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MG MGA - Ouch, a blister

Hey all, I guess I need some advice. I have now got the body shell on the frame, making some things very hard to access.

Following Barney's lead, I am installing the "plumbing" under bonnet. The line from the master cylinder to the brake four way block is making me crazy. I spun the fitting so much, on the four way block yesterday, that I have raised a blister on my thumb and first finger!

The thread is 3/8-24. I can easily spin a bolt into the four way. I can easily spin a nut onto the pipe fitting.
I cannot seem to start the fitting into the four way.

Is there a "trick" or process that I am not aware of? As the line is new, I cut the old line to get a "test fitting". While quite rusty, it cleaned up enough to try and start it in the block. Again, no luck!

Any help out there in MG land? Thanks, Tom
Thomas McNamara

I had the same problem not so long ago but I was making the connection with the body off the frame so I guess it was easier for me. As the pipe nut is a close fit around the pipe the alignment of the pipe itself must be quite accurately aligned to the 4-way port axis.
After a few minutes of trying unsuccessfully to start the thread I screwed into the block a spare nut to gauge the correct alignment. Then bend the pipe to match the spare nut axis, remove the spare nut and, hey presto, screw in the pipe nut plus pipe without problem!

I found it wasn't easy gauging the correct alignment needed for the pipe when looking just from above. Much easier when you can take viewings from two different directions which I accept may be tricky with the body on..................Mike
m.j. moore

Hi Tom

If you take the floorboard out it is much easier to see. But that may be very easy either. But Mike is right you just have to get the alignment spot on to get the thread to catch.

John
John Francis

Hey all, I finally "bit the bullet" and removed the brake pipe for a closer look. Sure enough, using a magnifying glass, I can see that the threads on the fitting are bent or malformed. It is a new pipe from Moss so.....back it goes.

I cleaned up the original pipe and it went in without any issues. I thought that this knowledge might save someone else from getting a blister.

On to the next adventure, Tom
Thomas McNamara

This thread was discussed between 16/04/2012 and 21/04/2012

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