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MG MGB Technical - Route of oil pipe to gauge

'72 Roadster - Has anyone got an explanation of the best route for the capillary oil feed to the back of the gauge. By my reckoning the pipe is at least 200mm (8") longer than it needs to be with the consequent requirement to 'lose' the extra length with a swan's neck somewhere. Or perhaps I might have missed a simpler but longer route?
Richard Coombs

Mine-which burst a couple of weeks ago-great joy-has the braided pipe from block to the union mounted on the flat part of the bulkead in front of the heater box. The capillary tube then bends round in a loop and goes thru the bulkead via a plastic grommet in the bulkhead towards the steering column. Not downwards thru the grommets under the heater box on the top "shelf" of the bulkhead, but sideways which then must bend round and up to the gauge
Michael Beswick

Richard
heres a picture to help with Michaels answer.

Ste

Ste Brown

Thanks both. I had a feeling it might 'lose' some length by going towards the steering column first.
Ste, your picture has helped me decide how to run the temperature sensor tube, but it was the metal capiliary pipe run from the flexible to the oil gauge I was interested in.
Richard Coombs

Richard

You can see it coming out off the side of the tunnel through the grommet just above the capillary pipe. It's because mine is nickel plated instead of copper. It comes out of the grommet then up and twists under the heater to get a straight line to the flexible pipe.

Ste
Ste Brown

Is that the 'preferred' entry point do you know? And where does it go once inside the car? I think Michael's pipe runs towards the steering column before doubling back towards the gauge.
Richard Coombs

That is the correct factory exit and I lost the length as micheal says under the dash but I put P-clips with rubber round to stop it rattling under the dash
Ste Brown

Many Clausager pictures showing it going back from the union then straight down through the heater 'shelf', however mine turns right from the fitting then down and sideways through a grommet at the top front right of the tunnel, which is where the Clausager picture on p59 has it. Inside it comes through, turns back under the shelf, then up towards the gauge more or less directly (see attached). There is a clip on the pipe which probably should be screwed to the underside of the shelf or the side of the heater casing.

PaulH Solihull

Steven, What an engine bay, you put me to shame! Mike
J.M. Doust

As you can see in Pauls picture, he has the capillary and heater cables the opposite way round to me and I'm not sure it his or mine was right.
I would be more inclined to do it my way as Paul cross each other under the dash and will also cross each other in the engine bay to put them back on the correct side.

Thank you Mike

Ste
Ste Brown

I don't know which is right either, but that his how mine came to me, and five out of six pictures in Clausager do show it that way round (the only one that doesn't has the heater cable going across the engine compartment to the other side). It does allow for a straighter run for the heater cable in the engine compartment, and the hole closer to the middle of the car is closer to the dash control, both of which are important for a mechanical cable. The temp gauge capiliary could describe any path really, without making any difference to the operation of the gauge.

But surely, Ste, yours is the same way as mine? Heater cable going through the hole on the shelf nearest the centre of the car, temp gauge through the one nearest the right-hand side?
PaulH Solihull

Paul
No mine are other way as capillary to tunnel side and heater to master cylinder side so they don't cross.
If you look at pics you see they are opposite on our cars

Ste
Ste Brown

My RH drive Mk1 is same as Paul's layout

I've often thought that this site should have a gallery section especially for photos of these contentious areas of a B (eg engine bays, under dash, etc) and for all the different years.

How much time have we all spent wondering about carbie link setup, fuel drain pipe location, wiring location, and the list goes on!

I agree with Mike re your engine bay Ste!

John
John Minchin

Paul

Just looked at another picture of mine and mine is the same as yours,so paul is correct and im the muppet.

Ste

Ste Brown

This thread was discussed between 19/10/2011 and 22/10/2011

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