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MG TD TF 1500 - Oh..oh...???

Ok... just got back from the garage... With a bit of a struggle i got the drums off...all 4. Fronts were no problem...rears were a bit of a job. Tightened down the brake adjusters so the wheel wouldn't turn...worked on one side... Had to add a pry bar to the other side while removing the nut. Anyway, got them off.
Funny thing... the brake surface of the drum was still shiny...after 28 years sitting...seemed strange that it wasn't rusted.
Now...the bad news... when i first started trying to remove the back drum, it just spun... i thought "oh...just put it in gear" so i did... and it still spun. Now i have the plugs out, but i watched and the fan wasn't turning and i heard no popping from the plug holes... so i assume, although its in gear, that the engine was not turning over. (probably a good thing engine wise)...but why would the wheels turn while in gear?????
At rest the clutch should be engaged? So if anything clutch/pressure plate wise was "stuck/frozen", wouldn't it be frozen in contact?
Any ideas (please...not expensive ideas...)
g.b.lawson '53TD

Before we go any further, does the tailshaft turn or not when you spin the wheel?

Cheers,

Paul
Paul van Gool

Oh sure...ask me a question about something i didn't think of while i'm 10 miles away from the garage!!!!
g.b.lawson '53TD

If you had both wheels off the ground one would spin in one direction and the other in the opposite direction . This without turning the drive shaft at all.
conrad sanders

Really (oops...not a very "mechanic" sort of thing to say)... So when it is down on the ground and the engine is running (some day soon), the wheels will turn?
I thought you could turn over the engine by turning the right rear wheel (read something about priming the oil system that way)
g.b.lawson '53TD

Yes, if one wheel is on the ground you should be able to turn over the engine with the wheel that's off the ground if the car is in gear. It would be difficult to turn because of the diff reduction however, and much easier with the crank handle. Or simpler with the starter with the ignition turned off.

Cheers,

Paul.
Paul van Gool

Put gearbox in top (4th) gear.

If you turn BOTH wheels in the same direction (eg fwd) at the same time you will be able to turn the engine over. The compression isn't very high.

You will have even more leverage if you have 3 wheels on the ground and just 1 lifted off. The diff will give you a further 1:2 gear reduction to help you turn the engine over.


(yes I have a crank handle but haven't had time to work out why the car's holes don't line up enough for me to use it!) ;)
Will

Will - "yes I have a crank handle but haven't had time to work out why the car's holes don't line up enough for me to use it!" Did you replace the front motor mount? If so, that is the answer as to why the carnk won't line up witht he socket in the crank shaft. Seems that a lot (if not all) the front motormounts available today are not thick enough, causing the front of the engine to be too low. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

Thank you all.... (now i remember the instructions, "one wheel in the air, one wheel on the ground")
My daughter's college fund can go back in the tin can again.....!!!!!

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/td.eht (or .html).
g.b.lawson '53TD

G b,
Great pictures! looks like it will be ready for GOF Mk77 in Painted Post!!
Robert Dougherty

Finally got a wheel cylinder off last night and it is seized solid (i was told this would probably be the case).
I am now looking for the best price on 6 cylinders with internal parts.
Assume the Master is the same way, although the pedal moves (?)
g.b.lawson '53TD

Dave dB:- thanks. No I haven't owned it long enough to think of renewing engine mounts yet but I'll check again at next opportunity. :)

Last time I was under there I thought it was the radiator shroud that was sitting too low on its crossmember. (When it was sitting right for the holes to line up, the radiator surround would be 20mm proud at the panels.)
Will

Congradulations Gordon I saw this car when Ken Elms was selling it and you have done a great job on restoring it. See you on the road, Bill
Bill Mason

Thanks Bill... well, its sort of a "spit and polish" and replace what is needed to get it on the road... restoration i think is a couple years away. (Haven't cursed the electrical system enough yet to warrant threatening to tear it apart).
g.b.lawson '53TD

This thread was discussed between 11/06/2004 and 18/06/2004

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