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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Running In

Right... MOT tomorrow. Yikes.

Car hasn't really ever been run properly, tomorrow will be its first outing in ten years! It's about a 15 minute drive to the garage.

What are peoples latest thoughts on running in a rebuilt engine (yes, I know it will take more than 15 minutes)? Thrash it or take it gentle?

Also, having never driven such a car, how are you supposed to know everything is working as it should? Or do you just drive about waiting for stuff to break and then when it does, it is too late and you crash!?

Or am I worrying about things too much? :-)

Cheers,
Malcolm


M Le Chevalier

Is the engine new?

If it is.... yes worry, ALOT !!!

I dont think your ready for a MOT just yet

If the engine is new, the danger is you can ruin it very quickly by not properly breaking in the camshaft properly... on the 1275, it needs to run a around 2000 rpm for 20 minutes

But you have to make sure everything is tuned in and adjusted properly ... then you retest all the specs agian and change the oil

Next you want to make sure everything electrical is working properly

Then the drive train by slow driving around the yard, or in front of your home

Then you take it for a me drive, then 10 then 100 ect ect

Then you drive it rough like you stole it to avoid the cly glazing ... get those rings bedded in
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Worrying too much.

A lot of us have been there and done that. Although mine went about 250 yards for first run.

Just accept that something probably needs doing then when passed drive around to test and fix it till it goes reliably.

If I and El Lawrence can do it then you will find it easy ;-)

Good luck.
Dave Squire

PS looks good.
Dave Squire

Yes it does look good... if the engine is already broke in and not new... then yeah id chance it, just have a but load of tools and a friend following you and watch your gauges, and all your spidy sences tuned in... hear, look, feel, smell and yes taste those fluids as they pour onto the driveway

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Don't worry Prop!

The camshaft bed in has been done, it has been up and down the street a few times etc. There is almost half a mile showing on the "trip computer"!

But I have only ever gone as far as I can push it back to the garage :-)

That is +1 vote for rag it, excellent :-D

Malc.

M Le Chevalier

Wow...you look to be in good shape malc. Since youve already got the cam bedded... just drive it the way your going to.
Steven Devine

Well, the MOT verdict is in... it failed on a weak handbrake. Boo!

Some other issues I need to sort that they didn't notice tho, like the sticky speedo and strange engine related noises.

Great to drive it for 10 or so miles though. What a car! :-D

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

I adjusted mine first year by adjusting the rear shoes up. As it was only the first time the car had been used the shoes moved and passed on foot brake. However they had 'settled' and hand brake needed the extra adjust.

On year 2 the cable had stretched so I adjusted where it exits the prop tunnel. There was not enough adjustment so I slacked it off and slit a piece of brake pipe and inserted as a spacer between adjuster and bracket. Then crimped up enough to stay on and slack enough to slide. Also applied under seal. Still very good positive tight action. Well pleased with simple fix.
Dave Squire

make sure they put the right weight in - I failed an MOT because they had the 1500 weight in their % calculation and it was enough to push it into the failzone.
Rob Armstrong

Required % is 25% (whatever that means), I scored 21.

I have since tightened up all the linkages (i.e. shortened the adjustable rods I have to remove more slack) as well as tightening up the shoes 1/4 turn.

Handbrake now is on tight at 3 clicks and I can get it to 4 clicks if I really heave.

When tested it was in the ~ 5-6 click range, so should be good.

Malcolm

M Le Chevalier

Car looks good Malcolm!
Sounds as if you've solved the handbrake issue.

Just out of curiousity: will the front be repainted or polished?
Arie

hi arie,

yeah paintwork needs some sorting. I lost my job and have to move city, so had to rush to get it finished to make it easier to move.

bonnet and left wing are just in primer, right wing I painted and flatted ready for another colour coat that never happened.

rear looks ok in pictures but is actually really badly crazed!

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Sorry to hear about the carrier path...that sucks, hopfully the marriage is going well, at least 1 out of 3 is something to hang your hat on.
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

It's OK Prop, wifey and I had been considering moving anyway. We work in the Oil and Gas business and you have probably seen in the news, oil has dropped from $110/barrel to $40 this year. The industry has taken a huge hit with thousands of job cuts.

I am not able to say much more about the circumstances, but it has been a positive thing for me for sure.

Big positive is that it has given me the free time to get the car going, even if it does look rubbish! :-)

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

By admiring your car Im pleased to know that some of my well spend money on fuel has been invested in restoring a midget.

Malcom, let me know where your planning to work next so I can spend money there too for you to finish your car.
LOL!!!
Arie

You work in oil and gas ???

Well in that case, you get what you deserve....haha

Just kidding. Its tough for everyone in that field right now, just to much capacity ...I was just reading last night it my go to $27 per barrel next year...but im sure will still stay high at the pump

But I think you have a great future ahead of you, thats where the REAL money making jobs are... just a 4 year degree in engineering can get you a 100k per year job right out of college in the oil related professions


Not to shabby

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Good luck with your engineering degree in the oil business Prop.

I have three and my business is on the skids. I'm on the bones of my ar*e living on my savings and waiting for investment to start again before my knowledge and skills decay into insignificance.

Best bet is to become a Muslim and go to work for DAESH maintaining their refineries haha!
Greybeard

aye, I have an engineering degree. graduated 6 years ago. done well for those 6 years (not quite 100k sadly) but it has hit hard times. very suddenly and deeply.

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

No degrees here except for an honorary phd in poverty...haha

I think the new normal.is here to stay....I dont see how this ever ends

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

This thread was discussed between 16/11/2015 and 20/11/2015

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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