Matco MC-5 Brake Master Cylinders

[flickroll]

The Matco MC-5 is a brake cylinder with a self container fluid reservoir. Is anyone using the referenced brake cylinder in an RV-8? If so, will this cylinder allow for full rudder pedal motion with the pedals in the most forward position? Also, does anyone know the difference between the MC-5 and the MC-5A? I have an RV-8 with add on reservoirs but this configuration will not allow the pedals to be in the full forward position.

Thanks

Jim Shannon

[BuckWynd]

Jim,

I had seen the MC-5 in a couple of RV-8, so I bought them. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to use them on my plane -- I found there was a little too much re-engineering to do because of my particular pedal extensions and some other geometry issues. (As I recall, the MC-5s would hit the pedal weldments when the brake pedal was pushed, since they're so much wider than the stock ones.) I ended up using A-600 screw-in reservoirs mounted on the stock master cylinders, and this looks like it'll work fine, although with either method (A-600 or MC-5) you will end up losing that forward hole in the slide bar.

As far as the differences betwwen the MC-5 and MC-5A ... According to the Matco website:

"The MCMC-5 master cylinder measures 8.25 inches from end to end and 7.7 inches from mounting hole to mounting hole. A 0.625 inch diameter piston is used. Available stroke is approximately 1.388 inches and displacement is 0.43 cubic inches."

"The MCMC-5A master cylinder measures 7.7 inches from end to end and 7.2 inches from mounting hole to mounting hole. A 0.625 inch diameter piston is used. Available stroke is approximately 1.19 inches and displacement is 0.37 cubic inches."

Hope this helps!

[AndrewTR30]

Randy Lervold used this setup on his RV-8, not sure if he did on his -3. Seemed like a pretty neat idea, not sure how easy it would be to fill or drain the reservoir.
http://www.romeolima.com/RV8/IdeasProducts.htm

Part way down the page.

[flickroll]

Thanks Buck. I need to maximize my legroom and hoped there was a way to use the Matco's or reservoirs attached to the master cylinders. Guess I'll need to go the remote reservoir with tubing route.

Jim