there, unless I'm typing the wrong words into Google.

Cheers

Rob
rob thomas

Rob,

You can find some info on Peter Caldwell's World Wide Auto Parts web site.

Charley
C R Huff

Not a great image but it's a start, see bottom of page.

http://home.comcast.net/~rhodes/shock.html
David Billington

Soooooo......what does the RXP stand for? Anyone?

rob thomas

X2...Peter Caldwell

http://nosimport.com/
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

>>> what does the RXP stand for? <<<

Here in the States, it stands for Really Xpensive Part...

;-)

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Rob, First, the picture is of Morris Minor front shocks. The RXP is a later design, note the difference in the valve nut. Inside the valve is a little different as well.

Tell me what you'd like to know, and which shock you're wanting to fix or re-valve, etc.

Peter
Peter Caldwell

Thanks. As you say, it is a Morris one. I'm rebuilding this 1949 Tourer and have collected a large pile of shocks but am uncertain which ones are the later version with 'improved' valves. The larger nut version is less common in my pile of bits but none of them have any sign of the green paint which is meant to designate them as being the later version. The only other indicator is that the large nut version has RXP on it. These RXP ones in the shot above have spacers under the bump spring and the rebound spring has been wound in a few turns from the end (3 threads showing)

So, which is the newer type, and, is there any loss in using the earlier type instead?

Thanks

Rob
(Part way through grit/bead blasting the shell)

rob thomas

Rob,
The RXP are the later. The valves are different. Two distinct valve springs in the later vs. very similar springs in the earlier. Also, the pistons and their bores are larger. Armstrong made a "running change" and I believe the RXP indicates the different casting. The smaller valve ones may be correct for your vintage, but I think the ride and handling will benefit from the later. There's some verbiage in an old Sunbeam Talbot factory repair book about the changeover, and how reliability and ride quality was much better with the later shocks. The only reason to use the early shocks would be for originality sake, I would think.

Peter
Peter Caldwell

This thread was discussed between 07/08/2010 and 10/08/2010

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