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MG MGA - Oiling Steering

I am having a problem oiling my steering. Previously I have just filled my grease gun with the correct oil and doing the recommended squirts on the two nipples but this time it all seemed to leak out of the gun. Hence I thought the gun was getting a bit elderly so I bought a new one that is even worse at leaking than my old one. Hence I was wondering what others do about oiling their rack/column?

Paul
Paul Dean

Paul

I drilled out a couple of greasing nipples to replace the existing nipples; fitted plastic tubes and ran them up the side of the radiator. Every now and then I pump some oil in and it migrates its way down the tubes and into the rack. I got the idea from the pre-war MG oiling systems.

Looking at my photos I recall soldering some copper tubing to my modified nipples to make the plastic tube connections more secure and avoid any fouling with the fan.

Steve


Steve Gyles

I had the same problem with my MGTD and I removed the nipple and squirted oil directly in using a small oil can. Much easier.
P Willows

Problem solved. I first started trying to do a development of Steve’s solution. I was trying to drill a nipple out so I could remove spring and ball and then put plastic pipe directly on remains of nipple but I failed so I just took ‘P.Willows’ solution, quite easy really although oil takes a while to go in.

Paul
Paul Dean

Paul

I guess I used sharper drills! I went my route because of the difficulty I have lying under the car with my injured back. More recently, with my replacement knee, I even find it difficult kneeling, let alone getting in and out of the car. My car diy days are pretty much numbered.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This AI stuff is getting silly. My routinely visited sites are now full of adverts for grease nipples! Last thing on earth I need right now. I must have 100+ in a jar in the garage.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve

I didn’t have an oil can but used a cleaned contact lens solution bottle. Easy to get at steering column nipple but rack one was a bit tricky with fan in position.

Sorry to hear about your problems. I have just payed for a job I would have previously done myself and that was fitting a B clutch although a particularly tricky job as the engine needed to come in and out several times as metal was removed from bell housing. Job well worth it with a B engine.

Before this I had done major structural restoration in late 70s and over next 50 years only paid for engine rebuild and re spray.

Cheers.

Paul

Paul Dean

Steve
You could always use some of those grease nipples on your stiff joints!
Apologies for my cruel humour - I also have an arthritic body and wouldn't fancy getting under the car these days unless absolutely necessary
Graham V

Graham

Nice humour. I bought a 2lb jam jar full of them for a pound many years ago in a motor shop closing down sale. I have just about every size known to the motor trade. Of course, when I need one it's one size I don't have! My Father-in-Law was the same. I inherited his workshop contents and I have nuts, bolts, washers, split pins and rivets by the hundred from the 1930s. He owned an armaments factory in the late 30s and through WW2 making the explosives packing discs for every .303 bullet ever fired in the war. It was a clever opportunity of his, a highly compressed paper disc that replaced a precious (short supply) metal disc. His work lives on to this day. He and his dad also invented compressed paper twisted cord. It was used in the seat piping of almost every pre-war car and also clamped into door panels for door cards to be hammered into.

Steve
Steve Gyles

You never know where these threads will lead! Interesting about your father in law's inventions Steve - I know the twisted paper stuff you mean. Also glad to hear Paul sorted the oiling issue. I've only recently acquired my MGA and oiling the steering is one of the service items I still need to attend to, so good to hear it worked for Paul!
Pete
P Willows

All clever stuff going on here, I simply replaced my rack's straight two grease/oil nipples with 45deg ones.
Once pointing in the right direction I found my old oil gun worked fine.
PeteT

I refurbished my rack a few years ago when one of the ball joints became sloppy. An awful job to get the ball joint apart. I refilled with oil but I have had a drip from the rack at the bottom of the column ever since. I think it's coming from the bearing with the steering column which had a new felt seal. Very annoying and I have assumed that I overfilled it but I may be wrong.
John Francis

See my solution on MGAguru site
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/steering/sr114c.htm
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2024 and 28/11/2024

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