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MG MGA - Master cylinder rebuild primary cups

I'm installing a master cylinder rebuild kit. Has anyone come up with a trick to get the primary cup/seals stretched over and seated on the pistons in the master cylinder? I've used brake lubricant to coat the surfaces and my fingers/thumbs are getting a bit raw in the attempt. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I seem to be getting nowhere.
Thanks.
Rick deOlazarra

I have a tiny screwdriver which I have polished so all edges are smooth and round. Hold one side of the cup down over the piston on one side, with your thumb, and use the tool to stretch the cup over the other side of the piston. All well lubed with brake fluid.

FRM
FR Millmore

Rick,

I used a well lubed (brake fluid) string to help pull mine over with. Was pretty easy and didn't damage the rubber cups although it did take myself and my wife to do it.

Put the string through the cup, get one side started and then have the other person pull the other side over using the string...work it like a tire iron...a little at a time.

Gene

Gene Gillam

FRM, Gene;
Your approaches are both ingenious, simple, and somehow obvious all at once...
Thank you!
Rick deOlazarra

Gene's is good, but strings can cut through stuff amazingly well! The advantage of my tool is that it can be used to work the seals into the correct place on the piston, sometimes a problem on some cylinders that have multiple locating ridges.

FRM
FR Millmore

It worked!
I didn't have an extra couple hands to help out, so I applied the screwdriver method; it still presented a challenge, but this time it was do-able.
Thanks!
-Rick
Rick deOlazarra

This thread was discussed between 27/02/2013 and 02/03/2013

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