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MG TD TF 1500 - Clips and what are they holding

I was working on my steering gear today and looked at this picture in the shop manual. (J.1)

I know this is an illustration, but there are two clips in the drawing that are holding something.

Were these used on the TD? If so, anyone have a better picture of the clips? Is that a wire it is holding?



Bruce Cunha

Yeah I think that's the front loom to the headlight. I may have the correct clips as I inherited 3 different sizes. I asked about them on an earlier thread but had no response. They look like a smaller version of the rear axle brake line jobs. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Yes they hold the wiring harness for the right wing. Same straps as the ones used to hold the temperature gauge bourdon tube to the radiator support

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

Actually the straps pictured are the wider ones used to hold the brake lines on the rear axle. Also used on back frame tube to hold rear light harness.

I think you can get reproductions of these from FTRU or even Moss if I recall.


Christopher Couper

Hi All,

That sketch/picture of the two(2) clips is ,on TF at least, the clips which hold the wiring harness for the two(2) Lucas horns.

The brake line on TFs running across the rear axle housing has four(4) of these same clips, plus another three(3) of these clips which hold the
wiring harness to the rear most chassis cross member.

On TFs, and I suspect TDs,there is also the same type clip holding the
brake line to the chassis cross member after the line exits the master cylinder. Often missing.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
Rob Grantham

My car.

Matthew.


M Magilton

These clips are in the same place the old ones were. PJ



PJ Jennings

I should have walked out and looked at my cars. I am corrected the straps are the larger steel type as used on the differential brake lines and rear tube to support the taillight wiring

Thank you Chris for correcting my error. Saves someone else ordering the wrong size

Cheers

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

As usual, this group has most of the answers.

In looking at the pictures, I think I see how they made the loop for the wire. The long tail is brought to the front, around the wire, through the clip, around the steering gear and then back through the top of the clip.

They say it is a good day when you learn something new. I am having a number of them lately.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce: Sounds like you are learning how to tie your shoe with a mnemonic. :-)

They can be used in a variety of ways depending on how large the object it is they are securing and how big of an object they are securing too. Look at the gallery pictures for each area you plan to use them out for hints.

For example, for small items the open end can wrap around the object and the tail then goes through the loop. You then have a secured strap with a long tail. Then this gets wrapped around the item it will be secured to, the tail passes through the loop and is bent back 180 degrees against the object as a wrap. Really good factory workers often bent over the last 1/4" or so of the tail inwards so that there was no sharp edge.
Christopher Couper

Ok, now for the next question. Are the straps finished or just unfinished steel
Bruce Cunha

I think they were zinc plated but not 100% sure. But they don't seem to rust. Maybe some other metal? It's not aluminum for sure.
Christopher Couper

I think mine are zinc plated also, they are coated with something, they show no rust or discoloring and they have been wet before. PJ
PJ Jennings

Any preference between the straps from Abingdon Spares and from Moss? Both are for brake lines.

Abingdon Spares:
"Strap for Brake Lines"
#31-057
$4.45
Total length 10 inches
http://abingdonspares.com/products/strap-for-brake-lines

Moss:
"STRAP, pipe to axle"
#181-900
$4.19
http://mossmotors.com/strap-pipe-to-axle

According to Moss "Where Used", six are required for fuel tank/lines and six for brake lines/diff. Plus the two for wiring at the front as noted in this thread. Total = 14. Is this correct?

Thanks,

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Hard to say Lonnie if the Moss straps are different than Abingdon spares without comparing one to the other. I got mine from Moss 4 years ago and they seem to be correct. The strap in Abingdons illustration seems to have a gloss to it, could be camera angle, mine are a flat finish. PJ
PJ Jennings

Thanks PJ.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Lonnie I don’t have a TF but I can’t imagine where the straps are used in fuel lines. Are you sure your not confusing the spring clips that snap into the chassis for fuel and brake line retention.?

# of straps on TD
4ea on the differential for brake lines
2ea on R&P for wiring harness
2/3ea on rear x member/tube for tail/sending unit wiring

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

I think Bill listed them all.

Just to add there are small straps that hold the wiring to the front of the car to the TF (unsure of the TD) to the lower part of the stay tube. On my TF, this wasn't plated. Just natural brass. I'm unsure why.

Frank
TF1414


Frank Cronin

Three holding the water temp capillary tube.



Frank Cronin

Thanks Bill for clarifying the number needed as stated by Moss.

The Moss diagrams for the brake lines and for the fuel lines each state that six #181-900 are needed, so I assumed that six were needed in each location. Now I understand that the number was the total of brake and fuel straps needed. Plus two for the steering rack.

Frank, Thanks for confirming. I have a quantity of #161-800 straps for under hood use.

Lonnie
TF7211

LM Cook

Bill Chasser, good to see you back on the forum. You were absent for several weeks......Hope all is OK.

Tom
T Norby

Frank: Those clips on the cap tube are different still. A whole nother discussion.
Christopher Couper

Ok Chris. Since we are on clips. Moss lists these. Not TD, https://mossmotors.com/clip-set-temperature-sender-tube, No Picture so I don't know what they look like. Any thoughts on where we can get the correct ones for the thermometer tube?
Bruce Cunha

My clips are made from black nylon and they are called cable ties! It's not as bad as it sounds though. I cut small pieces of black plastic (from an engine oil container) and bent them into a top hat shape but rounded at the top rather than flat. I made slits in the verticals, just above where they meet the horizontals, so I could feed the cable ties through these and they could sit flat on the steering rack and form a small arch for the loom. May not be original but they look very professional


Jan T
J Targosz

www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_nitty.htm

pro tip: Use the control F key for search. Then enter "straps".

The part number for Moss and AS is 65 051. You want the double headed ones.
Christopher Couper

How many were used for the thermometer tube?
Bruce Cunha

On the TF, there are three.

Probably the same for the TD


Frank

TF1414
Frank Cronin

Be great if someone could definitively list all of the clips used on the TD/TF. Big job I know. These would include those for the brake lines, their sizes and precise locations as well as the others for the harness at the front and along the chassis rail. There are also the thermometer clips, again dimensions and an illustration of the originals would be useful, as well as the wiring clip used on the battery starter cable. The fuel line spring steel clips differ again. The after market versions are expensive and poorly made without the offset leg, which usually means 2 out of every 3 break when being fitted. Others include the P clips at various locations. Again sizes would be helpful. Thanks for starting this thread Bruce. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I agree Peter. As my post shows, Lots I still don't know about what went were.

Bill and Chris may be able to compile these. I am currently working on the body/frame fasteners. Hoping to have a complete list with pictures of the fastener and where they go finished soon.

And if we are really lucky, we may have a company that will supply a full body fastener kit.

Bruce Cunha

I came across my straps to the TF when I was organizing my bins full of parts in labeled Zip lock bags.

Seeing these straps I remembered this post so I figured I would send a few pictures.

I did not include pictures for the brake lines since they are already on the car.

First pic. These are the straps Bruce inquired about in his first post. Two for the horns and the other set for the harness under the spare wheel. Included tape measure to size.


Frank

TF1414


Frank Cronin

2

Strap for the harness that attaches to the stay tube. On my car it was brass but I'm sure the Factory would have used whatever they had on hand.





Frank Cronin

3

Straps for the temperature gauge.

Sorry for the multiple posts. I can can only upload one picture at a time.

Frank
TF1414



Frank Cronin

I assume the double headed straps came in one size and were cut off as needed. Surprised your one strap was brass but perhaps they all were and were zinc plated and that one missed the tank. :-)
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 15/07/2018 and 06/08/2018

MG TD TF 1500 index

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