Leaking fuel light sending unit

[wwcordin]

A wooden dowel, approximately one inch in diameter and approximately four feet long works perfectly, and I have had the same stick in use now for over fifteen years. The California Kid TC 6749

----- Original Message ----- From: Locktc7440@aol.com> To: Tombutlercpa@cs.com>; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 2:46 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Leaking fuel light sending unit > I don't know about anyone else but I gave up on that sending unit years ago. > The shaft where the arm for the float attaches has always been the problem > area. The gas will leak into the little chamber where the contact is made and > then leaks out the cover. If anyone has a solution to seal this shaft that > turns approx 90 degrees I would like to hear it. The rest of the unit can be > sealed but this area is hopeless. I used to resort to not filling the tank > above the unit line but this can be a bother. > If you don't believe me take the unit out and take the cover off (three > screws) and dunk it in a pail of water so air is trapped in the cavity. It > will bubble nicely through the hole where the shaft goes in. ooooo000000OOOOO > just like that. I also could never see a way of dissambling the thing. I had > thoughts of an O ring or something but finally gave up. I also would like a > solution!!! > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

[Diecuts@aol.com]

Hi Tom, Sounds like a seal failure. Today's modern gasket materials should be able to solve the leak without problem. Suggest .032" - .062" (.75 - 1.6mm) composition cork/nitrile rubber or just 40-60 durometer nitrile rubber. Both are available from McMaster-Carr catalog. Cheers, Lee Jacobsen, Dearborn, MI TA2969, TC780.

[John T. Seim]

Here is what has worked best. In California, fuel has 2x the amount of MTBE as other states, so sealing technology must meet the challenge. Using a honing stone, hone flat the flange on the fuel tank, and on the sending unit. Best choice is to purchase a new sending unit, from ABINGDON SPARES (19/157). Purchase new screws from them as well (Better than what Moss is selling). They have also looked into gas tank sealing, and sell sending unit with three fiberboard gaskets ( sending unit gasket, cover plate gasket, and terminal stud washer). If you choose to use your sending unit, flange MUST be flat. Honing will identify low spots. With all mating pieces honed flat, purchase Yamabond gasket cement. Either Yamabond #4 (hardening) or #5 (semi-elastic) can be used. Compound has a 1 year opened shelf life, so if you borrow some from a friend, it might be expired. Countersink threaded holes in fuel tank.Coat both sides of each gasket, as well as apply compound to screw threads. Our club, Vintage MG Club of Southern California, has four cars that received this treatment in the last 12 months. John Seim VintageMG.com

[wargs]

Joe, Tom, I suppose you know that the starter/dynamo coil wrappings are coated with shellac? David Lodge Joe Gates wrote:

... I am looking for advice on how to solve the problem ... In your responses please assume that it is leaking from all possible points... Tom I had similar problem and was advise d to use shellac - worked like a dream - no leaks since I coated cork gasket material, secured unit and cover plate in place and let them set for a few days. Shellac seems totally resistent to petrol/gasoline. BUT - within days my sending unit stuck and I have not yet re-opened it up to fix - merely disconnetced the electrics. I'll get round to it in due course! See this site http://www.wwforum.com/faqs_articles/shellac.html And another use for shellac see http://www.mindspring.com/~d.g1/shellac.html . Seems a reasonable alternative means of repairing cracked Brooklands steering wheels - again, another task to be done at a future date. Hope these help Joe Gates TC 8675 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service .

[Jeff & Merryl Redman]

G'day mate! I'm with you on this one. Being rather spoiled by the system on my 2 TA's (Which have quite a number of additional joints for Murphy's Law to make presence felt in the form of fuel leaks, when it came to dealing with my TC's quaint habit of leaking from the sender unit I took the easy way out. Seizing the opportunity during a mini-rebuild the damn thing was soldered shut, the sender unit pelted away. End of problem. I too carry a dip stick to measure capacity. Amazing the number of the 'Great Unwashed' who after witnessing my 'fuel measuring' at petrol stations reckon that life was sure simpler with such fool-proof technology... and envy my way of going. I should confess that my TC is pure boy-racer. (I have boarded up the doors of my garage and prepared to repel the Originality Gestapo who may lay seige to me) Having fitted the blower - a gift from my good lady (Question: Was she trying to improve the performance of the TC ...or its driver?) its need to drink deeply was satisfied by duplicating fuel lines via a second pump, which I suppose is getting away from the story of the original problem of leaky whatsits. I guess what I'm trying to say is simply this: Why spend valuable otherwise valuable driving time poncing about trying to rebuild the pyramids.... sidestep the problem, change down a gear and accelerate. Life's too short to be bothered by incidentals. Regards from a lovely crisp evening down under (And I'm off for a blast in 23 degree C in the TC!!) Jeff.

----- Original Message ----- From: "wwcordin" wwcordin@msn.com> To: Tombutlercpa@cs.com>; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com>; Locktc7440@aol.com> Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 11:25 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Leaking fuel light sending unit > A wooden dowel, approximately one inch in diameter and approximately four > feet long works perfectly, and I have had the same stick in use now for over > fifteen years. > > > The California Kid > TC 6749 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Locktc7440@aol.com> > To: Tombutlercpa@cs.com>; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 2:46 PM > Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Leaking fuel light sending unit > > > > I don't know about anyone else but I gave up on that sending unit years > ago. > > The shaft where the arm for the float attaches has always been the problem > > area. The gas will leak into the little chamber where the contact is made > and > > then leaks out the cover. If anyone has a solution to seal this shaft that > > turns approx 90 degrees I would like to hear it. The rest of the unit can > be > > sealed but this area is hopeless. I used to resort to not filling the > tank > > above the unit line but this can be a bother. > > If you don't believe me take the unit out and take the cover off (three > > screws) and dunk it in a pail of water so air is trapped in the cavity. It > > will bubble nicely through the hole where the shaft goes in. > ooooo000000OOOOO > > just like that. I also could never see a way of dissambling the thing. I > had > > thoughts of an O ring or something but finally gave up. I also would like > a > > solution!!! > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[Joe Gates]

> Why spend valuable otherwise valuable driving time poncing about trying to > rebuild the pyramids.... sidestep the problem, change down a gear and > accelerate. > Life's too short to be bothered by incidentals. >

Dear Jeff (and others) I am not an originality policeman - far from it (Datsun Steering box et al!), nor a ponce, but... I rather enjoy messing around in my workshop, pretending to do great things with my limited skills to enhance the pleasure of TC 8675 (I also think she enjoys the attention). Solving (excuse the pun) a leak in the fuel sender unit is an appropriate challenge. More so as TABC lister Bob Wilmot's suggestion that shellac is the answer gave me a "period" solution - i.e.shellac was around in 1949, but silicone, JB Weld, etc. (to my knowledge) were not. Nor was running away from a challenge!! I cannot rebuild an engine or gear box; nor can I weld, turn, mill or panelbeat, so I definitely cannot discourse authoritatively about matters mechanical. But hell - with bonnet off, I can polish here and there, do a bit of touch-up spray (can) painting; stare at the marvel of XPAG 3111 (not original to the chassis); and trawl Mike Sherrell's book (and this list) for missing items to correct, design, make and fit - a clamp on the fuel line, Bowden and slow-running control arms, and so forth. Hell, it makes me feel good, and I enjoy the (static) journey! I can also get her ready (so far as I am able) for our June expedition to the biannual MGCC Indaba - a round trip of some 1400 miles. I continuously rebuild the pyramids (bit by bit) and am proud of it - so is TC 8675. So, whatever blows your hair back, I guess...?! Joe Gates TC 8675 PS I recently heard on the radio (crystal set with clothes' line aerial and bakelite earphones, promise!) that some regulatory authority somewhere (UN?) has decreed that it is sexist for ships to be called "she" and is therefore outlawed. So ships are now to be named with the neuter "IT" - and presumably launched "... I name IT ... whatever ..., and may all that sail in IT .....blah, blah" Does anyone know if the same apply to our T-Types?

[wargs]

Joe, I think you might have hit the nail on the head! There's nothing quite so conducive, IM not-so-HO, to one's general well-being than a bit of tinkering ; and if one's skills stretch to panel-beating, welding, milling and so-on so much the better. And by the way, the ships no longer being called "she" thingy was Lloyds of London Registry of Shipping. PC run riot if you ask me! Joe Gates wrote:

Why spend valuable otherwise valuable driving time poncing about trying to rebuild the pyramids.... sidestep the problem, change down a gear and accelerate. Life's too short to be bothered by incidentals.

Dear Jeff (and others) I am not an originality policeman - far from it (Datsun Steering box et al!), nor a ponce, but... I rather enjoy messing around in my workshop, pretending to do great things with my limited skills to enhance the pleasure of TC 8675 (I also think she enjoys the attention). Solving (excuse the pun) a leak in the fuel sender unit is an appropriate challenge. More so as TABC lister Bob Wilmot's suggestion that shellac is the answer gave me a "period" solution - i.e.shellac was around in 1949, but silicone, JB Weld, etc. (to my knowledge) were not. Nor was running away from a challenge!! I cannot rebuild an engine or gear box; nor can I weld, turn, mill or panelbeat, so I definitely cannot discourse authoritatively about matters mechanical. But hell - with bonnet off, I can polish here and there, do a bit of touch-up spray (can) painting; stare at the marvel of XPAG 3111 (not original to the chassis); and trawl Mike Sherrell's book (and this list) for missing items to correct, design, make and fit - a clamp on the fuel line, Bowden and slow-running control arms, and so forth. Hell, it makes me feel good, and I enjoy the (static) journey! I can also get her ready (so far as I am able) for our June expedition to the biannual MGCC Indaba - a round trip of some 1400 miles. I continuously rebuild the pyramids (bit by bit) and am proud of it - so is TC 8675. So, whatever blows your hair back, I guess...?! Joe Gates TC 8675 PS I recently heard on the radio (crystal set with clothes' line aerial and bakelite earphones, promise!) that some regulatory authority somewhere (UN?) has decreed that it is sexist for ships to be called "she" and is therefore outlawed. So ships are now to be named with the neuter "IT" - and presumably launched "... I name IT ... whatever ..., and may all that sai l in IT .....blah, blah" Does anyone know if the same apply to our T-Types? Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Paul Camp]

Well Said Joe I too enjoy the fiddling and leave the really technical bits to the experts. Yes our so called politically correct masters are trying to stop ships being called she!! I have concerns as to how it will all end. Our children cannot be slapped (criminal offence) Just get out in the TC and forget lifes little annoyances Paul TC 3348

----- Original Message ----- > > I am not an originality policeman - far from it (Datsun Steering box et > al!), nor a ponce, but... > > I rather enjoy messing around in my workshop, pretending to do great things > with my limited skills to enhance the pleasure of TC 8675 (I also think she > enjoys the attention). > > Solving (excuse the pun) a leak in the fuel sender unit is an appropriate > challenge. More so as TABC lister Bob Wilmot's suggestion that shellac is > the answer gave me a "period" solution - i.e.shellac was around in 1949, but > silicone, JB Weld, etc. (to my knowledge) were not. Nor was running away > from a challenge!! > > I cannot rebuild an engine or gear box; nor can I weld, turn, mill or > panelbeat, so I definitely cannot discourse authoritatively about matters > mechanical. But hell - with bonnet off, I can polish here and there, do a > bit of touch-up spray (can) painting; stare at the marvel of XPAG 3111 (not > original to the chassis); and trawl Mike Sherrell's book (and this list) > for missing items to correct, design, make and fit - a clamp on the fuel > line, Bowden and slow-running control arms, and so forth. Hell, it makes me > feel good, and I enjoy the (static) journey! I can also get her ready (so > far as I am able) for our June expedition to the biannual MGCC Indaba - a > round trip of some 1400 miles. > > I continuously rebuild the pyramids (bit by bit) and am proud of it - so is > TC 8675. So, whatever blows your hair back, I guess...?! > > Joe Gates > TC 8675 > > PS I recently heard on the radio (crystal set with clothes' line aerial and > bakelite earphones, promise!) that some regulatory authority somewhere (UN?) > has decreed that it is sexist for ships to be called "she" and is therefore > outlawed. So ships are now to be named with the neuter "IT" - and > presumably launched "... I name IT ... whatever ..., and may all that sail > in IT .....blah, blah" Does anyone know if the same apply to our T-Types? > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >