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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Swarf in new rocker shaft

Just thought I would post this here after posting on Facebook as not everyone uses it.

"I just bought a heavy duty rocker shaft from a well known Mini parts supplier. I was warned about swarf left inside the shaft so spent 5 mins tapping with a plastic screwdriver and found this lot. What do you think?"

I used a small electrical screwdriver which resulted in the swarf in the image attached.

Later I spent 5 minutes tapping with a bigger screwdriver which resulted in the same amount again.

Rob


MG Moneypit

Sadly, all too common
Paul Walbran

I would have thought that it's the engine builders job to make sure everything is clean and ready to go
-- never take anybody's word for clean--
Always do it yourself
William Revit

Some rocker shafts had screwed plugs in the ends, rather than plain brass.

I recently bought a rocker shaft from my local MG parts supplier, which was 0.003” smaller than the old one.
Dave O'Neill 2

Years ago I took apart a Mocal oilstat to see how it worked and found quite a bit of stringy swarf inside, far more than in your pic Rob. I guess the red plastic caps on the 4 connections was to keep the swarf in ;).

I think it was in Vizard that he mentioned the need to check tuftrided rocker shafts to make sure the inside didn't have any remnants of the tuftriding salts inside.
David Billington

Not surprising is it? Surely you expect to clean parts before assembly. Standard practice.
GuyW

But you can't clean the inside of the rocker shaft. It has a press-fit plug at each end that can only be removed by drilling. Then there is the problem of getting plugs and installing them. How is the ordinary Spridget owner supposed to do that?

Rob
MG Moneypit

OK, so I contacted the supplier and they have said that they had a batch with this problem, which they rejected and returned to their supplier for rectification. The batch had been cleaned (according to their supplier) and returned. I was one of the first customers supplied from this returned batch. Well, it's obvious that the problem still persists. I've been asked to return the rocker shaft (they will refund postage) with a note about the problem and they will (hopefully) send a clean one asap. So beware if you buy a rocker shaft. I doubt that this problem is isolated to this supplier and that they are all made in the same place.

MG Moneypit

Ok, fair point Rob. I am pretty sure the one I bought had screwed in plugs, but maybe it was for another engine. Cannot remember for sure.

At least it sounds like you are getting proper attention from your supplier to put the problem right.
GuyW

I got my last one from Swifttune, Yes it was expensive but it was stronger and well made.I don't trust some of these engine suppliers. I have had problems with oil pumps of varying quality. It all goes back to poor quality control and small batch runs
Bob Beaumont

So shall I remove my Minispares one and clean it? Probably a bit late now as its been running. My cleaning process was to take it out of its sealed bag and wipe it over with an oily rag! I think it has Allen plugs in it not pressed in ones.

John Payne

This thread was discussed between 19/07/2019 and 20/07/2019

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