HI from Bedford TK owner :)

[bulldog_68]

TK's are just a bit temperamental but you'll soon get the hang of it and don't worry what others make of you driving

[G-CPTN]

Welcome to Truck and Bus Forum MazTalks.

That's certainly a Bedford TK - probably what used to be called a KB - you should have a plate riveted onto to the wheelarch inside the passenger door which should be stamped with the model designation and chassis number.

It changed sometimes in the 1970s so might read something beginning with the letter E - but I can no longer remember the following letters which define the engine type and gross weight as well as the wheelbase and whether it was supplied with a full cab fitted or just a front cowl for coachbuilding.
You will need this sequence of characters (and the following numbers) when ordering spares.

[coastie]

A very warm welcome to the Truck and Bus Forum, MazTalks. Greetings from the sunny Isle of Anglesey.

[MazTalks]

Thanks for such a warm welcome! I am off to speak to the mechanic today and to find out if he has time to check my brake system soon... and how much it is going to cost ... crosses fingers and hopes its not going to be too much!

[MazTalks]

ok... mechanics verdict is.... Master cylinder on brakes is leaking and the big black metal unit it is joined to (not sure what that is called in english)... next question... where is the best place for me to order the parts from?
I can check the net myself, which i will do, but its always better if someone can recommend a site...

Thanks in advance if you can help

[G-CPTN]

First of all you need to find out whether the master cylinder is a Girling part and/or the servo is a Clayton Dewandre part.

If you had a workshop manual for your model it would give this information and what steps to take to overhaul (ie fit new seals).

You might not be willing to undertake this work yourself, but if you can provide your mechanic with this manual he should be able to follow it (assuming he can understand basic English)

You need to find out what model your vehicle is (see the plate on the passenger-side wheelarch or door pillar) and you will need this information to ensure that parts are correct.
If you have the original UK registration paperwork the information that you will require will be there, too (and maybe in your French registration documentation) then search for a workshop manual including brakes. It will save you time and money in the long run, otherwise you will be guessing that the parts you need are correct.

This might be what you want, although it might be too early for your vehicle:-
Bedford TJ/TK. Service Training manual.TS.508.Steering gear,front axle,brakes.April 1961.130 sides.
From:- http://www.mark.clubaustin.co.uk/commercials.htm

Contact them with your vehicle details and see whether they have the correct manual.

Try these people also (just an enquiry at this stage as you don't know exactly what you need):-
http://www.bedfordgenuineparts.com/C...1DAAD88313.htm

[MazTalks]

thanks for your reply, I will follow up on those links.
Unfortunately on the english log book the make is bedford, but the model/type variant and version are all blank.

After eventually finding the plate (under passenger seat!) it was almost illegible due to age, its hand written and stamped with dept of Transport. The model looks like EJM and then 2000 or 2060, it's so faded its almost impossible to read! Does this sound like it could be the right information?

[G-CPTN]

You will need more information from your mechanic.

The brakes are actuated by hydraulics - a 'standard' brake master cylinder is 'pushed' by an air piston (contained within the black metal unit).

The two, although physically connected are separate units.

It is possible that both are faulty - but unlikely.

Applying the footbrake sends air from the footvalve to the servo (the black thing) which pushes the hydraulic cylinder (the grey - or rusty - thing with hydraulic reservoirs containing brake fluid) which operates the wheelbrakes just like any car (well, most cars except Rolls Royces and big Citroens).

If the hydraulic master cylinder is 'faulty' then there are seal repair kits that can save you getting a new master cylinder - any mechanic should be able to overhaul this if provided with the parts.

If the air actuator is faulty, then you can get seals to repair this, too.

All this will be explained in the workshop (or training) manual if you can get one. I have one for a military 4x4 MK model which will be similar, though actual spare parts might differ.
It also tells you how to adjust the free travel between the air servo pushrod and the hydraulic master cylinder.

Ask your mechanic if he needs parts for the air servo or for the hydraulic cylinder. If he doesn't know or suggests new assemblies for both (expensive!) then he doesn't know exactly what is wrong.

You might need a second opinion to avoid costing you lots of money without solving your problem.

Are the wheelbrakes adjusted properly? There is an indicator on the air servo (the black unit) that shows how much travel there is in the system and indicates when the wheel brakes need adjusting.

Unfortunately my scanner isn't working so I cannot send you an illustration, but it says "When the red band on the indicator rod is fully exposed then the wheelbrakes need adjusting".

Adjusting the wheelbrakes is simple - the adjuster is turned until the wheel cannot be turned, then the brakes are applied with the air system fully charged, then the adjuster is backed-off until the wheel is free to rotate without binding.

It might be worth doing this before proceeding with any other possibly expensive repairs.

Of course this doesn't confirm whether the linings are contaminated or have been overheated (you need to remove the brake drums to ascertain this, but is your mechanic telling you that the indicator rod is too far out (indicating that adjustment of the wheelbrakes is needed)?

[G-CPTN]

EJM indicates that it is a 330 diesel (the J) M (GVW range) (the E is a general configuration that doesn't mean much - 4x2, an H at the beginning would be 6x2 and a K 6x4).

The JM (with the E) are the important letters. You really need to try and decipher the 2000 / 2060 and any other numbers.

Are there any badges on the front of the cab that say TK750 or TK1020 or something like that? They would indicate the GVW range (which the M sort of covers).

Search for parts for an EJM.

[MazTalks]

Originally Posted by G-CPTN

EJM indicates that it is a 330 diesel (the J) M (GVW range) (the E is a general configuration that doesn't mean much).

The JM (with the E) are the important letters. You really need to try and decipher the 2000 / 2060 and any other numbers.

Are there any badges on the front of the cab that say TK750 or TK1020 or something like that? They would indicate the GVW range (which the M sort of covers).

Search for parts for an EJM.

Thanks for that The lorry was converted some time ago in uk by somerset coach builders either they have (or someone else has) removed EVERYTHING that was on the outside, she doesn't even have a bedford badge on the bonnet.
Log book info is :
Private HGV, 7490kg gross, 5420cc Heavy oil 2 axle rigid body
the beginning of the vin number is EJM2BCOFW .... the light dawns! maybe the 2000 is actually 2BCO !!! ugh... i am SO blonde!!! There is also a short 7 digit number for the engine