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MG TD TF 1500 - Total Milage Confusion

When I got my car the speedometer cable was broken, only for me to find out the speedometer was frozen, so I'm sure that's what caused the cable to go, tack cable also was broken. Reading the odometer, which indicates 38,480 miles, I questioned it right from the start. But I just finished putting new brake shoes on the car and the drums looked like they've never been cut and had a near perfect surface in them. The steering rack is very tight, like new. Seeing how this car sat in a building for a known 20 years, maybe longer, after it was in an accident, I believe it's possible the odometer might be correct. I have two spedometers and the other one with 68,000 miles + is very faded and the numbers are in poor condition, mine looks real nice for it's age. So what do you think, should I believe the instruments that came in the car or?
Now, the riveted shoes I took out were in excellent shape though slightly worn, but I replaced all of them as the left rear seal leaked in the drum and ruined the shoes.

What do you think? PJ
Paul S Jennings

Paul - "What do you think?"
Let me ask this question - what choice do you have? If anyone challenges the mileage, ask if they have a way to determine what the actual mileage is.
Cheers,
D W DuBois

Yeah, your right Dave, no sense questioning what I'm looking at. Every indicator shows a low mileage car. Thanks for your input. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I've been thinking about that this afternoon (yard work isn't the most stimulating thing for the brain). The only other option would be 132,000 miles and I think that the car would show that kind of mileage.

When we purchased out TD back in 1974, it was showing 84,000 miles on it. Since that became my wife's daily driver, by 1980 when I started restoring it (she made me get her a MGB before she would relinquish the TD) it was very close to 100,000 miles. Since the restoration (armature) we have pretty well pushed it to close to 150,000 miles and is still my wife's car of preference when going anywhere. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Paul

I would think the decision is yours to make, but if it was mine, I would take a picture of the speedometer showing the low miles, than since you are restoring the car, I would have the speedometer refurbished and have the miles set to 0. JMHO.

Gary
G Parker

Paul -

You probably have already removed the speedometer and checked it out. But if not ... pull it out and see what is frozen. Based on threads in the archive, you probably shouldn't dismantle the odometer.

My odo shows 31,200 miles and has had a broken speedo cable and frozen speedo head for who-knows-how-long.

I pulled it out last week. It looks brand new (31,000 miles). Perhaps yours with 38,000 miles looks new, too. I believe that my problem was the bushing that accepts the cable. Gently broke it free, added a drop of oil on the bushing, spun it counter-clockwise with a screwdriver for a while. Seems to be working. The car is on jack stands; I started it and put in gear today. Seems to be working. I'll find out for sure this week.

See current thread "Speedometer - TF, prevent damage?"

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook


PJ

I dont think this is an ethical dilema and I think the answer is straightforward.

Based on what you know...the mileage shown on the broken speedo is probably near to being correct.

As Dave rightly says - it is up to others to prove it otherwise.

Dave's TD is - I would suggest - unusual. Not many TD's have run so many happy miles and given so much pleasure to a family over such a long time.

It would be unreasonable to think your car had done 138,000 - but it would be reasonable to take the speedo at face value at 38,000.

When we come to part with our cars - it would be a bold man amongst us who could look the new owner in the eye and guarantee the mileage is accurate.

As we all know honesty always pays and if you ever sell the car I would just tell the new owner what you know.

In any event all of our cars are like "Triggers Broom". For those of you who are unclear what this British expression means please do ask.
Doctor Bob

Triggers broom....for those who don't know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUl6PooveJE
Doctor Bob

Wonder if this comes under "The Ship of Theseus", whether an object, in this case the speedometer, which has had all of it's components replaced remains fundamentally the same object! It's a paradox, wouldn't you say? I don't even think Socrates could figure that out! OR, is what you see, what you see? Sorry, I run off at the mouth some times and a lot of the time it makes no sense! Or does it? LOL. PJ
Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 21/09/2014 and 23/09/2014

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