Austin Ten Drivers Club

Do our engine blocks have water drain taps, have searched all over but can't seem to find one. Thanks Mike. p.s 37 Cambridge

Hi Mike,
The Austin Ten List of Spare Parts (Publication 1540, issued June 1937) shows the aluminium Water Inlet Elbow [1G418] with its threaded boss at the bottom of the curve and the Drain Tap [2H764] with its fibre washer [2K4975].
The Twelve four engine which is a similar but larger design has the coolant drain tap in a more or less similar position.
Hope this is helpful,
Peter C. [6515]

Hi Peter, thanks for that info, will look at the bottom outlet to see is it is there. Many thanks again Mike Hobson

Have had a look no drain tap so will flush out through top hose to give a good clean out before adding antifreeze for the winter. Thanks Mike

Austin Cambridge has the drain tap on the bottom tank of the radiator and NOT on the bottom water branch (BWB) like the earlier cars. But is often difficult to open. On mine I have had to drain system by removing the BWB and bottom hose, but this does not drain the last drop out of the radiator bottom tank as this is lower.

Hi Peter, tap at the bottom of radiator could not move the small handle, but managed to get the whole tap out of the radiator, snipped off the split pin, and separated parts. Good clean up of every part,just the fine hole to drill out rest of split pin, assemble and will have working drain tap. I did have a new one if I failed. Thanks Mike

Mike
Well done. Fancy coming round and fixing mine?
Peter

If you were closer would gladly do it, the drilling went a bit off centre, but it is together and it works but a little bit stiff, may have to use emery paper to take of a little of the taper.Mike

Use a *very* small amount of fine valve grinding paste (or Brasso), Mike and lightly lap them in. Caution advised because you're lapping tapers and its easy to overdo it, to the extent that the plug sticks through the tap body too far and then you'll have other problems (don't ask...).

Used 900 grade wet, and then lapped in with brasso, now works a treat,realised not to go too far. Thanks Mike.