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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Engine compartment door panels

Having owned an MGA and TR3 in the past, I am a newbie TD owner. Can someone tell me what is the correct way to prop open the engine compartment side panels? If you open one side can you just lay it folded over the top or will this cause paint scratches and over stressing of the sheetmetal at the top hinge point? The aft hinge point on mine has been damaged sometime in the past as you can see in the photo. I don't see a good way to prop the door panel upright without laying it over the top.
Mike


Mike I

Photo shows exactlywhat happens if just flopped over. Click on "archive" at upper right, enter bonnet props and enter. Then scroll down the list until you find the posts about bonnet props. Many ways to do this. George
George Butz

I would also check to see if you have the second inner part of that hinge point in place. Without it the bonnet will fold over too far and cause damage to the paint and split the metal.
If it is there it should hold the bonnet up and prevent the issue.
Best practice is to employ a bonnet prop which you can make yourself and save the issue as well

Part 13 inner support. $1.99


Rod Jones

See http://www.ttalk.info/bonnet_props.htm for a few ideas. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks for your comments. I have researched the bonnet props and decided a combination of Greg Cinzer and John Redman's ideas are best in my estimation. Greg's simple angle attached to the support rod on the forward end coupled with the notched wood strip located on top of the tool box will support both ends of the side panel's edge. The metal angle actually could be replaced by a small notched wood block attached to the support rod instead. The others seem to be too complex requiring special parts to be made, etc. Paul Hinchcliffe's idea using a coat hanger is simple, but can easily damage the paint behind the release handle. Rod, I checked for the inner support fitting under the hinge end cap and I do have it installed. I wonder how that tear near my aft bonnet hinge happened?
As an aside, I have to change the battery and considering the weight involved, I will have to remove the bonnet to drop it in. Is there a right way to remove it or start at either end?
Is it a two man job?
Thanks again,
Mike
Mike I

Mike,
The cheapest quickest and easiest bonnet prop is a Loop made from a piece of nylon string approx 23" long with a knot.
See photo. Set the length so that the front corner rubber just touches the rad. Do the same on the other side.
I replaced my battery last week and there was no need to remove the bonnet. I temporarily used a longer string hung from the ceiling so the inner bonnet panel was vertical and the outer panel horizontal.


Regards
Declan


Declan Burns

Here you can see the front of the bonnet resting against the rad. Leave the string permanently attached to the toolbox and just route it behind the toolbox when not in use.

Regards
Declan


Declan Burns

Spike Milligan would be pleased. Spike always believed that extra string was very important. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Go to ebay and check out hood props. These are excellent.
Bob Wrenn

I like (and bought) the props sold by From the Frame Up.

Tim
TD12524
Tim Burchfield

I had a few extinctions left over from a install of drop lights in the kitchen. I thought I needed to put them to good use instead of just tossing them out as the wife suggested I do, anyway here they are.


M Grogan

and another shot



M Grogan

Om my TC, I used a 3 piece painters roller extension stick. They thread together for about a 36" total length. Put a rubber boot on each end to protect the paint and a Velcro tie pinned to the center piece so that when I took them apart they stored conveniently in the tool box.
When I opened the hood the side of the hood stuck out horizontally. I put the top end of the stick in the round coil of the spring for the hood latch on the underside of the hood and the bottom end anywhere that felt secure. Worked great when working on the engine.
Had a stick for each side so when I had both hood sides open it looked like gulls wing.
Mark Stolzenburg
Chesterfield, Missouri
Mark Stolzenburg

One easy way that I found and use is to cut a 2 inch length of 1/2 inch aluminum channel, drill a hole in it and secure it with the bolt that attaches the radiator stay rod.
I found this in a book that actually suggested cutting a "v" into the vertical walls of the channel to bend it 45 degrees such that the free side sits horizontally to hold the corner of the bonnet. Cutting the "v's" took a while and I found it did't work and is unnecessary.
As soon as the weight of the bonnet came onto the bent prop, the free side gave and laid straight. It works just the same.
I like this setup because it allows for propping both sides of the bonnet up and is very stable. Many other props only allow for one side at a time to be open.
BobbyG



Bobby Galvez

Let me assure you all that propping up a TD bonnet is a whole lot easier than trying to work on a TF engine. We envy you!

David
D A Provan

But Dave that pretty face is hard to beat! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Thanks for all your great ideas! Gotta say Declan, you can't get simpler than a string. The problem changing the battery with the bonnet doors on is you have to lift it and thread it past the equipment installed on either side of it. If it were a cardboard box it would be easy, but the beast weighs 40-50 pounds. Not easy when you're leaning over. How the heck did you do it?
Thanks,
Mike
Mike I

Mike,
Changing the battery is really no issue. I installed a 50 Euro (incl. delivery!)63Ah battery which measures 242 x 175 x 175 mm.
It weighs about 12kg and my wife lifted it in as I am not allowed lift anything above 5kg for medical reasons.
No need to remove the bonnet and the battery is more than powerful enough.

Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

The only other thing I had to remove was the bottle bracket from my remote brake reservoir which sits on the battery bracket so had to be removed anyway.
It only takes a few seconds to lift it in.

Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

Removing and replacing the battery can be difficult only because of the weight.

Find some strapping young person who wants 10 dollars for 10 minutes of work. Have them remove and lift the new battery in. Even with the hood removed you still have to lift the battery and reach out with it.
G D

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2017 and 21/05/2017

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