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MG TD TF 1500 - Gremlens

I went out to the garage ( My garage is heated and underneath the house,) to take a picture of the "Main Beam" lamp.

I decided having it lit would enhance the picture.
Turning the key on I noted that the fuel pump did not shout off.

Opening up the hood, I found I had fuel squirting out of the junction of the front fuel bowel and the fuel hose. The drilled bolt was quite loose.
almost 1/2 turn.

So was the one on the rear fuel bowel. Both piston dampers were loose and the front one was half off.

I had last driven the car in early November and when I drove it into the garage I did not notice this.

Now the temperature in the garage seldom dips below 50F.
There is a steam radiator in there.
If the outside temperature goes below 0 F I turn on an additional 7.2Kw electric heater.

I believe I stilol have a bit of a leak since the fuel pump clicks, once, about every 20 seconds

What would cause this sudden loosening?

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Jim - basaed on what you say, nothing - the loosening is not "sudden" at all.

It certainly sounds like the fittings have loosened over time as a result of vibration, and/or insufficient tightening. These cars are pretty loosey-goosey, and I find I get results going over things every month or so, to find issues just like yours. It's amazing how loose some things can get - the dampner, the manifold studs and nuts, the float bowl bolts, flexible fuel lines and bolts, overflow pipe bolts, radiator hose clamps, etc.

What you describe is gradual when the car is driven, and things shake loose. I very much doubt it was something that happened in storage.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Early on in my ownership of my TD I kept noticing that the Carb piston bolts, the float bowl bolts and the banjo bolts would be loose about every other time I drove the car. Because they are brass I didn't want to tighten them beyond about half a grunt of torque. Nowadays, and for the past two years, I just always check those bolts together with oil and coolant level before starting up each morning. Remarkably, since I started checking each time, none of the bolts have been loose and the oil and coolant levels have always been good. Can't explain it but, since it ain't broke, I ain't gonna fix it.

Jud
J. K. Chapin

If you position the float chambers to close to the engine they can foul the return coil springs on the throttle shaft. This normally locks the accelerator pedal solid but it can rotate the float chamber and cause it to become loose.

Jan T
J Targosz

Well the bugs have not gone yet!

In addition to the below mentioned fuel leak, I had the radiator and the water pump go early in the spring.

Now this.

Driving home, yesterday, from the BAE monthly retiree's luncheon and while crossing an overpass, I noted a load clacking noise echoing off the wall. This was followed by a gearbox extension vibration and rattling noise.

We got home without incident and today I put Elvira up on jack stands.
Looks like I lost both Universals.
The front (picture) is throwing grease all over the driveshaft tunnel and the rear has some play.

I have two on order from AS.
I will start disassembly in the mean time.

Any hints of cautions?

Jim B.


JA Benjamin

Found two causes, but it was me not gremlins.

The end next to the transmission, Arrows not lined up, 1/4 turn off. I must've done that in 1983 In Wisconsin.

On the end near the differential, this had play in it, the grease fitting was missing. One of the needed bearing sets had gone bad.

While I was in there I found this cast on the flanges. My TD had 44400 on the clock, before restoration, so its most likely original.

Jim B.


JA Benjamin

I realize it is now too late, but I have noticed a significant reduction is general vibration by having the driveshaft balanced. They usually weld at least 2 flat washers on the shaft to properly balance it; it may be my imagination, but the transmission feels quieter, as well.

There are driveshaft-balancing shops all over the place, most often accustomed to doing truck and hotrod driveshafts.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I finally got the driveshaft back in. Not permanently, since one of the yokes is oversized, but with the help of a little Locktite, enough to get me another 6 miles.

I wanted to get the attached picture.

Not a Lancaster but most as unique.

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

Nice Ford Tri-motor
James Neel

This thread was discussed between 15/02/2019 and 11/10/2019

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