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MG TD TF 1500 - Need advice on condenser

1954 mgtf
Got replacement condenser from Moss #163-900. Existing condenser has a metal strip that connects the top of it to a nut to which the metal strip from the points connect. The new condenser has a wire on the top of it instead of the metal strip. Did I get the right replacement part? Do I take out the existing condenser and the metal strip and install the new one by connecting the wire that comes from the condenser to the nut where the metal strip connected?
Ed Eastman

Ed - The new condenser should work just fine. Replacement exactly as you described. That said, why are you replacing it? Are you having a drivability problem that points to the condenser? What do the old points look like? IS there a large deposit of material on one of the contacts and a corresponding pit on the other contact? If the answers to the above questions are no, then leave the old condenser in place. We have been brain washed over the years by the makers of ignition parts to replace the condenser each time we replace points. In the real world, that is not necessary in this day and age (it may have been in the early days of the automobile). Condensers do not wear out, but are more apt to fail shortly after installation. If a condenser survives the first thousand miles and there is little to no deposition of material from one contact to the other, it should be left in place. Condensers for automotive ignition are cheap and as a result, have a wide tolerance range, which means that the capacitance value for a given condenser can vary by as much as 40%. This will have an effect on how much the points will arc and deposit metal on one side while the other side will develop a pit. If your points are not doing that, or have just a small amount after 10 - 20 thousand miles, the capacitance is at the optimum value for your system and the condenser shouldn't be changed out just because you are renewing the points. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I should have added in my last post, if the existing condenser is good, just toss the new one in your on board spares in case of an emergency. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Ed, You also have to drill and tap a hole in the base plate to screw the tab on the new style down. The wire goes to the terminal- same spot the points spring goes. George
George Butz

I have what I call "vapor lock" issues. I just installed a heat shield and moved the fuel line further from the engine. I read in one of the posts on this site that older condensers may not withstand heat as effectively as newly manufactured ones and thus I bought a new one. I think I'm going to leave the old condenser alone for now and see what the impact of installing the heat shield and moving the fuel line is.
Ed Eastman

Want to post a photo of your heat shield?
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667


Do let us know how it comes out... I have something similar that happened two summers ago. Unfortunately I didn't get to drive the TD last summer, but I'm sure the problem is still there.

Another place people said to look at is the fuel pump. The last time this happened to me, I left the ignition on while pushing down on the float pin, and no gas was pumped out, which I believe it should be since I should be releasing pressure out of the float bowl.

As the engine bay cooled down, the fuel pump would start ticking occasionally, until after a while the bowls would presumably be filled as the car would then start up. So my bet is on the fuel pump.

Dave, don't you refurbish TD fuel pumps? If so, does this sound like a fuel pump issue related to heat?

Sorry to hijack the thread but it sounds like a similar issue possibly...

Thanks,
Scott
Scott

I bought a B&G heat shield and sent the exhaust manifold to Jet Hot. Didn't take a photo. If that fails I'll take the condenser back out of the box and think about installing it.
C. Eastman

Hello Ed
Try testing out your condenser according to the factory workshop manual. Also if you look at the new condenser, you can get the same thing at your local auto parts, perhaps even two or three, for the same price as MM. John
John

This thread was discussed between 26/04/2008 and 27/04/2008

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