MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Tachometer Gearbox Washer/Spacer

Most of you are aware of the need for a washer or spacer in the coupling for the tachometer reduction gearbox at the rear of the generator.

I replaced the washer on the TD and thought those in the US might like to know about a fibre washer that is available from the Home Depot.

The washer I purchased this morning is a perfect fit for the coupling. It requires only 3-5 minutes of light sanding around the exterior edge for a nice, firm fit.

I will attach some photos of the washer. It costs all of 78 cents.

The washer is 7/16 x .062 in.


The washer is packaged as an "Everbilt" - the stock number on the package is 887480079388

Thought this might be of help to some members.

Cheers,

Jeff


Jeff Delk

Another


Jeff Delk

Jeff have a good look how it fits . I mean the fiber washer should not but against the moving part at the top of the inner cable .just below the squaire part of the inner cable is a kind of a removable split washer if the fiber washer buts to the washer you put strain on the inner cable and gearbox . The fiber washer should just fit in the nut only. The above I had to change on my generator for aproper fit.

Cheers Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Hi Gerard,

Thanks for your comment - this washer fits inside the threaded collar that screws directly on the generator end plate. It will not come in contact with the actual cable (inner or outer). The dimensions match the brass adaptor piece that slips on (and is clamped to) the shoulder of the reduction gearbox.

I hope that makes sense - the arrangement is an interesting one to say the least.
Jeff Delk

Hello Jeff. There never was a washer in that position. I have not needed to add anything to mine since I bought it in '63. I would carefully look and see what is really going on that the nut can't clamp the brass sleeve to the generator.

Butch
R Taras

The repo generators seems to have a couple of treads less than the originals .

to check for cable friction ? before I mounted the cable to the tach box I had the tachbox in my hands and mounted the cable to the box ( fiber washer in place ) turned the tach box axle by hand and watched the other cable end > hard friction was noticed. loosened the copper nut a few turns and friction was gone. Investigation revealed the fiber washer was obstructing as discribed as explained in my previous post.

Cheers,

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Hi Butch - I know that many cars must have no issues - but I have also talked to several who have fitted a fiber washer in that location to avoid the metal-to-metal seating of the transition piece shoulder to the end of the threaded housing on the generator endplate. Placing a fiber washer inside the threaded collar allows it to tighten up nicely and it requires less torque to do so. So many of the collars show damage and distortion from people using pliers on the knurled end of the collar - these being required to tighten it up enough to get it to hold up the heavy gearbox. It also buffers the interior end of the transition piece into which the reduction gearbox is clamped by the small clamp and the slotted transition collar. Whew - that is a mouthful!

I has worked well for many of our Club members - several of whom used to tie the reduction gearbox assembly to the radiator stay bar with zip-ties! I imagine you must be one of the lucky ones who has a nice tight arrangement without it.

Gerard - I think the issue you are addressing differs from that I have experienced - aren't reproduction/replacement parts fun to work with?!

Here is a link to an earlier thread on this subject:

http://www.mg-cars.net/mgtd-mgtf1500-bbs/wobbly-tacho-drive-201106251300049177.htm


Best regards,


Jeff
Jeff Delk

nd it all ...

I don't know what jsut happened but my cat jumped in my lap and I hit an unknown ket and lost about a 200 word paragraph that I was about to post.

LESSON: Compose in Wordpad or something other than in the box and then copy and paste.

I'll try to reconstruct the wonderful paragraph that I had composed.

Drat - Cat!!!
J K Chapin

The threaded collar on the big end of my tach gear box measures 5/8"+ ID and I wasn't able to mic the dam (the part that sticks out where the shaft comes through - there's got to be a proper word for that but it's not coming to me). I found a couple of shiney very thin washers (I think they are the surrounds for panel toggle switches from maybe Radio Shack) that fit perfectly - 5/8" OD and a big enought hole to fit down over the dam thingy (I should have mentioned that my tach gear box was loosy-goosy and I was contemplating a brace to the grease zerk). Put two skinny washers in and snugged up the collar to the threaded nose on the dyno (a replacement from LBC that appears to be a repro but works great) and wonder of wonders it just tightened up beautifully. Tightened up that split thingy with the screw through it and the gear box is very stable (i.e., doesn't move or flop around). Took her out for a 25 mile run (36 degrees F but absolutely clear sky - wonderful!!) and the tach readings were very stable.
Jud
J K Chapin

My generator, an old replacement, needed a spacer as indicated previously, to keep the reduction gear from spinning, but I used a soft copper washer. Works very well. Mine looks like it has plenty of thread,but not enough to tighten up without a washer. PJ




Paul sr

I also seem to have enough thread but the collar won't screw up onto all of it. It feels like the nose is tapered or somethng. The collar just gets too tight to force any further without grave fear of stripping all the knurls or doing some other evil damage.

Jud
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 18/11/2013 and 25/11/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.