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What an Epic!!

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What an Epic!!
#1
  This topic is about my 1972 MG Midget MkIII
jdbrynes Jason B
Gosport, Hampshire, UK   GBR
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Well today I thought I would for the first time service my Midget myself. I have a friend who had a similar car in the past and has brought back to life a Vincent Black Shadow so pretty experienced........unlike me!!

All started well putting the front end on ramps and then jacking the rear. Started by putting in the engine flush and whilst the engine was running to get the flush working we had a look in the goody bag of service kit we had.

After cutting the engine we did the spark plugs nice and easy nothing of note and in fact the plugs in there already seemed in relative good condition. Bit concerned that they appeared to be the same sparks that I bought it with 18 months ago though it was serviced last Feb. For example I have an accuspark ignition system and the plugs in there were accuspark plugs. If it was serviced that I would have thought they would have been changed!!

Then replaced the gasket on the rocker box. Told to ensure all the surfaces are clean and free of debris such as old sealant and gasket. New gasket fitted with new sealant and replaced the rubber seals on the tp of the rocker. Strangely the ones ordered were different and were actually a better fit. All still going swimmingly.

Time to drop the oil undid the sump plug and out came the oil no problems allowed it to drain into a clean container (my friend said this was important for latter). Once drained he filter the oil through some of his missus tights (not sure if she knew or not but to late now....) to find out that they was absolutely no sludge or debris caught which was reassuring.

This is when our problems started....

It came time to remove the oil filter (new type spin on/off type) Shimmed under the car and tried by hand to find it wasn't shifting. My friend as a plethora of tools and found a chain wrench. Eventually got this on from underneath (not much room to play with) thought I had it but no the chain wrench was just crushing the canister creating a bit of an oily mess. Had another think and tried a rubber band wrench but still no movement. We even tried to adapt the chain wrench but this just crushed it even more. It was time to get to the local shop for a belt wrench and an opportunity to get on the Black Shadow which was an experience. Got the belt wrench got it on the canister felt it moving a few more turns on the ratchet and snap......the belt wrench broken. By this time the oil filter was knackered so the only other option was screwdriver time but not much room for to get one in. By this time we must have spent 2 hours on this alone....

Out came the Haynes Manual. If you can't remove the oil filter remove the dynamo and then the head housing for the oil filter. Thought fine we need to replace the fan belt let's get ti done. Removed the nuts from the dynamo (how long are those bolts) removed the oil filter housing from the engine block and pulled out the whole unit. In with the screw driver and finally the filter was off (and another oily mess). Cleaned up the housing unit removed all the debris created a paper gasket and some sealant and replaced the housing back into the engine block.....topped up the oil filter and finally screwed in the oil filter.

What an absolute nightmare.

On another note the fan belt that was supplied appears to be to small. Even with the dynamo slacked off to allow extra movement there was just no way that fan belt would stretch never mind then try and apply tension once in place. Is this right or should there be a little bit of slack in the fan belt???

Put the sump plug in topped up with Valvoline ran the engine no leaks..... Brilliant.

Back tomorrow to replace the dampers, replace the air filters, re-tune the carbs, check the gear oil levels, etc etc.

Surprising just how one thing can screw up your whole day. Fun though.

Jason

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James E Avatar
James E Jimmy Campbell
Bedford, VA, USA   USA
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Don't you just love it when a simple job turns to a big ordeal? The trip on the Vincent made it all good though.

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66jalopy Avatar
66jalopy Phillip Jolliffe
Lake City, FL, USA   USA
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That is why you should always do your own work. They tightened the filter so tight on one of mine that they buckled it putting it on. They also cross threaded the drain plug and tightened it with a Stilsen, (pipe wrench) They did a tv show on this awhile back. They marked all the parts before taking vehicle for service, after it came back they checked everything that was supposed to have been changed. A big percentage of shops never changed half the parts they were charged for.

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jdbrynes Jason B
Gosport, Hampshire, UK   GBR
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The trip on the black shadow was worth the hassle. Noisy wasn't the word. A springer spaniel nearly soiled itself when we went past.

Done the rest of the work...dampers were completely shot so some new ones should be more comfortable.

However manged to snap wheel bolt on the drivers front when refitting the wheels. The other 3 were quite easy but the front drivers wheel was a bit of a menace before the wheel bolt snapped. I have ordered 4 new ones to replace.

J

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Yankeedriver Avatar
Yankeedriver Joel Young
Albuquerque, NM, USA   USA
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Jason,

I'm with Phillip x2. I never, ever trust my ride to a garage. If you want it done right...

Joel.

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ronlcraven Avatar
ronlcraven Ron Craven
Clovis, Calif, USA   USA
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Be sure to use a torque wrench when tightening the lug nuts. Then you won't have broken wheel studs. Never let a tire shop use their impact wrench.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-05 11:04 AM by ronlcraven.

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purpleGT Avatar
purpleGT Gold Member Bud Osbourne
Pittsburgh, PA., USA   USA
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1956 MG MGA 1500
1972 MG Midget MkIII
1972 MG Midget MkIII
1974 MG MGB GT "The Grape"    & more
I wonder how many Spridget owners actually know the correct torque, for the wheel nuts? 46#, if I remember correctly. Those studs are pretty tiny, but are fully adequate for the Spridget.

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jdbrynes Jason B
Gosport, Hampshire, UK   GBR
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I believe the Haynes manual states 41-46 kg/m i think.

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jimbo20 Jim S
Cromer, Norfolk, UK   GBR
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In reply to # 3029960 by jdbrynes I believe the Haynes manual states 41-46 kg/m i think.

Nooooo! That equates to around 300 lbs/ft!

I think it should be 41-46 lbs/ft.

Well done for the service though. It should be easier for you next time! Re the fan belt - it sounds like the new one you have is for the 1275 model with an alternator (which has a smaller pulley) rather than a dynamo?

Jim



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-05 11:23 AM by jimbo20.

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refisk Rick Fisk
Frankenmuth, MI, USA   USA
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The Haynes manual does not speak French. It's 46 lb ft. grinning smiley

In reply to # 3029960 by jdbrynes I believe the Haynes manual states 41-46 kg/m i think.

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jdbrynes Jason B
Gosport, Hampshire, UK   GBR
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Hi all

Stand corrected.

It states 6.0 - 6.4 kg/m or 41-46 lbs/ft.

Thanks

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jdbrynes Jason B
Gosport, Hampshire, UK   GBR
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Hi Jim

I got the fan belt form the MGOC though when I ordered they never ask whether I had an alternator or dynamo. I do have a dynamo and from what you are saying that this definitely makes a difference.

I take it I can get a belt for a dynamo run midget?

.

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jimbo20 Jim S
Cromer, Norfolk, UK   GBR
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MGOC actually list 3 different size fan belts for the 1275 near the bottom of this list:

MGOC spares

I suspect you have been sent the shortest one of 813mm. Do you still have the old one which may still have a number readable on it - containing either 863 or 838, or failing that you could measure it.

Jim

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66jalopy Avatar
66jalopy Phillip Jolliffe
Lake City, FL, USA   USA
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The reason the factory tool was so short was to make it difficult to over tighten the nuts. As tight as you can with one hand should be good for the average person.

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Yankeedriver Avatar
Yankeedriver Joel Young
Albuquerque, NM, USA   USA
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In reply to # 3030084 by jdbrynes Hi all

Stand corrected.

It states 6.0 - 6.4 kg/m or 41-46 lbs/ft.

Thanks

Jason, the British Leyland manual says 45 ft. lbs. Clearly, the ballpark is considerably less than the ~70 ft lbs. that Discount Tire, et al. typically have their torque wrenches set at.

Joel

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