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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Track rod end - lock nuts

Hi again

Still plodding along with the Mk1 Midget, will get there eventually.

I am replacing the track rod ends and I am having trouble undoing the locknuts - are they both RH thread? (Nut turns inwards away from the TRE). I have managed to slacken one with some difficulty and having major problems with the other side. If the other side is a LH thread this could account for the problem.

Regards

Tony
A D Lane

They are both RH thread. Discovered this myself the other week when struggling to undo mine - lots of heat did the trick. Unfortunately the nuts were knackered, the threads had disintegrated internally.
John Payne

Hi John

Thank you for your reply. I will continue to loosen the locknut the way I started - maybe apply some heat as well.

You replied to one of my previous posts, I think - you also have a MK1 Midget. Where are you based in Lincolnshire?

Tony
A D Lane

Yes, that’s me, fellow Mk1 owner, in Branston.

I’m embarrassed to say I’ve not been out in it yet this year, been busy working on my Sprite. Plus the idiots have been gritting the roads well into April.
John Payne

Hi John

Branston - not far from me - I live in Helpringham near Sleaford.

I managed to release the other locknut today with the help of some heat. Will probably replace both locknuts when reassembling the rack.

When I released the gaiter on one side, (undid the large and small clips holding it on) some oil came out, do you know where the oil is leaking from i.e. is there an oil seal somewhere? I wasn't sure if the rack uses oil or grease as a lubricant.

Regards
Tony
A D Lane

If it is the same as the MGB the rack has a small quantity of oil in it (about a third of a pint). There are no oil seals on the track rods, the gaiter is all that stops the oil escaping. Rack leakage is very common on the MGB and the racks seem to be OK for years with next to none oil inside. When I had my MGB apart I just greased the rack liberally and that was 12 years ago. It's still fine.
Mike Howlett

There is a recorded change in the lubrication requirement from grease to oil, or oil to grease,. I forget which way it went. Oddly the change in recommendation doesn't coincide with the change from the early to the later rack.
GuyW

Thank you all for your comments.
A D Lane

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2022 and 05/05/2022

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