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MG TD TF 1500 - does anyone know

Does anyone(I'm sure most do) know what I can put on the threads of the differential drain screw. I ordered a new one from moss as I have a pretty serious leak at the drain plug. Something like plumbers putty only that would work for this application. Thanks in advance for your advice.

tim
tim

Hi Tim, I would try some plumbers thread tape.

This seems unusual to me to have a leak here. Are you sure the housing does not have a small crack where the drain plug goes in? This could happen if the plug was tightened too much by a previous owner. I would clean the area thoroughly and carefully inspect it to see exactly where the leak is. There should not be any need to use any sealant on the plug if everything else is OK.

Good luck.

Paul.
Paul van Gool

Tim

Paul van G gives good advice, but you might try a silicone "instant gasket" type sealant.

From memory there is a thin copper washer under the plug head. This must be absolutely clean to avoid weeping.
Paul Joachim

Tim,

You might try Gasoila if teflon tape fails. It stays soft and isn't bothered by gasoline/oil.

Info at gasoila.com
Evan Ford - TD 27621

Tim,

My car has the same problem. The original plug has a slight taper and no copper washer. The replacment plug ordered from Moss is a larger diameter and will not fit. I've tried applying silicone gasket sealer to the threads before reinstalling the original plug, and then waiting 24 hours before refilling the differential with gear oil -- it didn't work and I still have the drip. I think I'll try Paul's suggestion and experiment with the teflon tape next time. Keep us posted if you find a solution.

Scott
Scott McCoy

I think you guys are on the right track here. If the threads don't match up properly it will certainly leak.

Without looking under my car, as it is not here, most drain plugs traditionally used a tapered thread. This was a gas thread, used to join gas pipes. It might still however be possible to stop the leak using thread tape or something similar. I would still try to find an original plug though, from a Morris or BMC car in a wreckers yard. Might be easier here than the U.S.

Cheers,

Paul.
Paul van Gool

Paul,

This is slightly off topic but do you know the Walkers (Bob and Janice) in Buderim? They have an A,a B, and an MGF. They're really nice people. We got to meet Janice when she was visiting one of my neighbors here in the states, and we E mail often.

George Herschell
George R Herschell

Hi George, Janice is our Magazine Editor. I am our club secretary, so I know them well. Bob and Janice are keen members. (They also have a pet Kangaroo)

They are currently at the Natmeet in Tasmania.

Small world eh?

Cheers,

Paul.

Paul van Gool

Paul,

Yes it is and if you read the newsletter I think some of my articles arppeared there. One of them was called "You put the fuel pump where?" Maybe you saw it. If not let me know and I'll E mail you a copy.
Yes they did send me photos of their pet kangaroo. I shared that with a number of friends here and they all thgouht it was fantastic.
We have been into MG's since 1959 and have a TD, TF, and a B.

Some people never learn and some of us never grow up.

Nice chatting with you through this site.

George
George R Herschell

Tom

You might want to try cleaning the area and using Locktite 565 this product is made for sealing threads. Teflon pipe tape is made to allow the threads to screw together better, it’s not a sealant.

Steve Averka
Steve Averka

Tim,
not a definitive answer, but all of the threads in the XPAG engine(and similar Morris/Wolsely ones) are metric!
The engines were made at the Morris engine factory in Coventry that was originally the Hotchkiss factory. All of the tooling was taken over by Morris with the factory (1923?) and rather than incur the expense of retooling the original metric tools were used, however in an effort not minimise problems with UK garages, special bolts were manufactured with imperial head sizes (BSF/W not A/F) and metric threads. Engines were made to this unchanged formula right up till the early 1950's at Coventry. The threads might not be the same as modern ISO metric but are metric based, an early copy of 'Machinery Handbook' would show pre-war metric thread details.
John.....
J Dawes

This thread was discussed between 17/04/2006 and 19/04/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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