Softeneing dry pump buckets

[Teddy]

Hello all in Vintage Land
Im doing up an Ajax A6 piston pump and as it has sat in a yard, unused, for a long time, the leather "buckets" on the piston have dried out. What is the best way to soften them, please?

At present they are sitting in a bowl of boiled linseed oil. If this is the best way to soften them, does anyone know how long it might take?

The buckets are in pretty good order, otherwise, as are the valve rubbers. I need a couple of valve springs though.

Best wishes to all
Teddy

[grumdum]

Hello Teddy
     After soaking in linseed oil you knead that is you make them pliable by moving the sides back and forwards until you can turn them nearly inside out I do this with new buckets before using them.
        Regards    grundun

[jopeter]

Hi Ted my old Metters windmill books says just soak them in water for two days .

[Teddy]

Thanks to you both, Peter and Grundrum, much appreciated
Teddy.

[Clynton Brown]

I normally just get new ones I find most pump shops find them the one I go to even has them on the shelf!

[oceans15]

Hi Ted - I use neatsfoot oil on new seals and also heated them up in a saucepan of water if they are really hard and you want to soften them quickly... I also made new springs from a brass welding rod (for brazing) by removing the flux with a wire buff. If you have a socket set find one which will produce the right diameter spring when you wind the welding rod around it. I gripped the end of the rod against the lower edge of the socket in a bench vise to do this. The spring is only a basic return spring and is not intended to give a high seat pressure (and follow a cam profile) as per an exhaust valve. Cheers

[Teddy]

Thanks Clynton. You're right, they are readily available and I will probably purchase a spare set sometime. But I'm of the era that says if it can be tidied up to do another turn or two, then that's the way to go. (For now).

Ocean 15, your advice is great. I agree, the springs are light duty return spring already made of brass. I have been scratching my head working out where I might get one. You've solved my problem.

Thank you both for your replies
Teddy

[Clynton Brown]

Yeah I should try and not join in with all the wastage in the world today