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MG MGA - Fuel Sender Unit

Having been out for my first run of the season I found I was dripping petrol from the tank sender unit. It turned out it wasn't leaking around the unit but around the cover of the working of the unit as the cork seal had started leaking probably due to alcohol in petrol.

My question is should there be fuel in this chamber?

Paul
Paul Dean

Yes
dominic clancy

Thanks Dominic. This must the briefest thread ever!

Paul

Paul Dean

Make a new cork gasket. Drill small holes so the screws are press fit through the holes in the cork. When tightened the cork will constrict on the screws to prevent leakage around the screws. Cork works well with the alcohol fuel, no sealant required.
Barney Gaylord

They used cork for hundreds of years in wine bottles. I doubt alcohol will have attacked your cork gasket.
Geoff MG-TF

I just removed leaky rubber gaskets and fit cork gaskets to another sender unit today (well, Sunday), no sealant, and no leaks. Just make the screw holes undersize so the screws are pressed through, and it will seal around the screw threads.
Barney Gaylord

Good point about cork although in this case the one that failed was cork, perhaps it holes were too big though. I had done as Barney suggests before I raised this thread and that is fine. I still have slight leak which either around the terminal or the bottom of the unit itself so more work required.

Paul
Paul Dean

I would remove the sender for bench inspection because there's nothing worse than working on something when petrol is dripping on you!
It could be that the seal around the 5BA terminal screw that connects to one end of the sender coil has failed. I would dismantle the terminal and replace not only the seal but the sleeve insulation around the screw as well as the brass nuts...................Mike
m.j. moore

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2016 and 04/04/2016

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