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MG TD TF 1500 - Loose clutch/brake pedals...How to tighten?

Very strange, both the clutch and brake pedal on the TD are very loose, and fall rearward in the footbox, where do I find the loose mounting bolt/bolts?
Thanks
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Rebush and replace pedal shaft. Do a search of the archives for a lot of information.
Gene Gillam

They should both be pulled backwards by return springs, but should not have side to side slop. Check out the parts layout on Moss Motors TD clutch parts page. Nothing to tighte- if sideways slop bushings and shaft are likely worn. George
George Butz

Ed,
When you say that they fall rearward, I am assuming you mean that they fall towards the drivers feet??? Is the shaft broken? Were they ok last year??

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

I have only had the car a very short time...I've been working on the dash, and just noticed that the pedals are loose, and fall toward the rear of the car....
I have been under the car, on the lift, but even with the pedal "box" open, I don't know how to access the pedal shaft....I don't think there is side to side movement, but I will check that again.
Is the access from in the car, and under the rubber boot?
Edward
E.B. Wesson

ED,
ARE THE PEDALS CONNECTED TO THE master cylinder AND THE CLUTCH LINKAGE?? The only access is through that access panel on the inner side of the pedal box,,,
I've attached a photo of what is inside.. This particular box was cut/modified by the PO....


STEVE WINCZE

Steve
I have driven the car briefly, and both pedals were functioning, but didn't seem loose...Now they are.
Thanks for the photo...
What holds the shaft in place on the frame side, and is there any way to get to it, without cutting into the frame?
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Ed,
There is a circlip on the outside of the frame,,,,,, Usually this is OK,,, Is there any movement of the shaft????? Can it wiggle?? How much "freeplay" movement is there in the pedals?? Usually the wear is in the bushings,,,, How far do the pedals "fall"?? The location in the picture is about right....

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Edward,

I am emailing you an article by Jeff Delk that was in a recent Southeastern MG T Register newsletter, mgTalk

Don Harmer

Thanks , all for the help on this...
Looks like I'll be putting it off until next Winter...
I did find that the shaft was tight, the spring is in place, and the clutch bushing is good, but the brake bushing is in need of replacement.
Edward
E.B. Wesson

edward, perhaps you were saying this in your post but if not..once you get in there...you will want to replace them both and the shaft if it is worn too. regards, tom
tom peterson

You know, we all joke about Mr. Lucas at one time or another, but I think the guy who designed the pedal box has one up on him. Fortunately mine was all in tact, other than the missing side cover. PJ
Paul J

Forunately, I am working on a dissasembled frame today, powerewashed it and the pedal box (just changed to dry clothes) and found the broken clutch spring still attached to the box. The two brass bushings in the frame are good, but the shaft is shot and well worn at the brake bushing. It is so easy to work on that box this way, just like on the assembly line. I don't think the designers ever considered 60 years of grease, oil, brake fluid, crud could make such an awful mess.Found remnants of cigarette packages, matches, and other wrappers I can't coment on.
R.AF. Robert Finucane

Same box...different angle...I remember it well.
Zig Zags or Trojans? Robert ....I just can't evision getting lucky in a T series car.....bogles the mind.


LaVerne

LaVerne,
I reread the thread, and I see that I did not give proper acknowledgement for the picture that I posted waaaayyy at the beginning,,, Thanks LaVerne !!!!

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Fortunately, my pedal box was clean, thanks to the PO...The m/c had been replaced , along with springs and clevis pin, etc....But , I guess the shaft bushing was too much for him, so it's left to me to replace...
Replacing the shaft is a possibility as well, but since only the brake pedal seems loose (side-to-side), then I'm betting that just the bushing is bad...
Edward
E.B. Wesson

Thats ok Steve. It was on my car but I sure don't want credit for it lol.

I have only taken apart two boxes Edward but on both the bushings and the shaft were worn. I suspect you will find the same. Check the archives for some shaft modifications to help prevent future wear.
LaVerne

LaVerne
I had already downloaded the instructions, that include the shaft modification....Thanks
Edward
E.B. Wesson

LaVerne,

For me 60 years ago, for a TC, one had to be a practitioner of contortionism!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

...I won't mention the Austin Mini and the MGA coupe.... might just be a Canadian thing.....?
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

You dogs you.. lol.... I'm getting a stiff.....neck just thinking about it.
My Sprite was about as close to a chastity belt as you could get. Thankfully my best friend had a late 50's 4 door Olds...just like a couch front and back....I won't discuss my folks full size station wagon.
LaVerne

Also in the process of fixing slight movement in pedals.

I knocked the pedal shaft out of the frame and took the brake and clutch pedals off the shaft. Have removed all the dirt etc from the box. Found the shaft slightly worn where both pedal bushes sit. Bushes appear to be OK, but need to be checked further.

As car is RHD, I am thinking of reversing the shaft so the worn section is in the chassis rail. Also thinking of modifying the shaft to fit the grease nipple as per Jeff Delk modification (thanks Don). What size hole should be drilled down centre of shaft?

As the box had no side plate, can anyone tell me the size of the bolts holding the side plate onto the Pedal Box.

cheers
Stuart Duncan

Use the tap drill size you need for the grease fitting to drill the shaft.

Don Harmer

Stuart
Without getting under the car, I'm guessing that they are 3/16 Whitworth...3 bolts, and one stud , with a nut...
The stud is in a lower corner, so the cover will swing away.
E.B. Wesson

As I recall these are 1/4 in BSF bolts, a 3/16 Whithworth wrench or a 1/4 in BSf wrench fit
Don Harmer

La Verne - I was intrigued with the pic of the brake push rod. I have a lot of travel on mine ( much more than the half/threequarter inch the manual says before any pressure builds in the MC)

I was thinking of adjusting the length of the push rod The system was extensively rebuilt by the PO so the ' leave it alone' rule may already have been broken.



( no air in the system, firm brake pedal when I get there, have adjusted the pads a couple of times, gets no better with the hand brake on)

Does that pic represent a good comparison point on where it should be adjusted to ? I have no compare point.

Dave
TF 1955
Dave Moore

This thread was discussed between 13/04/2011 and 28/04/2011

MG TD TF 1500 index

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