I have a tandem master cyclinder from a westfield, I have not yet put fluids in the system. Today I have been fitting my pedals and on the brake I test pressed the pedal.
The piston has pressed in and not returned, so the pedal pushed in to max and didn't come back again.
As I said system has no fluid and not connected, but should the piston have returned?

Cheers.

Steve.

No your ok, with open ends you are compressing nothing to push the pedal back.

Carry on building.

good news! thanks

Steve.

tandem master cylinders should have 2 springs inside them to push the pistons back!

Id be inclined to check to see what is jammed first? It may be possible that the seals have turned inside out due to no lubrication and are preventing the pistons from moving back.

Assembly Pic

[Edited on 13/4/09 by prawnabie]

hmm interesting. When I pushed the pedal it took a lot of force to get it moving, as if the piston had seized. I guess I need to strip it down in the morning. It originates from a mk2 fiesta apparently.

Maybe I can get a recon kit from a motor factors.

sorry, must put brain in gear saw tandem and thought two rather than tandem as in two in line.

Very common with new cylinders

Some very low pressure compressed air applied to each outlet in turn will push the pistons back.

A cylinder needs fluid in it to lubricate the seals and pistons.

[Edited on 14/4/09 by britishtrident]