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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - thermostat housing

Hi, Does anyone know a way of removing the thermostat housing on a 1275 without destroying it!!i would imagine its seized on the 3 studs,i spent over an hour today,and decided to walk away after liberal doses of wd40 over the studs, the 3 nuts and washers came of easily but the housing will not budge,ive used a rubber mallet as hard as i dare,any tips greatly appreciated. martin.
m a frame

If you've got a narrow flame blowtorch, aim it at the studs. They will expand into the holes and crush the corrosion thats holding the cover on. When/as it cools, tap the cover holes, with a a toffee hammer. I've done to loads of seized stuff. Always works.

WD40 won't do it though, you need real penetrating oil.
Lawrence Slater

A shallow pry bar?

I hope you've already got stainless steel studs on order?
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

soak it in plus gas for 3 days...

jobs a good'n
C L Carter

Lock 2 nuts onto the top of a stud and turn out/remove each stud in turn
Locking the nuts onto the stud can be difficult but once mastered you will find it easy.

A cheaper option to using stainless studs is simply when reassembling either generously coat each stud with copper grease or better still I use silicon grease on all water gaskets and studs.

Good luck
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Thanks for the tips, It will come off this weekend!! Martin.
m a frame

If all else fails, I've got a spare one.
Dave O'Neill2

Dave, Thanks for that, my 72 mini could do with a new one(last owner chisselled it off!!)needs plenty of goo to not leak, what do you want for it mate? Martin.
m a frame

TRy heating the casting up hot and melt candle wax onto the studs. It should penetrate and loosen the studs from the casting.
darnoc31

Martin,
if it's the thick gasket (and perhaps sealant) it could be a case of breaking the seal around the bottom (gasket/sealant/crud), carefully scrapping it out all around then carefully levering around it

at the worst, if you're careful, it will provide more areas where you can squirt more penertrating/releasing fluid such as Plus Gas

if you want to remove the studs then (as others have put already) soak well in advance with penertrating/releasing fluid such as Plus Gas and leave a long as possible

then using Bob's nuts

not sure about candles now as I'm not sure what goes into them now

if are loads of penertrating/releasing fluid such as Plus Gas, time and patience fails (vary rare I've found on things like this) then for the more firey stuff this will help - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn8SQdaCsKc&list=UU40j4KqUJPMVv4FQ29ro-xQ&index=25&feature=plcp
Nigel Atkins

Martin

Not sure if I have a Mini one, but definitely have midget.

email me at daveo138 at yahoo dot co dot uk
Dave O'Neill2

Well its off!! It took heat, plus gas, a little hammer and quite a bit of patience!!!! and no damage either, took best part of 2 hours!!!Many thanks for all the tips,this site really works!!
m a frame

This thread was discussed between 16/03/2012 and 18/03/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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