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MG TD TF 1500 - Dash pots unscrewing themselves?

Sunday I opened the bonnet and was astounded to see BOTH my dashpots had unscrewed themselves (the brass knob where you put the oil in the top)! They had not fallen out thank goodness but were totally open. They were on the low side with oil if that means anything? Has anyone ever seen this happen?
Ed
efh Haskell

I had this happen to me a couple of years ago but only on the rear carb. I was at car show and one of the owners was pointing at something while strange sounds were emanating from his throat. It took me a few moments to realize he was pointing at the dashpot while was obviously quite loose. I tightened it and that was all it needed. I was naturally worried that it would happen again while driving but it never did so I can only assume that I just didn't tighten it enough when I added oil to it.

Larry
LD Kanaster

Happens all the time with mine. After a lot of driving sometime I notice that the car does not accelerate as well as it did. I will stop and check the dampers and usually I find one that has loosened. I just tighten them down and give them a snug and they are good for another 1000 mi.

Their is so little thread holding them, it doesn't take much to vibrate them loose. And I do not want to put a wrench on them because that would surely strip the threads.
C.R. Tyrell

Me too only it seems (so far) to be only on the front carb but it has infected both the dashpot cap and the banjo bolt (dashpot causes rough running - banjo is much worse and dangerous). I inspect them every time I take her out and every 100 or so miles if on a trek.

Jud
J K Chapin

Locktite Blue perhaps?
efh Haskell

ed, it happened to me until i started to use loctite. i use the penetrating grade. regards, tp
tom peterson

I use an o ring,
Len Fanelli

Would Teflon tape on the threads work? I don't know how it would stand up to the stuff that passes for gasoline these days.
Jack Long

Good day all:

Are the fibre washers in place ?

I have never had that problem with the oil cap assemblies on either the TC or TD and it may be because of the above mentioned washers.

Emdall: Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, Canada
kernow

Like Jack, I have not had that problem on the TD, however I did on our MGB. I tried everything, including completely degreasing the the threads on the caps and putting Loctite on the threads - nothing cured the problem until I purchased new dampers. Since then I have never had a problem. That may be the only cure. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

The needed fiber washers give enough crush that you can use a wrench to gently snug them down - they don't come loose then. Maybe replace the fiber washers.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

i have had this happen a few times,,,, most likely from the fiber washers getting old and brittle,, not able to be compressed to hold it in place,,, Lens suggestion of "O" rings would solve this,,,,,

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

To jack long...Teflon tape is a residential/commercial building plumbing product and should never be used on an internal combustion engine. Ever. This from a friend of mine who has an engine over haul business..including race experience..for over 30 years. Keep that stuff in your plumbing kit. Regards, Tom
tom peterson

My washers are old I'm sure. I'll try O rings. If not I'll get some washers. Thanks for the advice all. I completely forgot there were washers in there!
Ed
efh Haskell

Can someone show me where these washers show up in the Service Parts List? I don't think I've ever seen them on an H2. They're in Moss' catalog, but not in A/S'. They don't show in the Haynes SU Manual. Just puzzled. I just set mine finger tight (I do have big hands) and I've never had come loose. Bud
Bud Krueger

370-650 in the moss catalogue for the washers.
C.R. Tyrell

It's true. You do learn something new every day. Washers??? My dashpot never had one and I never noticed it in the parts books. Mine used to come loose so I tightened it with a small channel lock. It worked but it messed up the brass knob. Thanks for posting. Now I know thr correct way to assemble it.
Mort
Mort Resnicoff (50 TD-Mobius)

Happened to me once or twice also. The joy of owning a British car...
Tom Maine

C.R., Moss also has 459-299 in their catalog, but that doesn't mean it's a standard part. Bud
Bud Krueger

They show up in SU's exploded diagram:
http://sucarb.co.uk/carbspec/carburettor/spares/id/1546/

Also in their printed parts guide for generic H-type carbs. Perhaps it was an engineering change after the fact....

Rob Edwards

Bud; That is way too funny!
C.R. Tyrell

Thanks, Rob. I hadn't seen that before.
Thought you'd like that one, C.R. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, I was more than a bit slow getting the wit. Fortunately, there was a thread a couple of months ago (my search skills are inadequate to locate it) with a pic of part 459-299.

Jud
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 04/11/2013 and 06/11/2013

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