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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 TD TF 1500 - Spark/fuel Hazard

Decided that it was time for a new battery in Lazarus. The old one was almost ten years old. Archives indicated that the WalMart MAXX34S would do fine. (Santa had brought me a WalMart Gift Card) Was almost going to install it far toward the right side of the battery compartment to create storage room on the left side. When I went to install the cable clamp I spotted a hazard, my fuel pump to carburetor hose is a metallic-sheathed fuel line. Had I already connected the negative ground cable clamp there could have been a spark in a very bad place had I touched the fuel line with my wrench. Now deciding on whether to replace the fuel line with a rubberized OEM type or to cover the present line with a section of insulating tubing. Bud


Bud Krueger

Why not place a rubber sleeve over the batter terminal. They are on most modern vehicles and are likely available at most of the auto parts retailers at modest expense.

Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all from your northern neighbors🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦


gl rombough

Interesting option. I wonder if the one on the starter switch could spread that far? Must take a spin up to NAPA tomorrow (another Santa Claus present). Bud
Bud Krueger

Place shrink tubbing over the hose. Once you heat it, it will leave the metal pattern.
That should insulate it and leave a cool textured finish.
G D

Bud,

From your picture I see that you have changed to negative earth. When you changed your battery why didn't you get one with the terminals reversed? In that case they will be at the rear. this is where they should be and it would have solved your problem.

John
J Scragg

Bud
How about a relivtivly clear neoprene hose.
Split from one end to the other , and it can fit over the existing wire sheathed fuel line and the pritty sheathing would show through.

Steve
SPW Wincze

See pic. Mine is positive earth hence the minus sign on the sleeve. Wasn't able to get the right sleeves for this battery ;-)

Note: I had the problem you describe when trying to get the oil bin in there...not a pretty event!

Jasper


JL Nederhoed

Bud,
When I changed my Battery early last year, I got an AGM one from sears. They had Batteries with the terminals both ways. My TD is Positive earth - so I chose a Battery with terminals at the back with Neg at the fuel pump side. Need the extra room for a water recovery bottle - [which I am still looking for :) ]
I am sure there were Batteries there with the terminals the other way round to suit your Neg earth and allow you to have the terminals further away from the bits that can go naughty.


Rod Jones - Ex Pat

Bud,

Also let the cable clamp face not to the side but towards the engine.

Jasper
JL Nederhoed

I shorted from the starter terminal to ground with my metal watch strap once. Luckily it was an expanding one that blew up and separated, so I only got a small, localised burn.

Then I fitted a disconnect switch to my battery ....

David

PS Using a jet spanner gets the same results.
DavePro

Bud,
Just fit a battery terminal cover like the one in the photo-made by Durite. I'm sure I have a few spare ones lying around.

Regards
Declan


D Burns

Close up


D Burns

Hi folks, thanks for your suggestions. Declan, thanks for the offer. I'm heading to NAPA this morning to see if they have such a cover.

The next time there's a discussion about switching to negative ground I think I'll suggest considering to buy an 'R' battery the next time the person needs a new one.

Bud
Bud Krueger

NAPA has quite a variety, made by Phillips.
https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/search/?text=battery%20terminal%20cover&isProduct=true&isInterchange=true&referer=herofitmentForm-allprod Bud
Bud Krueger

I might be missing something here.
The cover for the bat post is fine, but that cover is the first thing to get removed when working on the bat clamp. Once it is removd, the problem in Buds original post still exists. And that is having a wrench touch the clamp and the metal sheathed fuel line.

Steve
SPW Wincze

I learned at a very early age that the ground cable is the first one removed and last one connected. Every time.

I remember the AAA replacing a battery for me one time he had a shirt saying "Battery Specialist", but he was using multi-grips and removed the live connection first.

I asked if he had taken Battery 101, or Battery Primer, or if he stole the shirt!
P G Gilvarry

And, the winner is ---- shrink tubing. Yes, I removed the hose before hitting it with the heatgun. Could only find 1" shrink in 4" lengths. May not be pretty, but pretty is as pretty does. Bud


Bud Krueger

Great point, actually going out today and use rubberized paint on the hose, multiple coats make a healthy layer. And also nice to hear from you down in Dixie. I always appreciated your guidance and swinging by to bail me out, can I still count on both ?
Jon Levine

Hi Jon. Always happy to give a bit of guidance where I can. But, I suspect that swinging by is not going to be quite as easy as before. Then again, it's only about 1100 miles, and Lazarus does that with no sweat. Bud
Bud Krueger

D Burns : what is that above the starter switch under the hood?

Sorry for the hijack question.
M Grogan

I know they look pretty but modern stainless braided hoses are something I will NOT fit - I have seen too many that leak - the rubber under the braid hardens and crazes.

I would strongly recommend fitting plain rubber hoses that you can check the condition of.
Chris at Octarine Services

You are probably referring to the orange hose. That is a section of the manifold vacuum feeding back to my power brake servo. See http://www.ttalk.info/TinkerServo.htm . The Ttalk article is David Tinker's approach in his TF. My servo is located behind the driver's set (LHD), above the differential. Bud
Bud Krueger

I was talking about this



M Grogan

While I have positive earth on the TD and have not had the issue of shorting the wrench while removing the battery terminal, I have had this happen by not taking a terminal off when removing the lead off the starter switch. There are a couple of hazards in the area of the fuel pump.

Take the negative off prior to any repair is now my mantra.
Bruce Cunha

Mike, that's Declan's car. Bud
Bud Krueger

I am with Chris. I had an armored fuel line in our MGB and the only way I knew that the hose had deteriorated was when I turned the ignition one morning and the fuel pump didn't stop ticking and I smelled gas. When I checked the fuel line I found that it had literally crumbled under the armor braid. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

Show us your rubber fuel line arrangementt Dave.
S Cole

Mike Grogan,
That is a cable operated battery kill switch and is operated via a T bar mounted to the left of the steering column. It saves running HD cables through the bulkhead but has the disadvantage that you have to open the bonnet to reset it. Easy to install and works a treat.
Ignore the vacuum gauge-that was a temporary set-up when I installed a PCV valve.

Regards
Declan


D Burns

Must admit that I'm a bit concerned about the effect that the heat gun might have had on the tubing inside of the fuel line. BTW, I removed the fuel line to apply the heat for shrinking the tubing. Let's see who has a good non-braided fuel line at a decent price. Bud
Bud Krueger

OK I now see where I went wrong with the owner of the picture. Sorry Dave and Bud.
This is a better picture. I can see it now. thanks.
I have the same switch but ran cable to under dash for that switch. LHD. Positive ground has the switch.
As to my routing of the braded fuel line, I just moved it a bit away from the negative post.




M Grogan

Looks as if that retro-swap isn't going to be a simple matter. Moss' are braided stainless with Teflon interiors. A/S' catalog shows the carb-to-carb as being braided. No image of pump-to-carb. I've emailed A/S to find out if it's braided. Bud
Bud Krueger

Got backwards. Rubber wrenches.
S Cole

No response from Abingdon Spares about the fuel line. I have a disconnect on the ground terminal that I always open when I do any electrical work. I think I'll put an insulator over the positive terminal. Bud
Bud Krueger

This thread was discussed between 02/01/2017 and 07/01/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

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