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MG TD TF 1500 - King Dick Jack Assembly

Gentlemen,
I got the jack assembly apart (as much as you can), sandblasted and painted it, and now have it back together, all except the spring clip that holds the large barrel inside the jack body. I know I coaxed it out of the barrel slot to get the jack apart, but how does one go about getting the darn thing back in?
Gene
Gene Burgess

What spring clip? Maybe that is why my jack falls apart.
George Butz

George,
The very end of the large barrel of the jack has a square groove cut into it. Once the jack is altogether, a spring clip fits into the groove to prevent the barrel from climbing out of the jack body when in use. The spring clip is flat, much like a wedding using wedding cars tunbridge wells band, but cut (to allow it to spread open) and its cut ends flaired out a little over an eighth of an inch. The trouble is that when the large barrel is inserted into the jack base, there isn't room enough to slide the spring clip over the end of the barrel, due to the close clearance to the jack base.
If I can't get an answer that works, I may just drill a hole through the barrel at the groove, tap it, and put in a large headed machine screw after assembly. At least that will stop the large barrel from rising out of the jack when in use.
Gene
Gene Burgess

I seem to recall that Moss was supposed to do a recall of their jacks a couple of years ago because of a lack of such a component. Their replica jacks could fall apart if fully extended. I'm still waiting to hear back from them.
Bud Krueger

Gene, did you replace the roller bearing ring with a thicker one? My K.D. jack (SF.B 1077) has a spring clip which stands clear of the internal guide rails.
Also this is clearly a five swear word job, maybe you are only using three or four.

Matthew
Matthew Magilton

Matthew,
Yes I swore several times, and the jack still didn't cooperate. What do you mean by "just stands clear" of the internal guide rails. The guide rails are the reason I can't get the clip back in place.
Gene
Gene Burgess

The clip part of the shaft is below the bottom end of the guide rails, so the guide rails are not in the way (on my jack anyhow). What might change this is if you had a thicker roller bearing. That would be assuming our two jacks are otherwise identical. If you removed the roller bearing, you would not have a problem with the spring clip? (I dont suggest you use the jack without a roller bearing of course). Hope this helps.
Matthew Magilton

Gentlemen,
I bit the bullet and forced the clip onto the shaft of the large jack barrel tody, with success. I slipped the circlip over the barrel, aligning the opening in the clip on either side of one of the jack base's cast guide rails. By leaning the barrel towards that same guide rail side, and gently tapping the circlip down with a drift and hammer, it finally slide into place in its groove. I was concerned about spitting the base of the jack, but that didn't take place, thank goodness. Thanks for all of the suggestions! As for my suggestion of drilling, tapping and winding in a large-headed screw into the groove, it wouldn't have worked. I've realized that the screw head would have hit one or the other guide rails cast into the base, and would have prevented the jack from going up or down.
Gene
Gene Burgess

This thread was discussed between 14/03/2005 and 24/03/2005

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