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MG TD TF 1500 - Little things that do a lot

Have just spent the best part of a week trying to get oil pressure on a rebuilt engine. I did everything recommended in the archives at least three times over with no success, but was determined not to attempt starting it until there was pressure on the gauge. On the way I found the gauge not functioning properly, but fixed that. Bought a garden sprayer and pumped oil in via the oil gauge capillary connection, topped up the pump and filter a hundred times, rotated the pump backwards, you name it and zero. Spilled lots of oil in the process. Eventually was cleaning up under the sump on my back when looking at the sump side and all those redundant bosses and screw holes, noticed a brass plug and tested it for tightness - i could move it by hand! It looked like it was a connection for external oil pipework on a previous incarnation of the XPAG. Anyway I fitted a copper washer and tightened it firmly. That did it. A week wasted for one little brass plug. Another day and I would have been taking the pump apart.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Dave,
So,, do you think that the pump was drawing air in???? or losing suction at that plug?
Your thread shoud be one for the Archives !!!!
SPW
Steve Wincze

As I assembled and then installed the V8 for my hot rod, all went well until I added coolant. Long story short.... the 6 fasteners at the back of the *brand new* water pump were only finger tight. I never even considered that they would need to be checked. 2 hours.

Yes, the little things sometimes do a lot.
MAndrus

In my case the loose plug was on the suction side of the pump and must have been drawing in air. It can only have been a very small leak, but it was enough. From zero to 50psi on the starter, just because of a slightly loose plug (without a copper washer).
Dave H
Dave Hill

Dave,

If you have the later model oil pump with integral filter, you are right about the use of the brass plug. That would have been for the external line used on the old style oil pump and filter system.
Charlie Duffy
Healdsburg, CA
Charles Duffy

Yes, that's right. It's engine number 32108. I also fitted a cartridge type filter.
Dave H
Dave Hill

This thread was discussed on 12/03/2015

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