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MG MGF Technical - Antipodean advice

Hi, Northland NZ, MGF VVC 1997, brought here with me.

I need a Hydragas pump up, and adcive on NZ coolants (currently filled with Superplus 3 & due a change.

I don't want to travel to Auckland for this, does anyone know of a Hydragas pump local to me?
And NZ equivalents for Superplus3? (?OAT, if so which/ does it need flushing out?)



ps midwinter, a chilly 16'c daytime dropping to 8'c at night.

Thanks in anticipation..



Local town pop. 5000, 3 MG's, and a mate has opened a classic/sports car sales lot & I managed to seel his first car, a 1997 MGF, Jap import with aircon. Result!
Charles Dundas

I am not aware of any Rover dealers in Whangarei or other parts of the North Charles. I think you might have to come down to Auckland. Terry Kelk at Heritage Mechanical Services in Henderson is a reliable place to go for MGF servicing.

Or you could shop around for an old Mini dealership who may have a pump.

Where in Northland are you?
Neil Courtney

Hi, I am based in the Bay of Islands, so Auckland is >3 hours drive (I am quite good at spotting the speed camera vans now!)

Can you recommend anywhere in Auckland for a 'pump up'?
Charles Dundas

Yes, check out the second sentence Charles. Terry Kelk is your man. He and his sidekick were trained by MG Rover in the UK and I have no hesitation in recommending him. He will sort out your coolant problems as well as anything else you have queries about. He manufactured a set of under body coolant pipes from scratch for my '97 F.

http://www.mgcarclub.org.nz/main6.html#HMSL

They used to have their own web site but the chap that set it up for them sold his F a couple of years ago. Terry serves a mean cup of coffee, almost before your engine is switched off.

A chilly 16C? In the winterless north? It has been around 12C here in Auckland the past few days.

The next national MG Car Clubs of New Zealand Rally is headed your way after Easter in 2008. Drop the Auckland MGCC a line and maybe set up a Bay Of Islands chapter with your 3 MG's? We would be happy to see you in the fold.

http://www.mgclub.org.nz/

Neil Courtney

"Or you could shop around for an old Mini dealership who may have a pump"

Wise words ideed!

Having spent the afternoon visiting various machine shops to gather the fittings for a Dieter style DIY pump, I found out that a local garage 30K away (and 200 yards from my workplace!!!) has a hydragas pump!
They are/were the BMC dealership for Northland. It is not in 100% working order though, as possibly the connecter is broken. This ( the screw on Shrader valve connecter) is the one part I have yet to find. I have a nicely dismantled bottle jack, various bits of hydraulic hose, connecters, pressure guage etc.
I'll post again once I get it sorted.
Charles Dundas

Charles - I would echo Neils comments, just be aware that if you are setting the ride height it is absolutely CRITICAL that it is set correctly - if its too high or too low, there is a marked difference in handling. If you look on the BBS archives you should see some info on the correct settings - it will tell you the distance from the centre of the wheel to the top of the wheelarch. If in doubt, you may want to give Terry Kelk a call. BTW from my experience it needed resetting about every 2 years Good luck!
M Wood

Thanks for the advice: I have had my MG for 4 years now, brought it over to NZ with me 2 years ago and on arrival it had 4 new tyres & tracking done.
So far no sign of inner edge wear, it did get 'pumped' at the local UK Rover dealership a couple of weeks before shipping but they put it into Freelander mode ( 380mm!!!) Slowly dropped it back to approx 365.

Current setup pretty standard so 368mm hub centre to wheelarch is my aim ( depending on the weather!), I have rear compliance washers so I set it to 5 toe in all round.
Charles Dundas

Looking for a Hydragas pump in Northland?

Petersen Toyota, 69 Broadway, Kaikohe

That is, until I get mine built!
Charles Dundas

Pump completed: pressure tested to >500psi, at which point the pressure release valve opens.

I will probably get the pressure chamber cut down, but at present it is full length with a brass plate & 15mm screw thread hole blanking it off. All nicely sealed & ready to go.
I will have to wait until Tuesday pm to test it though.
I will post again after I have done so.
cheers,
charlie
Charles Dundas

Well it works!

a ratchet spanner is strongly advised to screw the valve connecter, as when it starts leaking fluid it all gets very slippy!

Also I will be replacing the hose section of the connecter as although it is a wire shrouded rubber hose, it is designed for truck tyre pressures and it bulges alarmingly when the valve is opedned to the hydragas system.

Charles Dundas

This thread was discussed between 09/07/2006 and 27/07/2006

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