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MG MGB Technical - Stuck OD oil pump cover plate

This was at the tail end of a very long post dealing with a leaking OD.

For the sake of future enthusiasts researching this issue I thought I would dedicate a post to it.

This is a Blue Lable OD.

In attempting to remove the oil pump cover I tried:

Mondo heavy duty needle nose

This:
https://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-pin-wrench-36554.html

The needle nose vice-grips locked tight and tried big adj wrench, then a large screwdriver between the jaws. I get a lot of force until finally, the grips come out of the holes.

I searched and searched for something that would work. I sense something in the form of a socket that is cut to fit because a tremendous amount of force is needed. Like using a breaker bar.

Just don't know what to search for anymore.
Max71

Max

I made a tool for this, it’s a couple of steel screws through a piece of flat steel with a nut welded to the back. If the OD is still in the car I’d use this with a socket on the nut and a jack under the head of the breaker bar to stop it coming out until it started to turn.

As you can see in mine the screws (pins) are a bit bent so if you make one use the hardest screws you can find or better still a couple of pieces of hard steel rod.

The secret is to get as good a fit as you can and then use something to stop it coming out ie the jack.

Bob


R.A Davis

Bob - brilliant. I have to find a welding shop. OD is in the car.

I was thinking last night of using a long piece of square rod stock, drill holes in it at the proper width, put in some bolts and secure them with nuts. I'd have the leverage but the issue is what you explained. Not having it slip out before the head turns.

Did they wrench these down that tight at the factory? Or does this happen over time.
Max71

Max, the John Twist video on this makes it look easy, just like workshop manuals do! I guess you have watched the video, but here's the link if you haven't

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPSgUeHAy8E

Searching the archives, other people have obviously had the same problem and have tried a combination of things like needle pliers and using two Phillips screwdrivers with a lever in between them to loosen the pump cover. The attached picture shows a simple tool which doesn't require having access to welding equipment.

Andy


Andy Robinson

Andy - excellent! Thx.

I did watch the videos many times because he threatens to tell the viewer of a special tool to get it off and never does.

I stumbled across this method and kudos to bob1975 of MGE. Worked perfectly but I still had to use a breaker bar it was that tight. Just use a 14mm socket and grind it so there are pins in the right position and size.

Max71

I'm glad I didn't blow it off. The assembly was full of black gunk. I'm surprised it worked as well as it did.

One question. Isn't the plunger supposed to freely go all the way down in the housing and turn freely? Mine is very, very tight at the end. I used 600 as John T says but it's still a little tight. Want to be sure before I continue.

Here's a shot of the housing. At first I thought someone was wrong because it had the slit which has a burr on it. I'll remove the burr.

Max71

This thread was discussed on 18/08/2017

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