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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Oil Pump Cannister (Again)

I've just been looking in the archives to see what the comments were nearly three years ago when I was having trouble fixing the cannister to the back face of the backplate.

I've opened up the engine again since then, and it's now going back together again.

Everybody who said I'd be able to solder it on using a butane torch were correct, though I have charred a bit of my bench.

Bill's suggestion of JB Weld has been acted on as well. That tin cup ain't going nowhere.

Paul Walbran's warning to watch out for fouling the flywheel is today's topic, though. Having just fitted the flywheel and clutch, and turning the engine over, I was horrified to find that I could hear a little scrape alongside the usual sucking noises from the assembly lube in the bores. I've only got one ear, and couldn't tell which cylinder had a foreign body in it, so I called in Laura who listened carefully and said, "none of them - it's coming from the flywheel; it's scraping on that sticking-out bit".

Possible culprits? Thicker gasket; thicker solder joint; the fact that I hammered the circular face of the tin cup flat (or so I thought)? Probably all three. It must have been damned close all its life, though.



Nick and Cherry Scoop

Removing the backplate will show where the scrape is. A tap with the hammer should solve the problem.
J Bubela

Been back to the archives to look up sump fixing:-
Sealant or none?
Leave the cork seal proud or cut it flush?
Trim the flange gasket back to clear the cork seal end?
Grippy washers on top of the ovals?

Inconclusive on all fronts.
I have a plan.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

1, Use sealant I use blue hylomar
2, Leave the cork seal proud by 3/4mm so it squashes down.
3,Leave the sump flange gasket as is.
4,I use shake proof washers (as standard)on top of the oval washers. Just nip the set screws up and recheck them a few days later
Bob Beaumont

Sometimes large capacity oil pumps are too deep and the can fouls on the bolt heads - so when you tighten up the backplate the can is locally deformed. For the sump I trim the cork seals proud and use sealant - and nip it up again after 1000 miles.
f pollock

I'm sure I found a figure for how far the cork seal should protrude, once. I haven't been able to find it again, though.

The ends of the sump gasket are sometimes a couple of mm too long, so they need trimming slightly, just so the holes line up properly.
Dave O'Neill 2

Use a straight edge to check for volcano shapes at each of the bolt holes* on the sump flange and knock them down flat with a hammer. If the sump has been tightened "firmly" in the past then there are bound to be some.

* there must be a pun there somewhere. Maybe its hiding in a bolt hole.

GuyW

Ha ha! The flywheel was just kissing the embossed MOWOG on the cannister.

All is well, now that the face is properly flat. But I did just take the backplate off again to check the oil pump clearance, J Bubela. Plenty there, thank goodness.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Do all sumps have this raised feature along the flange? I don't remember my last engine having it.

Nick and Cherry Scoop

My '71 car sump doesn't have the extra ridge.
But then I don't have the blue Axminster or the "Relax" mug either. :-(
GuyW

Ha ha - you can see it's a garage mug because it's chipped. I think the Axminster might have to go soon. Months of hot air scraping and degreasing and general cleaning of oily bits have filled it with transferable tar. She don't like it in the house.

Do you change shoes for the garage?
Nick and Cherry Scoop

"Do you change shoes for the garage?"

Oh yes.

IIRC most sump flanges are flat, although I have seen one or two with the interesting feature...probably 948s.
Dave O'Neill 2

I don't think I like it. I would rather have a greater clamping area. My instinct is to put Hylomar either side of the ridge.

I shall look out some comfortable old shoes.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

I have a spare pair of safety shoes, so I wear those in the garage, garden, etc.
Dave O'Neill 2

You may need some rope too.
And carabiniers.
GuyW

This thread was discussed between 03/07/2017 and 04/07/2017

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