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MG TD TF 1500 - Oil pressure help needed

I have no oil pressure on my newly acquired TD. I went through every suggestion I could find from turning the left rear wheel backward to packing the pump with vaseline. I took the sump off and think I found the problem. It appears that the gasket the PO used between the pickup tube and the strainer was too big. The gasket is the red and black object in the photo and it appears to be homemade. It is 3/8" wide. The moss gaskets appears to be just under 1/4". It looks to me like the oil couldn't get around the gasket and into the strainer. Does that look to be the case?

Thanks

Tim
TD26711


Tim Burchfield

Certainly appears to be the case from the pic if I am observing it correctly, so definitely fit the correct gasket. Having said that, you no doubt already know that priming the pump can sometimes be very difficult. It took me a long time, and that was on a TF which is supposed to be easier. In the end I was successful by using a pump up garden sprayer to fill the oil galleries.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I just couldn't get any oil pressure after I rebuilt the TF's engine. After a few days of cursing I blocked up the breather holes in the rocker cover and tappet chest and pressurised the sump with compressed air via the dip stick tube. When I turned the engine over with the starter the pressure rose to 50 almost immediately.

Jan T
J Targosz

although the gasket is too big there should be enough clearance between it and the strainer ( see fig A34 in manual). I would check that there is a flow through the strainer, pipe and that the sump gasket is not occluding the hole into the block.
Also check the relief valve is working correctly and not re-circulating the oil,
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

I have always used a small hand pumped sprayer to fill oil pan. I attach it to the fitting junction of oil pressure gauge. Then it fill s the complete oil gallery. You can see the oil oozing from around the rockers too.
This sprayer can be had a K-Mart for less than $10.00.
Sandy
Sanders

Agree with Sandy. Pick up a small weed sprayer, remove the spray wand and attach the hose to the connection on the block that goes to the oil pressure gauge. Fill the sprayer with about 2 qts of oil, pump up the pressure and backfill the engine block. You should have pressure within seconds after reconnecting the gauge and cranking the engine.
Gene Gillam

Thanks everyone. I should have mentioned that the gasket shown in the picture is pretty thin. I think that when the pump started to create a vacuum the gasket was sucked down on the strainer preventing oil flow. Waiting on a new gasket set. I just hope I don't have to resort to the very helpful suggestions above after fitting the new gasket. Hopefully the pump is still primed with vaseline. Thanks again.

Regards

Tim
TD26711
Tim Burchfield

Had also problem priming my renovated TD. Filled the system after the pump with a hand pump, but got no pressure. But after turning the engine a few revs anti clock vise - thereby filling the pump - I had pressure immediately when using the starter.
YS Strom

If the engine was rotated even one rev the Vaseline will be gone from the pump. Pay close attention to fitting the pickup to sump and sump to block areas. Ensure the fit is perfect with no gasket in place, the bolts/threads are fine and the pickup draws up perfectly to the sump. If the main sump gasket is installed wrong, a blob of blue Permatex is used, or other things can cause no pressure. The cheap sprayer deal is the way to go. George
George Butz

Thanks George. But are you saying don't install gasket #124?

Tim
TD26711

Tim Burchfield

Tim, do install gasket #124. You want to be sucking uip oil, not air. Bud
Bud Krueger

Fit parts without only to make sure the flange/faces are parallel and not warped. Yes, use the gasket at assembly. George
George Butz

Bud and Dave thanks. Just waiting for gaskets to reinstall and then start pumping that gusher (I hope).

Tim
TD26711
Tim Burchfield

Sorry, George I meant to say thanks Bud and George. I always appreciate the many helpful hints and good advice you post here.

Regards

tim
Tim Burchfield

SOLVED! Turns out the PO left the block mounted bypass valve in the engine. I was informed here and elsewhere that it is not needed when the conversion to a horizontal pump and filter is made. On advice from Ray Lee and others on this site I removed the block bypass and I now have oil pressure. What a relief. This site has proved invaluable again.

Tim
TD26711
Tim Burchfield

This thread was discussed between 19/10/2017 and 01/11/2017

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