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MG MGB Technical - Temperature guage connecter

I am planning to tidy my roadster engine bay as things are a bit messy! The temp sender 'tube' is all over the place so I was intending to coil it up near the back of the bay. My question, is: is it a tube or a wire? I don't want to damage it in the process of coiling it up. Also when i disconnect it at the block end will it. twist or does the housing rotate?
Thanks
B Anderson

It is a capillary tube that connects the working fluid in the sensor bulb to the Bourdon tube in the gauge. Be very careful not to introduce any kinks in the tube as you are coiling it. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

And be careful when disconnecting it at the block end. Use some penetrating fluid and make sure the bulb and tube don't turn with the nut.
Dave O'Neill2

Thanks. I guess care is needed.
B Anderson

B-
The capillary tube (pipe) of the engines used in the MKI models should exit the fitting on the cylinder head with a P turn about two inches in diameter in order to route it back towards the cylinder head where it follows the cylinder head gasket line to the number plate, whereupon it dips down under the plate boss and runs level back underneath the heater valve where it is clipped to a small plate that is secured under the lower bolt of the heater valve. It then runs straight back from there into a movement-absorbing coil approximately 4” (100mm) in diameter before running across the firewall (bulkhead) shelf and being affixed by a P clip before going through the grommet on the shelf. There is a further P clip on the inside of the firewall (bulkhead).
Stephen Strange

Simlpy because there is so much "flapping about" this can allow the collar (nut) to turn with the tube a bit! This can allow more penetrating oil in. AFAIR recall I also used a pair of pliers (the part with a small grooved hole in) with a small piece of rag around the bulb. Gentle waggling helped free the bulb from the nut. But as you say take care!
Michael Beswick

Thanks all. Superb info as usual
B Anderson

This is what it can look like. I used a large spray can to wrap the coil around. It springs open a little when you take it off and ends up at about 4" diameter.

Richard Coombs

Coor Richard, what an engine bay! Why doesn't mine look like that! Mike
J.M. Doust

Thanks Mike. It's been 5 years in the making and I've yet to start the engine.
Richard Coombs

This thread was discussed between 26/11/2011 and 29/11/2011

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