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I just completed replacing my Matco MC-1 master cylinders with the MC5-A
sold by Lancair.   I decided to do this after reading John Cooper's and
other articles about the improvements in the newer version.

The MC-5 master cylinders are 5/8" diameter, rather than the 1/2" diameter
of the original MC-1. Also, the MC-5 have a "backflow modification" which
corrects a lockup problem with dual-brake installations.  According to
Matco, the MC-5A is a MC-5 with a shorter shaft.

To make the new cylinders fit on my 235 with the adjustable rudder pedals, I
made an adapter which fits the bottom of the MC-5A from a piece of 3/4 by
3/4 aluminum bar, and shortened the shaft by 1/4".   The adapter fits over the 1/2" diameter bottom of the MC-5A and has a 1/4"
tab which matches the bottom of the MC-1 and fits into the fingers welded to
the bottom of the rudder pedal pivot shaft.  There is minimal clearance
between the floor and the bottom of the adapter.  It took 3 versions of
the adapter to get adequate clearance for full rudder deflection.

Shortening the shaft was easy, a 1" fiberglass cut-off wheel in a Dremel
tool took only a couple of minutes to grind through the hardened shaft.

I have placed a picture which shows the adapter and also the old and new
master cylinders on my web page:

      http://members.home.net/rbelshe/

Filling the brake system by pumping fluid in from the bottom of the wheel
cylinder with a pump oil can (as was suggested here on the list) was real
easy. A small air bubble which had been lurking in the high point of the
lines above the nose gear tunnel moved right through and the pedals now feel
firmer than ever before.

Bob Belshe

LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.