Tech Tips: Spring 1990

“Pull Cable” Makes Life Easier
Bob Muenchausen
Boise, ID

(“Why didn’t I think of that?”…might be your reaction to this common sense idea! —Ed)

When replacing the choke cable or any loose hose or wire that is threaded through some maze of mechanical/electrical clutter, an easy way to rethread the new piece through is to use a “pull cable”.

A pull cable allows you to pull your new piece back through the same route that the original took, which will save you skinned knuckles, make the cable length come out right, and help prevent electrical shorts and wiring knocked loose.

Simply tie or tape a suitably flexible piece of wire, cord, or string, about two feet longer than the part replaced, to the trailing end of the piece you will be with drawing (carb end of choke cable, for example). You then pull both the part and the pull cable out until just a few inches of pull cable is past the final obstruction or mounting point (hole in dash for choke cable).

Next, remove the old part from the pull cable, and fasten the same end of the new part to the pull cable securely. Now you are ready to pull the new part in place. As you do, work it through slowly, working past any snags carefully to avoid creating kinks, binds, or other “mysterious” electrical malfunctions of components along the route. When done, make all mechanical connections and then take the new part and shift it as necessary to even out the slack at each end. This last step is often overlooked, but can add to the life of working cables, such as choke cables, by removing undue stress.

MGA, MGB Front Crankshaft Seal
Paul Caldarera
Long Beach, MS

The MGB front crankshaft seal (Moss #120-000) tends to leak engine oil because there isn’t a built-in device for ensuring the seal is centered with the crankshaft centerline when the seal is replaced. Engines for most other cars utilize dowels to correctly position the timing cover and thus center the seal. The official MGB service manual recommends that the seal be centered with a special service tool that is slipped on the crankshaft and into the seal alter the timing cover is installed but before the timing cover bolts are tightened.

I have never seen the tool offered for sale in the United States, but I have found something to use in its place. That “something” is the MGB single row timing chain crankshaft sprocket (Moss #460-125).The sprocket hub is tapered on one end and when slipped on the crankshaft and Into the seal, will center the seal perfectly.

I obtained my “centering tool” from an extra MGB engine which I have for parts. If you don’t have an extra engine with a single row timing chain, you may he able to borrow the sprocket from a friend who does have an extra sprocket.

This “centering tool” is also useable on the late model MGAs which utilize the same seal (Moss #120-000). I have not verified its application to the early model MGA since I don’t have one.

I hope you will be able to put this tech tip in a future issue of Moss Motoring so that other MG owners will benefit from it. I wish I would have discovered it years ago.

Door Top Seal Replacement
Richard Lantz
El Cajon, CA

(This should really help if you own an MGB, TR4-6, Sprite-Midget or late Healey.)

A tool made from a hacksaw blade greatly simplifies installation of the clips which retain the door top seals. Break off the rounded end of the blade, heat the broken end to incandescence and allow to cool slowly in order to anneal (soften) the metal. Bend the annealed end so that a clip can be loosely cradled In the bend. Reheat the end and quench in water to retemper the metal. Wrap the unbent end with duct tape to form a handle. Coat the Inside of the bend with a thick layer of weatherstrip cement so that the clips will stick In place.

Remove the door top covers to free the window a bit and push the clips off to release the old seal. Trim the new seal to length and press into place. Open the new clips a bit with a screwdriver so that the opening can be started over both seal and retainer strip. Fit the clip into the tool. While holding the seal down with one hand pull the clip into place. Starting the clip is a bit of a trick, and the task is not easy, but once you get the hang of it you should be able to install the seals In less than an hour.