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 - Wanted: Float Bowl Lid 1161

I want to buy a good clean float bowl lid #1161 for the rear SU H4 carb on my TF.

Please contact me at the email address by my name in the heading.

Thanks,

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

G'day Lonnie. Hugh Pite should be able to get you out of trouble. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Lonnie, I was thinking, based on the photo you posted, that you might be able to solder that bowl lid. It's a low pressure system, after all, and I would think that just a thin line of solder might make good for another 20 years....
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey -

Thanks. It may be possible, but I wouldn't have the nerve to drive the car after the repair. If you had seen the spray of fuel shooting from the tiny crack you would agree. It was shooting all the way to the firewall and all over the starter box and starter. Gas was dripping from the entire length of the hood onto the engine and exhaust. When it started splashing up onto the windshield, I freaked.

I'm still freaked out. So I'm going for an intact piece.

Lonnie (still shaking in his boots!)
TF7211
LM Cook

Hey I understand! When I saw the fuel spraying from my fuel line right onto the (thankfully not yet hot) exhaust manifold, I totally freaked too.
Try soldering the existing lid and keeping it as a backup!
Geoffrey M Baker

Though slightly off topic but relevant, I noticed my car giving the signs of rich running and figured it was probably a float starting to sink as I've had a few of those happen. I was pretty close to home (less than 1 mile), so I kept the revs up and kept going. It was the evening and I started to notice condensation on the bonnet above the area of the carbs. I immediately noticed that as evaporating fuel, and lots of it! I pulled into the driveway and could now hear the constant ticking of the fuel pump and the hissing sound iv the evaporating fuel. I shut off the car and grabbed my extinguisher from behind the seats as I saw fuel vapor coming from under the bonnet. I was pretty scared and cautiously opened the bonnet. What I saw scared the smog out of me. Was fuel was dropping on the exhaust headder from the float bowl and burning off into vapor. The float bowl banjo had vibrated lose and the fuel was just pouring out and onto the extremely hot headder. I was extremely lucky it didn't ignite, but man what a scare!
Alex Waugh

The biggest scare I ever had was an old Series 3 landrover. I was using it in the woods and had gotten out to cut up some logs. I looked over and realized that the exhaust pipe had broken loose and the hot exhaust muffler was hanging down and touching the leaves and grass and had started a small fire. At the same time I noticed fuel dripping from the gas tank just a few inches away.
Took everything I had to jump in the car and drive it forwards off the fire, turn it off. I was seconds away from the whole vehicle catching fire...
Geoffrey M Baker

Here in Aus, vehicles driven through stubble paddocks catch on fire regularly, friction created because stalks wrap around tail shafts sets the stubble alight with disastrous results.

Lonnie You have mail regarding the float bowl lid.

Graeme
G Evans

Being that the carburetors are made of white metal I doubt that any attempt to solder would be effective. Even rpoxy wouldn't stand up. Figuring that the lid would simply snap again the moment you applied torque to the banjo bolt. Best to consider it folly to repair and find another. I would simply order a new one from Burlen or a supplier and be done with it. Not worth the risk of T series Flambé Jmho

Bill Chasser jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

If unable to procure another lid I wouldn't recommend solder however white metal (die cast or Mazak) can be successfully welded using a special rod available in the States. There is a U Tube video demonstrating this. It could then be pressure tested at a figure well above that generated by the fuel pump using compressed air & a soapy solution, or by immersing it in water, to confirm there are no leaks before refitting it to the car. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Email sent on a good used lid for sale

Gary
gl krukoski

This thread was discussed between 27/10/2015 and 29/10/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

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