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MG TD TF 1500 - An old friend seeks advice

It is a few years since I sold my TF but I used to be a regular contributer to these pages. I have an Austin Healey Sprite fitted with a 1275 A Series engine. This has a similar rear cranks seal to an EXPAG. Mine had a lip seal conversion fitted by a previous owner but of course it isn't working! General advice appears to be revert to the original system and use a catcher tank to contain the odd drop of oil. This means removing the engine so whilst it is out it makes sense to do a proper job. I had considered getting the bottom end line bored to provide a very close fit around the crank scroll but this would require a full engine dismantle. However I have been watching a YouTube video and John Twiss mentions wrapping a single layer of cling film around the scroll and fitting the bottom main cap and upper casting back with a smear of JB Weld on the mating surfaces. This should provide absolute concentricity and a very close clearance. Being an old fashioned engineer I am sceptical of many modern materials and have no experience of JB Weld. Has anyone actually tried this out or has comments to make?

Jan T
J Targosz

Would like to view that John Twist video, do you have a link?
John Quilter (TD8986)

Hi John,

I searched the YouTube chanel on our TV under the heading "MG midget Oil Seal" and our set up shows a series of squares with pictures of related topics. One of these was titled "131 Mg Midget Rear Seal" and when I opened this up John Twiss first describes work he is doing the fabric of his workshop and then explains about the rear seal. He actually has one of the semi circular castings that fits above the scroll in his hand. He first talks about line boring at 150$ then about using JB Weld at 5$. The video is actually 10 years old

I am not certain how to establish a link but someone with better computer skills may be able to do so.

He doesn't appear to dismiss JB Weld and with him being very respected in the MG world I wonder if this is a real solution to the oil leak. I hope someone can comment, especially on the thickeness of the JB Weld. I wonder if the two castings need to be relieved to provide a thickness of the JB.

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

131 Midget Rear Seal (filmed "Tuesday the 15th of February" (2011)) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0meW042x3qU
Nigel Atkins

Thanks for the link. Would be interesting to hear of some real world experience with this fix. John Twist was featured guest speaker at our Portland Oregon All British Field Meet earlier this month. Gave a very interesting talk and slide show of how he got involved in MGs even to traveling to the UK to work and gain MG experience.
John Quilter (TD8986)

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2021 and 20/09/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

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