Re: TA jack placement

[Allan Chalmers]

I haven't seen anything in literature about how the jack is secured in the car.  I am using a TC jack with longer handles - the handles don't fit well.  Also, what else goes under the rubber trays?  Any pictures?

Allan Chalmers, San Francisco 

[TABC]

Attachments :

1. tool clips on bulkhead.jpg

1. tool clip upper.jpg

1. Tool Box Clips.PDF

1. TA Tool Box.jpg

Hello Allan,   Drawing of clips below trays attached.  The jack sits on a wedge-shaped piece of  wood in the centre of the tool box.  Info on tools is in the TA/TB Parts List.   Hope these help.

Regards to all,

Ian Linton
TA3120 Lewes, East Sussex, UK

mg-tabc-noreply@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2016 5:48 PM
To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mg-tabc] TA jack placement

I haven't seen anything in literature about how the jack is secured in the car.  I am using a TC jack with longer handles - the handles don't fit well.  Also, what else goes under the rubber trays?  Any pictures?
Allan Chalmers, San Francisco

[Jean Vignau]

Bonjour tous,   I am sorry but yahoo does not let me start a new topic whilst it allows me to answer to one but I need your experience and my real subject is TB XPAG ROCKER ARM   We had TB0592/XPAG843 rocker cover off and saw the rocker arms have a self-tapping screw in a hole in their center. The mechanic (good but with no MG experience) says the hole on top of the rocker arm is to let oil get in and flow from there so why is the hole closed by this screw ? He phones Moss and asks them what should be the diameter of the oil feed hole on top of the rocker arm of an XPAG TB ? 2,34 mm is the answer. He then checks with a 2mm drill : some play and with a 2,50 drill that does nont enter the hole so we admit the diameter is probably right according to Moss. He tells me to go back home and phone to the seller and ask him why he fitted these screws ?   Now I am at home and, before calling, I open The Service Parts List for the MG Midget (Series TA and TB) . On page 34 the rocker arms MG 962/19 etc ... are illustrated, they have NO hole and I am very puzzled. Perhaps were later rocker arms on post war XPAGs holed and these were fitted when the engine was rebuilt around 1990 ? But then, if a hole was deemed necessary, why a scew in the it as it must slow/stop the (necessary ?) oil flow ? The easy answer from Moss on the phone shows the hole exists.   You ll understand I consider this point very seriously as, having the engine run at 5,200 rpm for the first time (it had run perfectly all day between the UK and SW France at 4,000/4,200), a valve broke and holed the piston. It could have come from not enough oil because of the screw ? We must know before rebuilding the engine.
Thanks a lot,
Jean in Gascony  

[joecurto@aol.com]

There would be a oil hole in the rocker to lubricate the valve gear, the sheet metal screw is a back yard fix to slow down  the  oil flow to the valve area, probably due to worn shaft and bushings . I do not know if TB had a non oil hole rocker as opposed to a post war XPAG, I would also check the oil feed pipe to the rockers sometimes guys block/restrict  flaw by blocking banjo bolts etc. When all is correct the flow of oil in the valve area is not a lot , I have seen some awash in oil . I am sure there are more knowledgeable folks on this list


Joe Curto 718-762-7878 www.joecurto.com

-----Original Message-----
From: 'Jean Vignau' jeanvignau@orange.fr [mg-tabc]
To: mg-tabc
Sent: Thu, Jul 27, 2017 11:19 am
Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] TA jack placement

  Bonjour tous,   I am sorry but yahoo does not let me start a new topic whilst it allows me to answer to one but I need your experience and my real subject is TB XPAG ROCKER ARM   We had TB0592/XPAG843 rocker cover off and saw the rocker arms have a self-tapping screw in a hole in their center. The mechanic (good but with no MG experience) says the hole on top of the rocker arm is to let oil get in and flow from there so why is the hole closed by this screw ? He phones Moss and asks them what should be the diameter of the oil feed hole on top of the rocker arm of an XPAG TB ? 2,34 mm is the answer. He then checks with a 2mm drill : some play and with a 2,50 drill that does nont enter the hole so we admit the diameter is probably right according to Moss. He tells me to go back home and phone to the seller and ask him why he fitted these screws ?   Now I am at home and, before calling, I open The Service Parts List for the MG Midget (Series TA and TB) . On page 34 the rocker arms MG 962/19 etc ... are illustrated, they have NO hole and I am very puzzled. Perhaps were later rocker arms on post war XPAGs holed and these were fitted when the engine was rebuilt around 1990 ? But then, if a hole was deemed necessary, why a scew in the it as it must slow/stop the (necessary ?) oil flow ? The easy answer from Moss on the phone shows the hole exists.   You ll understand I consider this point very seriously as, having the engine run at 5,200 rpm for the first time (it had run perfectly all day between the UK and SW France at 4,000/4,200), a valve broke and holed the piston. It could have come from not enough oil because of the screw ? We must know before rebuilding the engine.
Thanks a lot,
Jean in Gascony

[Jean Vignau]

Thanks Joe, We ll check the oil feed pipe to the rocker, get rid of the screws, have the engine turning and see ... Jean

[Norman Verona]

Jean,  The hole is to allow oil OUT to spray over the tappet to valve point. Some like to close the hole slightly to reduce the flow as it will fill the rocker cover above the gasket and oil can leak. The cure, in my mind, it to ensure the joint between cylinder head and rocker cover is good to stop the oil leak, not to restrict the flow.  When I was taught about these engines I was taught to glue the joint to the rocker cover with red hermatite by applying the hermatite and leaving the rocker cover on top with a heavy hammer to press it down. Overnight. Also not to overtighten the rocker cover so it started to distort. Tighten enough to press on the cork gasket but not so much that the top of the cover was pressed down by the nuts.  Of course, if you have an aluminium cover this is better.  So remove the screws and ensure you have an oil tight joint.

Norman Verona
11 Cherry Close, Royston, South Yorkshire S71 4LZ
Phone: 0044 (0)1226 728811
Mob: 0044 (0)741 9905 741
Web: www.frenchblat.com

[Jean Vignau]

Thanks, Norman and Andrea I have an aluminium cover! Jean

[Andrea VILLA]

I agree with Norman, having leaks from cover. Now solved - but alluminium cover is the better cure

Andrea TC 0433

[Bill Hyatt]

Jean,  I seem to recall some previous discussion on about the plugging up of the oil discharge holes in rockers. It revolved around the idea that when bushings were badly worm that excess oil escaped around rocker shaft & a bodge attempt to regain oil pressure was to plug up the small oil feed holes on top of the rocker. Fix one problem & create A NEW ONE. Ca Alores !

Bill
TC 4926
Odessa, Fl

[Jean Vignau]

Thanks Bill We started the rebuilt engine only for a short time (no water rad fitted yet) and oil pressure was at 60.
We ll take the screws off, start again and then know from the oil pressure without them. Jean in Gascony

[Jean Vignau]

Bonjour Mike, Our references seem to be the same : - Service Parts List TA/TB sept 39, rev. sept 46 and yes, with a magnifier lens, you can be sthg, why not a hole when you know there must be one ? - Instruction Manual TA/TB oct 36, last rev aug 39 shows the TA rocker arms and clearly without the hole.   We can t start the engine as we did after the rebuild as the carbs are off and the s/charger waiting in a box close to the off-side wing. Progress is very slow as the man only works a few hours per day and not every day and goes on holidays at the end of next week ... I am longing to see what it will be like and if you come by Gascony, why not try it by yourself ? We are 90 kms west of Toulouse, no motorways, no traffic congestions, only nice country roads! A bient t, Jean