MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fuel tank sender (for gauge).

It's a crazy design (oversight?) that the fuel tank sender (for the gauge) is only accessible with the tank emptied and removed from the vehicle.
Specifically, the Lucar/spade connector (on the sender) is open to the elements (albeit hidden on the top of the tank), and access to the connector is impossible with the tank in situ.

Has anybody cut a circular access hole in the car boot floor, giving permanent easy access to the sender and its Lucar/spade connector?

(Avoiding cutting such a boot floor access hole, in future I will solder a sound mechanical wire joint to the sender's male connector, creating a 20cm flying lead, thus eliminating the problem of the 'elements exposed' Lucar connector on the sender).
J Thomson

I don't defend BL/MG for the sake of it but I can't see this as a bad design or an oversight as originally the Lucas connectors on the sender lasted years and decades. Modern made connectors or sender are an entirely different matter.

I don't understand the 8" tail off the sender unless you have a hole in the boot near the sender.

Using heat shrink terminal connectors on to clean spade connectors on the sender that are coated with something like Contralube 770 should see decades.
Nigel Atkins

The Spridget is pretty much a Frogeye with different panels and rear suspension. The tank on the frog is in the same place. BUT the frogeye does not have a Lucar terminal, the sender wire is bolted to the sender. Its very rare for this to give trouble. I guess with the development of the cheaper Lucar connectors the access issue was never considered.
Bob Beaumont

An acquaintance of mine cut a hole in his Frogeye boot floor to access the sender covering the hole with a plate and a seal to avoid fumes.
The same access problem arises with my modern daily driver: a 1990 Ford Escort XR3i EFI, that I have owned from new, that has both fuel pump and fuel gauge sender inside the top of the fuel tank. I cut a hole, under the rear seat, for access covering the hole with a plate.
Alan Anstead

I guarantee it’s easier to get to than virtually any modern car!

I’ll be removing mine soon, the newly fitted seal doesn’t seal so can be quite embarrassing at the petrol station if I fill it up too much!

John Payne

John

The cork gasket is hopeless imv. I replaced my recently installed one (after having to fish bits of the new hopeless filler cap out of the tank) with a viton one.
Bill Bretherton

No not had to that on a midget but it is common practice on similar age VW Transporters.
On the VW the fuel tank and sender are situated between the rear wheels, which is good site for safety but means if the sender fails, the engine needs to be removed first before there is access to remove the tank and get to the sender.
Mine came already modified with a flap cut out of the boot floor, screwed back into position and sealed up with tape.
Dropping the tank on a Midget is not so bad by comparison and if the bolts/nuts are rusty, the top of the tank may be as well so a good time to inspect it, rather than cut a hole in the boot and then see a rusty tank top.
Jeremy MkIII

BB wrote >>> I replaced my recently installed one with a viton one.

JT replies >> May I ask where you bought it? Thanks.
J Thomson

My '63 Capri has an access plate, very useful.

However, I agree with Nigel. Given how long the original stuff lasted before giving trouble, I don't think the design was bad either.

But recently I had my tank out to cure a leak, that turned out to be a gasket, same as Bill. I too made it a flying lead affair while I was at it, but actually I noticed how very well preserved the under boot floor area is. It never gets wet.

You'd think the fuel pumps would pack up sooner too, as they are exposed, but look how long they last before trouble. Although on minis and 1100's, they get wetter, and the connections on those do suffer more.
anamnesis

When I did my "flying lead" adaptation I also added a soldered on earth connection with a long tail. This connects to an accessible earthing point. I think that earthing of the sender to the tank via its fixing screws and then the tank to the car are both second level connection routes.
GuyW

JT, I bought the gasket from Moss. Much better.

Like Guy, I've also added a wired earth connection (Frogeye sender).
Bill Bretherton

Me too for the earth and solder movenent. I'll have to check my pictures, but I think I used a new cork, and hylomar. Lasted 20 years before. But I'd have used a better (viton?) If I'd known about them.

Correction. It was only June this year when I fixed my leak. Memory? What memory. Lol

Anyway, I used FLEXOID gasket material and made my own, as I could only see corks for sale. Archive post reveals all. 😁
anamnesis

Re. Viton seal. Bill Bretherton, thank you for your reply.
I'm not doubting what you say, but Moss doesn't specify its ARA1502 ring is Viton?

But with petrol now E10, Viton is the way to go . . .
The following made me smile >>> https://www.tractorspareparts.co.uk/ara1502-seal-ring-for-tank-sender-unit-p-466.html

J Thomson

JT
I've just looked at Moss website and my Moss catalogue and, for the 948 and 1098 models (mine), the cork gasket is part no. 2H1082 whilst the viton one is 293-401. However, they only list the cork 2H1082 one for 1275/1500 models. You'd think the 293-401 gasket would fit all senders? Maybe worth a phone call.

I think ARA1502 is a BMC part number which doesn't link directly to the 2H1082 or 293-401 listing.
Bill Bretherton

Bill Bretherton, thank you for the Moss part numbers, much appreciated. Yes, I feel sure that 293-401 will fit the 1500 Midget tank. I will phone Moss before ordering. Cheers . . . .
J Thomson

JT,
as long as the call is free - but what about the holes?

Earlier uses screw to secure and later has a twist ring, different shapes and sizes as I remember, a quick look on Moss should show enough, or research on the various numbers.
Nigel Atkins

4/10/2021.
I've just received the following email reply from Moss (Feltham) concerning my Viton query for the tank sender seal (1500 midget) >>>

----------------------------------------------
The correct seal ARA1502 is Viton, we need to update the website to reflect this.
----------------------------------------------

Thank you to everybody on the BBS site for your replies.
J Thomson

JT
That's good news - at least you know what to order now.
Bill Bretherton

Thanks, Bill.
I see that Moss have now made their webpage detail change for ARA1502 >>> https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/sealing-ring-sender-unit-viton-ara1502.html

J Thomson

Not often I praise Moss but well done to them for their response by updating the website promptly, most others don't, at all.

I misunderstood I thought you were going to ask if 293-401 would fit the 1500, which it doesn't or later 1275s.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 30/09/2021 and 05/10/2021

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.