MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - New Camera

I got one of those bendy tv cameras for my birthday, and I've been experimenting in all the obvious orifices - interior of petrol tank, radiator etc. This morning I put it down No.3 plughole and saw a vertical score down the bore. Sweeping it with a piece of garden wire, I could feel it.
Nick and Cherry Scoop


""I've been experimenting in all the obvious orifices""

Im a bit confused

Are you talking about an engine, or more say...biological ?

Kiiiii-nky....nice

Prop
1 Paper

Thanks, Prop.

Well, head's off, sump's off, piston is out, and I cannot see anything wrong. The score goes almost to the top of the bore, so it has to have been something carried on the top ring, or the ring itself.

Surprised by the number of rings, though. Is 5 normal for a 948 engine?

Nick and Cherry Scoop

For the orginal factory for the 1275 had 5 rings

I want to say 3 compression and 2 oil ???
1 Paper

I've looked carefully through Terry Horler's book, and there's only one reference to 'lower oil control piston rings' and that refers to the 1098 engine, but it doesn't say whether it's an additional ring.

This piston is AE 14396B M163.

Meanwhile, is it sensible to try gentle honing to get the score out? I'm ready to go with it, but lacking in confidence.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Good question

Id say if the compression on the cly was good, and with in spec, id slap it back togather without the hone... why risk fixing what isnt broken

If the compression was off by a mild amount low id do a light hone and reassemble

But if time isnt to tight, then id buy a set of fresh new rings for all 4 pistons ...hone all the clyinders and assemble that... and get new hardware for the connecting rods and bearing shells...with the head off have the valves reground and seats cleaned up...and it would be like ""almost"" a new engine, your already there as far as tearing it down

Just make sure rhe rings are for the factory orginal piston NOT the aftermarket. ,AE or its varients

Prop

1 Paper

Thanks for your help, Prop. I appreciate it.
Honed it gently this morning and, looking at the top of the piston, I can see where the foreign body was lodged. I'm afraid I must have done that during my work on the engine. Anyway, it's back in with the help of a baked bean can, and I'll close it all up again tomorrow.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Baked bean can....now thats orgjnal, i used a briggs 3 hp lawn mower engine ring compressor with great success on my engine

Ive used a long time ago on a lawn mower a hose clamp ... it worked okay

Congrats on your accomplishment

Prop
1 Paper

I'm also impressed with the baked bean can idea Nick. Perhaps you could market them!
W Bretherton

If selling them caught on, Nick would have to eat an awful lot of baked beans.

Nick, are you sure that the foreign body mark on the piston wasn't just a left over baked bean?
GuyW

Guy...

This thread is about to complete 360 degrees cuz of you...haha

BEAN can ring compressor company means ...FREE GAS for his car... that cam is going to come in very useful for monitoring free gas storage system

Haha

Prop
1 Paper

Ha ha, Prop! Nice thinking. Methane powered, AKA Swamp Gas, only Mr T wants to drain it doesn't he? Time you lot got rid of him, I think he is getting bored and wants to play with different toys.
GuyW

Ha ha ha. I don't eat enough of them to achieve even my modest mileage. Actually, the bean can was very flimsy, and it was all rather trial and error: the first two rings went in with the can and mole grips, the next two with my fingernails, the last with the can again.

Bean can overlapped and bound round with rubber bands might have been ideal, but I couldn't find any.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

"Bean can overlapped and bound round with rubber bands might have been ideal, but I couldn't find any."

Or a large jubilee clip.

.
Dave O'Neill 2

I never thought of that, Dave. Or the kitchen jam jar lid taker-offer, if I could have sneaked it out.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

. . . . and I was only 4'-7" from my cable ties.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

This thread was discussed between 15/08/2017 and 19/08/2017

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now