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MG TD TF 1500 - OOPS!

After 42 years of ownership I made a newbies mistake times 2.
I had a misfire so fitted my spare distributer to check it out.
When I tried to start the engine it would not fire up and made horrible noises.
You probably guessed, I was 180 out on the dizzy and I had left the starting handle in after timing while facing uphill.
Ray TF 2884

Ray Lee

We've all done it at least once. Leaving the starting handle in is dangerous for your shins!
Dave H
Dave Hill

If those are the first mistakes in 42 years I wouldn't worry!

The worst mistake I made was on an MGB with twin HIF4 SU's; I connected the fuel feed to the overflow fitting and vice versa. That way the fuel runs freely into the cylinder, where it even caused a hydraulic lock....
Willem van der Veer

I tried so hard to avoid the 180 out on my rebuilt dizzy I did it anyway. So when I pulled the dizzy to reinstall I forgot to disconnect the battery. Minor explosion in the crankcase. Beware.
Peter Dahlquist

The Saga continues.
Took it out for a test run, all OK. Came back to find a pool of oil where I had been parked. Up on the ramps, checked all over found no leaks. My neighbour said a truck had done a 3 point using my drive "and by the way your brake lights aren't working".
So the last of my Lucas switches has failed, at least it was still on the ramps and only took 30 secs to change.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Peter,
How did you trigger a "minor explosion in the crankcase" ????

Steve
Steve Wincze

Steve, raw gas fumes in the crank case, which can come from cranking when out of time. Turning the distributer, with the ignition on can cause a spark between the distributer and the engine block...boom! I did it once on a TC. Is till have a bald spot on my right wrist where the hair did not grow back due to the burn on my skin.
The explosion blew out the valve cover gasket, and the distributer was found about fifty feet away, once I got my vision and hearing back.
-David
D. Sander

This thread was discussed between 27/09/2015 and 30/09/2015

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