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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 MGA - MGA Master Cylinder part 2

In a related question to the current thread about the clutch bleeding. On the 1600 MCs with the taller tank, should I use a gasker sealer where the tank bolts to the MC body? Without sealer and a new gasket it leaks like crazy, even up through a couple of screw holes???
David Terhune

You just need two flat surfaces and a cork gasket. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/hydraulics/ht111.htm
Barney Gaylord

Thanks for the link Barney, I have procured a new gasket, will look a the straightness of the top and MC tomorrow.
David Terhune

Will the 1600 raised cover fit on the 1500 cylinder?
I am doing a disc brake conversion on my Magnette and have been planning to make a cylinder extension but if I can just bolt on an MGA1600 cover that would save me a lot of work.
If it is a bolt on does anyone have one that they would like to sell?

Rich
R.J. McKie

It's a bolt on fit. But they seem hard to find.
dominic clancy

Rich, there are (at least) two different heights of reservoir tops, and all are interchangeable.

You really don't need one - the low 1500 model is adequate as long as you check your fluid once a decade.

I was also fitting a raised top on my Jamaican - until we realised that they had cut down the firewall so much that it wouldn't clear the bonnet.....
Bill Spohn

Barney, your suggestion worked, I had to do a lot of sanding on that lid! Now if I can only get that clutch bled! Again, thanks for the link and your good works for the MG world.
David Terhune

The clutch sucks to bleed sometimes.

1. Fill the slave cylinder with fluid before you attach the hose. I usually fill it, then push the piston back until some fluid comes out.

2. Only open the bleed screw a fraction. Just enough for something, anything, to come out. Opening it wider for faster bleeding lets air in around the threads, and if you have an old or refurbished unit these are even worse. You think you're pushing out air when all you're doing is making your own air bubbles.

3. If the air vent in the top of the resevoir cap is obstructed, bleeding won't go very well.

4. The EZ Bleed pressure system has given me the best results by far as far as the clutch goes. Some people swear by the MityVac system. I have had no luck with it.
Mark

I swear by the MityVac-except when it comes to bleeding the clutch. Yes, air gets sucked in around the threads (a little bit of teflon tape helps seal this) and you will spin your wheels while waiting to spin your wheels. Go for the EZ Bleed. Make up a dummy cap for the reservoir and off you go. Just my .02.
Tommy

I have found that by removing the slave cylinder from housing and let it hang down with a G-clamp holding the pist on fully depressed I can bleed it in a moment. Also if you let it hang down overnight it has the tendancy to self bleed.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Sandy

I like that idea - must remember it when the occasion arises, clutches just don't want to get bled do they...

Pete
Pete Tipping

Tried MityVac,couldn't get it bled. Tried EZ Bleed, was done in minutes. EZ bleed is fantastic.

GTF
G T Foster

Thanks everyone, I did as Sandy mentioned (unbolted and let the cylinder hang down) and within minutes I got fluid going. I then mounted the cylinder to the housing again, and while pressing in the cylinder I had my son pump the clutch pedal. Lots of air was trapped in there, I had borrowed a friends Mity Vac but never used it.
David Terhune

This thread was discussed between 28/09/2006 and 07/10/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.