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MG MGA - Clutch Slave Cyl 'O' ring

Had my clutch slave cyl sleeved and then I installed the rebuild kit. All has gone well until the time came to attach the end rubber boot and place the steel "O" ring over it. For the life of me, I can fiqure out how to make it fit. I have already damaged one rubber boot seal ....so what's the secret of installing the "O" ring.
Gordon

First thing is to check that the ring is the right size, ie does it fit over the end easily without the boot. It has been a while since I did mine, but a little dishwashing liquid will lubricate without damaging the rubber, and will make it easier to slide the ring over the end.
Jeff Schultz

It is the origional ring. It is slightly out of round but I have reshaped it as best can be. I tried using some brake fluid to lubricate it but no sucess.On thing for sure is ....do not try to fit it using a screwdriver. I put a hole in the seal.
Gordon

I have never managed to get them on either (even when brand new and round). I just use a cable tie.
dominic clancy

I use snap ring pliers. Snap on # SRP2. They have a little hole in each tip,works easily.
R J Brown

It's a matter of a combination of finnesse and force, sort of like mounting a tire on a wheel. Press the ring down the boot to drop into the groove on one side. Then work your way around a little at a time to push the rest of the ring into the groove.

Last time I did this was Jan '02, usuing Moss supplied rubber parts. It mighr be possible that the shape of the boot has been changed since then. If it is thicker around the sides it could be tougher to install the ring.
Barney Gaylord

Well I got it on. I took the boot and lined the outside groove with Vaseline...put the "O" ring onto the boot and pressed as much of the boot as possible on the the slave cyl. When I could get no more on I took a pair of pliers AND CAREFULLY using the casing of the slave cyl and the edge of the "O" ring I clipped it on. We patience and some lube it will fit. I cleaned it off...crawled under my car and proceeded to bolt the slave on. AAAAGHHH @#$%^^&& My parts guy sold me the wrong size bolts. Bloody frustrating.
PS: would be so much easier if The Brit's had put a large clip ring clamp (like the valve cover hose type)on the slave cyl boot in the first palce. Thanks everyone
gordon

Gordon,
Congratulations on getting it on. However, I would not use vaseline or any other petroleum based product to lubricate rubber. Many rubber compounds breakdown very quickly when lubricated with petroleum. That is why I recommended dishwashing liquid. There are also special rubber lubricants that you can get at some tire or auto stores, or you could even get K-Y jelly at a drug store.

Since the underside of the MG is usually coated with oil, the boot may be designed to tolerate petroleum, but then again, the oil may be the reason they seem to fall apart so quickly.

Jeff
Jeff Schultz

Jeff.....now you tell me. LOL
Gordon

Gordon

I wouldn't be concerned about it. Vaseline is white grease with the acids removed and is advertised as suitable for this use. See http://kroon-oil.com/uk/products/productcatalog.php?prodid=278&m=desc
John DeWolf

I wouldn't be too concerned either. My point was that there are many rubber compounds which are attacked by oil and petroleum products including petrolatum(vaseline). In the absence of specific evidence that the rubber part was tolerant of petroleum, it would be better not to use an oil or petroleum based lubricant on it.

I don't know how that web site can claim that vaseline is safe for O-rings. I checked quite a few O-ring manufacturers, and while petrolatum was safe for most O-rings, every manufacturer I checked has at least a few formulations of O-ring where they specifically recommend against using petrolatum.

http://www.marcorubber.com/compatibility.htm
http://thesealman.com/pages/oring_handbook/pdf_files/epm_oring_hbpt2.pdf
Jeff Schultz

This thread was discussed between 03/10/2005 and 14/10/2005

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