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MG TD TF 1500 - Early Oil Pump

I have found this picture of the early TD Oil Pump. It appears it only had wires on two of the long bolts.

What I also seem to see is that there is a keeper on the lower bolts. I do not see this in the factory manual picture.

Is there a keeper on the left bolts on this picture? Could be the twisted wire, but it looks too low.

Here is the web picture

www.mgccyregister.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/XPAGQAoilleaks1b.jpg

Any good pictures would be appreciated. I looked at Chris's and did not find any oil pumps with wires. This one from TD 11272 does not appear to have holes in the oil pump bolts.

https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/Pictures/TD11272/Thumbnails/mgtd_gallery_thm_TD11272.htm



Bruce Cunha

Bruce interesting observation. I have never seen the tab plate before but never really looked for it. Of the six XPAG I have some had wires in all four bolts but a few had std bolts in place. Whether they were replacements or not I don’t know. From memory, none of my bolts have markings on them. I will need to take a closer look

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I have more than a dozen engines, but onoly one late "virgin" engine - never been apart. There are two wires on that oil pump - on the tgwo bolts on the right side, and on the two bottom bolts. I am confident that for a late factory engine, that's how it came. I would guess that early is the same, but it could just as easily be different...

On a related theme, I wonder how many "virgin" engines there are out there? This one is said to have less than 20,000 miles before an accident. Unfortunately, such anecdotal evidence isn't worth the paper it's written on.



Tom Lange
MGT Repair



t lange

Figure A.36 of the WSM shows the components of a modified oil pump. In the bolts of the cover the illustrator seems to have gone to an effort to show the four cover bolts that have the holes for safety wire. Bud
Bud Krueger

I find that interesting Tom. In the picture I posted, it does appear that the upper and lower right long bolts are wired. In yours, the bottom two are wired.

I enlarged and enhanced the picture and studied it.

First, this is not a TD. Look at the oil pipe coming off the pump. It has two hex bolts holding it on.

What I thought was a tab on the left appears to be a different way to wrap the safety wire. (although a tab would have worked very well on these bolts)

The other thing that perhaps someone can explain. Why are only a few of the bolts wired? Seems like you would not want any of the bolts to loosen.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce - your image has every appearance of being either a pre-war image, or immediately post-war, in the TC era. The quality of photography and reproduction changed significantly between the early and the TD/TF era.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Thanks Tom. I noted in some of the catalogs that they list the TC and early TD pump as having the two bolt connection.

Have to see if some of the folks with the real early TD's have this cover on their pump.

Would love to find some good factory pictures.

I sent an email to Anders Clausager. He is on the staff of the British Motor Museum. We have communicated relating to TD paint. I am hoping he may be able to assist in finding some more information on some of the areas we don't have good information on.

As to the difference in where the wire is on your picture and mine. I am wondering if they just put two long bolts with holes on the pump. But not necessarily in the same place. On mine, the hole bolts are the right upper and lower. On yours, they are the two lower long bolts.
Bruce Cunha

Interesting photo. To me it appears that there is neither wire nor tab system on the left. The outer profile of the cover is scalloped inwards where the sides of the body of the pump are vertical. There is a shiny reflection along the edge similar to many other edges in the photo. The wiring of the sump pick-up is nicely visible.

My experience is with TCs, which I have been playing with for over fifty-five years. From memory, all of the TC motors I have worked on have had 4 drilled long bolts, which are marked "AUTO D" or similar. All of the 4 short bolts have been plain and undrilled.

I agree it is strange that not all bolts are wired. Perhaps wiring is not just used to stop loosening. Perhaps it is a signal saying, "Don't loosen me unless you know what you are doing". Or perhaps it is a hang-over from pre-war days when roads were rougher and engines vibrated more? Even in my race TC I don't wire any of these bolts but I use shake-proof washers. I do however ALWAYS drill and wire the banjo bolts on the filter and block because they are the ones which I have had come loose. Floatbowl to carburettor bolts are also worth wiring!

Bob
R L Schapel

Interesting photo. To me it appears that there is neither wire nor tab system on the left. The outer profile of the cover is scalloped inwards where the sides of the body of the pump are vertical. There is a shiny reflection along the edge similar to many other edges in the photo. The wiring of the sump pick-up is nicely visible.

My experience is with TCs, which I have been playing with for over fifty-five years. From memory, all of the TC motors I have worked on have had 4 drilled long bolts, which are marked "AUTO D" or similar. All of the 4 short bolts have been plain and undrilled.

I agree it is strange that not all bolts are wired. Perhaps wiring is not just used to stop loosening. Perhaps it is a signal saying, "Don't loosen me unless you know what you are doing". Or perhaps it is a hang-over from pre-war days when roads were rougher and engines vibrated more? Even in my race TC I don't wire any of these bolts but I use shake-proof washers. I do however ALWAYS drill and wire the banjo bolts on the filter and block because they are the ones which I have had come loose. Floatbowl to carburettor bolts are also worth wiring!
R L Schapel

I enhanced the left small bolts. I think you can see the wire. Interesting tie if that is the wire.


Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 11/02/2019 and 14/02/2019

MG TD TF 1500 index

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