Jack's Stupid Bradford Questions - Part 1

[Jack]

Thanks Steve. I guess that fitting it so that it is backed off just so that it can't foul the shoulder in either direction in use will do the job.

I am fairly sure Ray rebuilt the brake cross shaft many years ago, as it all seems to be in good shape and felt seal looks quite new.

The exhaust has been a bit of a marmite modification - so far I think we have a 50% love it rate, and we know where that leaves the other 50%

Jack.

[george garside]

the felt seal is part number 6022x8

[Tony Fearn]

I can take a photo in the next few days.

All the photos coming up on my computer are little black boxes with a white x in them.
I logged into JowettGallery as well, but still the same.
I think this has happened before, but can't remember what to do.
Tony

[Jack]

I can take a photo in the next few days.

All the photos coming up on my computer are little black boxes with a white x in them.
I logged into JowettGallery as well, but still the same.
I think this has happened before, but can't remember what to do.
Tony

Hi Tony,

After you log into the Gallery did you refresh the forum page? If you are logged in you should be able to see them.

Jack.

[ian Howell]

General Bradford info - - -

The other day I was scanning through back issues of The Automobile (Many thanks Andy!) when I noticed a comment that some years ago a Bradford in South Africa hade been temporarily 'fixed' by having pistons from a V8 Ford fitted. Correct compresssion height and gudgeon pin diameter but a bit 'sloppy'.

That being the case, MAYBE oversize pistons could be used.

Any comments?

[Srenner]

Over here, that muffler is called a "Cherry Bomb".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMDn6V7ZLhE

[Tony Fearn]

After you log into the Gallery did you refresh the forum page? If you are logged in you should be able to see them.

Hi Jack.
Tonight I logged on to the Gallery first then minimised it. Then logged on to JowetttTalk as usual. I don't know how to refresh, but I'm sure it wasn't needed this time.
All the photos in Julian's pre-war restoration came up, but there's still the little X squares in the Bradford section.
There's no problem really as long as the pre-war photos appear!!
Happy New Year to you all down there.
Tony.

[Forumadmin]

Is any one else not able to see the pictures Jack put into the Gallery?
There might be an issue with permission or cookies.
You refresh with F5 or ctrl+F5 on IE

[Jack]

Is any one else not able to see the pictures Jack put into the Gallery?
There might be an issue with permission or cookies.
You refresh with F5 or ctrl+F5 on IE

Scott can view them because he knows what exhaust it is. Either that or he could hear from us revving it a bit the other day

Tony, on the address bar there is usually a refresh button which is often green and has a logo with two arrows, worth trying as minimising and restoring won't reload the page.

[Keith Clements]

Sometimes the cookies, which are essentially notes left on your computer by an application, cause the program to get confused. These are usually cleared when you close the browser but sometimes they are persistent and need to be cleared using the browser settings, internet options, delete cookies process. I quite often get this as I move between different users on JT and JG. Fortunately the security systems are quite clever on JT and JG and block anything they think is suspicious, like you have entered by the back door or are wearing a disguise. They are not clever enough to know what you are trying to do though.

[John Wolf]

General Bradford info - - -

The other day I was scanning through back issues of The Automobile (Many thanks Andy!) when I noticed a comment that some years ago a Bradford in South Africa hade been temporarily 'fixed' by having pistons from a V8 Ford fitted. Correct compresssion height and gudgeon pin diameter but a bit 'sloppy'.

That being the case, MAYBE oversize pistons could be used.

Any comments?

Hi Ian,
Regarding fitting Ford V8 pistons to Bradford's I am currently running Ford V8 (Mercury) dome top pistons which are 3-3/16 standard bore size in one of my Bradford's. This requires the Bradford cylinders to be bored out to 060 thou oversize. The compression height and gudgeon size are perfect. The only downsize is that the cylinder wall thickness in the water jacket area is getting a bit thin. I am also using Perkins Diesel (6-354) exhaust valves. The stem and head diameters are the same as the Bradford but the overall length is about 5/16 of and inch shorter. This was overcome by removing the tappet screw threaded insert from the cam follower and turning up a slightly longer insert.

[george garside]

John, presumably the domed ford pistons increase the compression ratio? Have they made any difference to the performance.

At one time I was running a pre war Eight with + 60 pistons. Unfortunately the day after a hard driven 300 mile run the cylinder broke in two at the crankcase end which was presumably why Jowetts recommended max oversize was 40 thou.

george

[John Wolf]

Hi Jack,
The V8 pistons didn't appear to change the compression ratio, and the last time I did a compression test I think the compression pressure was about 95 psi. In terms of performance it certainly goes well, but I would have to add that there is really no difference between my other Brady which is running standard Bradford pistons.

[David Kemp]

Though Ford pistons have been used since Barney was a pup, I don't think they are the answer , as I believe to get the maximum value for combustion Bradfords need a flat top piston. This is because Bradfords have a classic Ricardo design cylinder head relying on a flat top piston to provide squish. Ford use a domed piston with a domed head to provide correct combustion.Given Bradfors low power I think combustion needs all the help it can get. I would have thought Bradford pistons would still be available?

[Tony Fearn]

I would have thought Bradford pistons would still be available?

Perhaps not, but given the more esoteric parts that JCS Ltd have had re-manufactured to date, and that pistons will always be needed in the future, has there been any suggestion of re-manufacture of the more common Jowett pistons?
Tony.