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 Midget and Sprite Technical - Is this my tensioner?

Looked in the archive and can't think of anything else it could be.

It was in the sump today and I know for sure it was not there when I replaced the mains and big ends earlier this year. I also have a rattle from the front of the engine that I can hear as the engine is quieter now it has been tuned again.




Dave Squire 1500

Dave I have gone through my nephews engine parts and found the tensioner and it looks different.


D Pratt

Yeah, doesn't look like a tensioner. Would also be a bit confused as to how it would end up in the sump?!?

Doesn't look like an engine part at all. Although the picture I a bit unclear.

Cheers
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

We need a clearer image, I think.
Dave O'Neill2

Struggling for better pic. Relying on phone camera at the moment.

I thought it was a bearing shell to start with (we all think daft things at times - doh) but its not. Its thin and very difficult to bend by hand. The undamaged part is slightly curved and has some parallel scuff marks on the outer side of the curve. The folded bit is the knackered bit and should be flat or at least smooth curved. The ends are definitely torn, they are uneven and grainy, not cut.

I am struggling to find anything else in the engine diagrams that it could be but also don't know if the tensioner could end up in the sump.

Any suggestions? Oil pressure ok. Oil at top of engine. No excessive oil burn. Crank case examined for any 'loose bits' previously and just sludge removed. Sump cleaned last time and still lovely and clean. Engine running best ever apart from rattly sound at the front (hence wondering about tensioner). Ran fine before sump off while I did tappets and checked then carb balance and check. Then put it on the ramps with no power loss or strange noises so at a loss to think what this could be at the moment.

So any suggestions very welcome.
Dave Squire 1500

From memory, the 1500 has a strap that supports the end of the oil intake filter from flapping about, where it extends down into the sump. Maybe a bit off that? - or maybe I am wrong anyway,- I just realised that it is 15 years since I looked inside a 1500 crankcase!
Guy Weller

I may be muddling that oil filter strap with other engines! But another thought - I believe the 1500 sump has a short metal upstand tack welded just inside one of the flanged edges - just beneath the rear main bearing cap isn't it? perhpas that has come loose.

Although the first thought would have been the tensioner, I just don't see how that could find its way through into the sump!
Guy Weller

Don't worry about how long ago Guy; its these sort of hypotheses that are helpful. I seem to think you and everyone else thinks that the chain case is pretty separate apart from oiling so nothing can get out to the sump so I am really struggling.

Its not off the inside of the sump the guard is still intact. The oil strainer all screws up on mine, no strap type bits.

Of course the PO could have done some thing like dropped an odd 'thing' in to an oil way when the rocker box was off and this has just worked its way loose into the sump. There was a lot of gunge and carbon in the valve gear and inside the crank case 12 months ago and it has all been dissolving away over time. (3 oil changes so far this year).

Perhaps it was in with some dissolving crap and has now come away and dropped down.

A bit of a puzzler as its definitely spring type steel and won't bend without considerable force and then springs back into shape. The fold in it must have been done either before it got in the engine or by the crank.

I will treat it as an oddity for the minute and carry on.
Dave Squire 1500

Bit off a piston ring compressor?
Guy Weller

Hey Dave, just been reminding myself how my engine went together. There really isn't any way the tensioner could end up in the sump unless you removed the sump and the timing chain cover, snapped off the tensioner, put it in the sump and put it all back together again!

Nothing like that on the oil pump or in the sump that could break off... A real oddity!

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Thanks Malcolm and Guy. I have decided my mind is at rest. And yes Guy, looking at the parallel rub marks on it I reckon you're right its something like that. I have looked and looked at diagrams and under in the crank case and found nothing like it. Its got to be. The mains, con rods, big end shells, caps, valve gear and everything are so much cleaner again than last time that I reckon it was just stuck with gunge somewhere up the crank case and has dropped down now.

Anyway, the car needs to be back together for 2 morrow so its tea time and then back to it to complete the job and reassembly.

Then hopefully I will have to go out tomorrow for a bit of a drive :-)

Thanks everyone.
Dave Squire 1500

I wonder if its a similar situation concerning lawerances balls and sack

Hahaha

Seriously... lawerance found that sack of lead balls in his gas tank to add more lead to his gasoline and that peice of metal dosnt look like anything ive seen before

Im wondering if its a hillbilly idea for preventing oil foaming ... kind of a red neck oil baffle idea

If you got ball bearings inside your tires, then you might just be a redneck

Beyound that... I cant imagine, hard to belive it got there accidently

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

This thread was discussed on 08/12/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.