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MG MGA - Need M/C Identification help

I got a resleeved/rebuilt M/C from Apple. Looks good, nice and clean, shiney parts, etc. I've got everything ready to go back together after a long repair on the rust damage on the heater shelf and this evening was going to put the M/C in.

As I got ready to bench bleed it I noticed that the outlet ports are different from the one I took out. They are both 5/16" by about 3/4" deep at the most.

On the one that came out of the car the ports were a good 1" deep and the banjos are different sizes. The clutch banjo bolt is about 3/8", the brake banjo bolt is about 5/16".

I sent my core to them and they sent a rebuilt out of stock. Did they send me an MGA M/C or an M/C for a different car?

Thanks.
Wray Lemke

Checkn the cylinder bores . you may have a sprite unit
dominic clancy

I just went out and looked at 4 different M/Cs that I know came off A 58 coupe 58 rdstr 60 rdstr and a 62 MK11 rdstr. All four are as you describe your replacement. The clutch lines all have an adapter that uses a banjo bolt fitting. The brake lines don't use a banjo fitting and the brake line hooks directly to the M/C. The hole are all the same size and I use a 3/8 bolt in the hole to keep out dirt while out of the car. The 3 early ones all are marked LOCKHEED 7/8 on the right side right with 38138C on the second line. On the MK11 cly they left off the 7/8. It sounds to me like your "original" is the odd one out. Your PO must have changed yours to something else.
Randy
R J Brown

Randy, I suspect you're right. The PO must have put a banjo fitting on the brake side. I found an adaptor for the clutch side. I wouldn't mind putting it back like it was.

But, the brake side adaptor and banjo rig must have come from a local supply or a different car.

A call to Apple didn't yield my adaptors. Nice guys there, but I know it was a long shot to hope that they would have kept track of them.

Those banjo fittings are not cheap! By the time you buy the bolt and the fitting you're at $50.
Wray

Sounds like you are OK on the clutch side? on the brake side what I think you need is just a new brake line from the master to the junction with the brake switch. ref. Moss #181-200
Randy
R J Brown

Randy, I am ok on the clutch side. I found the proper adaptor. But, I'm still looking for the other one. The whole rig is there except for the adaptor. I can't believe I sent it off with the M/C.

It's really is a decent way of doing the connection and makes getting the flare nut connection a lot easier. The PO had put an exact copy of the clutch banjo on the brake side but one that fit the brake flare nut. The banjo bolt is smaller, seems like the same size as the flare nut but with coarse threads. Nobody around here has an adaptor that will fit. It must have come off a car that used the banjo on a brake line.
Wray Lemke

Wray

I have a spare banjo if you need it, and a bolt too.

Dominic
dominic

Dominic, thanks much for the offer. I'm going to stop at the oldest parts store in the state today and see if they have one. They are a locally owned store and are the ultimate source for parts.
Wray

There is NO adapter on the brake side your PO made the wrong M/C fit by using one. Either the brake line you have fits directly to the M/C or you need a new brake line. The line is hard to get on the M/C you attach it before you mount the M/C. I would NOT use a banjo on the brake side for SAFTY reasons. Look at another car or ask for pictures. Do it original. I feel you are making this more difficult than it is.
Randy
R J Brown

Randy
There are banjos on the rear brakes, so why would it be dangerous to use one on the MC ? Using one makes fitting the MC much easier, and enures that a good seal is easy (otherwise as you say, it's very hard to get the pipe in.
dominic clancy

You're right Dominic though I think the reason banjos on brakes don't exist any more is because of safty concerns. Fitting the brake line prior to installing the M/C makes it easy. The fewer fittings there are the less the chance of leakage. I think Wray already has all the parts needed to do the job properly.
R J Brown

Randy, I absolutely agree I'm making it more difficult than it should be. The PO used the correct MC for sure. He just happened to have the correct banjo and bolt for that side, I reckon.

No matter, I'll figure it out.
Wray

A call to Tim at FedHill solved the issue, I think. A 3/8-24 banjo bolt will work and allow me to use the fitting without the adaptor. One thing we both agreed on was that it is much easier to get the fittings lined up when using the banjo bolt since you can get the flare nut well started then thread the banjo bolt into the M/C. That way you aren't fighting the line and the flare nut alignment at the same time.

Who knows where the adaptor came from; it takes a 3/8-20 banjo bolt. At least now it will be a bit more standard.
Wray

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2005 and 18/10/2005

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.