MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Rocker Box Wear

The lay of the throttle cable across the rocker box normally causes gradual wear to the rivetted plates on the box. Has anyone done a simple modification to lift the cable off the plates?

I have had some success by fitting a large grommet on the cable. It rests on the centre of the box, although it occasionally migrates along the cable.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve , how about sleeving the cable with a small lengthe of fuel hose with the correct i/d & a small dab of black silicone to stop it moving , cheers
Colin, East Devon
colin daly

I always thought it a little strange that the cable was designed just to rest (and rub) on the top of the engine like that.

Colin, almost the same as I have! I wrapped a bit of rubber round the cable at the point betwen the plates and secured it with insulating tape. Not so noticeable and sort of works! I think the cable still needs to be held a little higher.

Steve, I think a combination of grommet and tape/glue would be perfect!
Neil McGurk

I have made little (thickish) wire stays with circular ends that take a rubber grommet to keep the cable an inch or so above the rocker box. From memory, the other ends of the stays sit under one of the nuts on the inlet manifold on one the studs which hold the "tappet clearance" plate.
Barry Bahnisch

Barry

Sounds a good mod. Any chance of a picture?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Just make the cable longer! A standard bike rear brake cable does the job, and is available from almost any hardware or sports shop. I did this on mine to make it easier to remove the Judson oiler.

http://clancy.ch/Judson_Photos_files/114.jpg

Please excuse the oil on the top of the rocker cover - issue has since been rectified!
dominic clancy

I chose to weld the bracket bushing in a position to nominally hold the cable away from the rocker cover. 12K miles later no wear on the box.
D Sjostrom

Hi Steve how about some black insulating tape wound around a few times in the right spot



gordon
g c pugh

I have just been looking at the throttle & choke abutment bracket and it has got me thinking why did the factory fit the swivelling tee barrel cable end stop to the throttle and a rigid screw and nut tee barrel cable end stop to the choke?

If they had done it the other way round, you could then set the angle of rigid tee barrel so that it holds the throttle cable clear of the rocker box. I tried it by twisting the swivelling cable stop and it works.

Makes me wonder if the MG workers read the instructions wrong when they built the first cars and never changed. Also, why was the swivel end stop necessary? Why not fit 2 rigid barrels? I struggle to believe that the slight rocking of the engine under acceleration would make any significant difference to cable angles or undemanded throttle inputs to the carbs etc.

For a visual description of my terminology (from service parts list) see attached image.

Steve


Steve Gyles

There is an old gent here in Phila, Pa who is an engineer and came up with a design that secured it at an angle to prevent contact with the rocker. He brought it to my attension at the last show after he saw the mark in my rocker. I think he threaded the holder and secured it with a nut.
WMR Bill

Doug

I now understand what you meant in your post. I appear to have come to the same conclusion.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Bill

That was an easy modification. Threaded the Tee Barrel, and bolted it on at suitable angle. Cable now clear - see picture.

Seems I now just need to paint the bracket!!

Steve


Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed on 29/07/2008

MG MGA index

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