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MG TD TF 1500 - temp lead ny to radiator

I thought to be a smart guy and ordered from the UK 2 temp/oil gauges, they had sale on (overhauled ) !! !! . I knew from last year end of season I had to replace the gauge and low and behold behold to find the nut on the lead to be a female nut instead of a male .Are you guy's willing to put me in the right direction to get a adapter ??

Thanks,

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

What lead are to talking about, Gerard? Bud
Bud Krueger

Hi Bud , there is a capillary tube coming from the gauge and in to the radiator hope this clarifies it a bit.
Gerard Hengeveld

Here's the image that I received from Gerard. He needs to adapt tghe new gauge (on the left) to fit where his former gauge mounted to the radiator. Are the threads a standard, hardware store variety? Bud


Bud Krueger

I have the single temp gauge in my 1950. It is like the one on the left with the adapter
Bruce Cunha

Looking at the "new" fitting, there is no practical way to attach it to any tank or radiator, because you have to be able to turn the nut, without turning the sensor wire.
My first instinct, was to shave the male threads on the new fitting, to about a 1/16" shoulder, and then solder it directly to the back of the old fitting....But then, how would you tighten it without over-twisting the wire?
If you attach it to the radiator fitting first, then how will you be able to mount the gauge?....
One thought, is to run the wire through the dash, leaving the gauge hanging, then attach the modified/soldered fitting, and turn the whole length of wire and gauge, as you tighten the fitting.
It's kind of a "Catch 22"....
Evidently the new gauge is made to go on to a female fitting attached to the radiator or tank, that will pivot, to tighten.
Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

Bud , thanks for helping me to put the picture here on the BBS. Please forgive me to correct your comments a bit.
On the picture shown, the new one is on the right,
the adaptor shown on the left is exactly the same as on my project TD. I must assume standard British hardware.

Cheers Gerard.
Gerard Hengeveld

Bruce,

I have the same single water temp gauge mounted on the left corner of he dashboard on my 1950 TD as well. My first thought was that a PO had made the switch because it is obvious that it has been repaired (copper tubing running to the radiator) at one point. However, the face matches all the other gauges.

Maybe it was an option on the the TD...mine is a fairly low number (in the 500s).

Gerard,

From whom did you order your gauges. Either my TD runs stone cold or the Temp gauge setup has totally failed.

Charlie Duff
California, USA
Charles Duffy

If you are in the UK it might be a standard hardware (iron Mongers) store fitting but if your in the US that will not be the case. The threads are BSPP.

I got a fitting supposed to go on a TF1500 that worked for me. In Moss cat. MGT139 it is not listed but would go right in front of #32 P/N 328-040 (page 10). The catalog shows the early TF fitting with one hole for the Temp gauge bulb. TF1500's had two holes there. The other was for the hot water outlet to the heater.

The fitting I have is 0.851" in overall length. It is threaded 19 TPI on both ends. The end that screws into the engine is 0.370" long. The other end that takes the temp bulb is 0.264" long. There is a hex section between, the hex is 0.811" across the flats. The hole through is 0.500". It is brass. Diameter over the threads is 0.652" on the end for the temp bulb and 0.655" on the end that screws into the engine. A competent machine shop could build one although the 19 TPI will cause some cuss words. On my lathe I set up for 38 TPI and change one gear. That gives me the 19 TPI. Hope this helps.

Spring is here, happy motoring.
Bob
Bob Jeffers

Charles I bought my gauge from "MG services Heathrow UK email :MGheathrow@hotmail.com
phone : (+44)1753880267 Hope this is of any help.


Bob , No happy motoring for me until I find a suitable adaptor. Thanks for the info with measurements.

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Gerard,

About 3 years ago I had exactly the same problem, with a replacement gauge. I contacted the supplier to explain the problem, to be (more-or-less) told 'it is what it is' with the implication that I just had to get on with it.

Fortunately, I managed to position the sender unit into a threaded port, just below the flexible hose (see photo).

The hole in the radiator, I've plugged with the sender unit from another, gash thermostat. (I'll post another photo of that in a minute).

It seems to work OK. (Although looking at the photo now, I've been a bit careless with the MG Maroon engine paint, since)

Regards,

- Tom.


Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

2nd photo of the 'plugged' radiator port, as promised.


Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

Hi Tom, nice idea, just found out that a TD gas tank drain plug has the same tread as the adapter.It could be used ( if you have one laying around ) to plug the radiator port,

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Gerard, is the threaded piece at ther end of your cable fixed to the ether bulb, or is it free to rotate? Bud
Bud Krueger

Gerard
I'm in a similar situation. In my case, I returned the gauge, after some discussion, and was advised that a correct fitting for my early TD was available to "special order". However two months later it hasn't arrived yet (the owner of MG Services is currently away for a couple of weeks).
The gauge looked good quality at a reasonable price, so I'm prepared to hang on just a little longer. If really necessary I could consider transplanting the rad fitting from my current gauge as covered recently here.
Maybe between us we could justify getting a special batch into manufacture?
Tim Wilkinson

Gerard/Tim.

It's late here and I might be wrong but I seem to have picked-up that this was discussed quite recently here at: http://www.british-cars.org/mgtd-mgtf1500-bbs/temp-gauge-sender-installation-2013022520131415064.htm

That thread suggests that the gauge is 5/8 - 18 which I suspect are available without needing a special order.

Maybe someone who's a lot more knowlegeable on pipe gauges can come upo with the exact adapter size to Google?

Regards,

- Tom
Tom Bennett - 53TD 24232

Gerard / Tim
The brass adaptor (male / female)shown with the old gauge is also available from Moss as a male / male adaptor, 361-060. Perhaps this is what you need.
Regards,
Tony
Tony Wood

Tom and Bud ... !!

TOM : 5/8 x 18 is a no fit have plenty of them around.

Bud : the treaded part is free to rotate as it should .

Happy to learn I am not the only one with this kind problem.


Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Thanks Tony I have to go to MOSS again !!!!!!!!!

Gerard Hengeveld

Guys
If you look at the temperature probes, the new bulb is a larger diameter than the original shown on left in the picture above, and longer. I think the actial measurements are 7/17" vs 3/8"
I don't see how an adaptor would make this fit in the radiator aperture.
Tim
Tim Wilkinson

Tim, I believe the one on the left (green cover) is the new one. If anything, it's ether tube is a bit smaller than the original. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud , the gauge with the green cover is the OLD one.

Thanks Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Boy, now I'm really confused....
My sensor is not electrical, and attached to the tank on the top of the radiator .
The one that Tom shows has an electical connector....
How many different types of sensors are there?
Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

I meant 7/16 and 3/8" bulb diameters ...
Edward - If you look at Tom's posting, he's using an old electrical fitting just to plug the radiator.
It looks as if one solution (Tom's and others) is to drill and tap the radiator housing instead of using the radiator fitting. Might have to go that way but I'd rather stick with the standard method.
I don't yet understand why we seem to have two different type of radiator-end fittings to the capillary tube, one male and the other female with a different thread diameter.
And why the Moss adaptors?
The WSM Fig. D.3 shows what looks like a male screw plugging the radiator (presumably this was prior to the temp gauge being available).
Does any one have the female arrangement, with or without adaptors?
Tim Wilkinson

For the record, I've just received a replacement gauge from MG Services with the correct 3/8" male fitting to my radiator. So they are available, just need to specify which fitting when ordering - and maybe wait a couple of months!
Tim Wilkinson

Guy's I found a male / male adaptor in my junk pile
I had to enlarge the opening by halve a millimeter .
For a perfect fit.

Thanks for all the idea's and input

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

This thread was discussed between 07/04/2013 and 23/04/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

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