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MG TD TF 1500 - Adjustable Oil Pressure Regulator

Moss sells item #435-550 for a mere $99.99
An "Adjustable Oil Pressure Regulator"

Has anybody used these? Anyone swear by them? I've just rebuilt most of my oil pump (new gears, reground faces) and wonder if either a new pressure relief spring ($8)or one of these wonder toys (more than ten times the price) might not be a good idea...

Geoffrey M Baker

What value are you going to adjust the pressure to convince yourself you have a serviceable engine? Another come here gimmick.
G Evans

They work exactly as advertised, but you still don't need one. You have a rebuilt engine showing pressure on the oil gauge so I'm not sure why you don't fire it up. If you don't like the pressure reading then shim the relief valve, but 40 pounds is more than enough to run it.
Steve Simmons

I can't fire it up til have a water pump...
Geoffrey M Baker

Hmmm... well stick a hose in it then. ;) But seriously you're ready to go. You can run it without a water pump, but not for more than a short time without alternate cooling.
Steve Simmons

Yes, I thought the adjustable regulator was a gimmick but I thought I'd ask around first before ordering the spring instead. I do suspect my existing spring, being 50+ years old, could do with replacement.
Steve, I don't expect to fire her up for a couple of weeks and wouldn't dare to try to run without some form of cooling system. As I have yet to reinstall the radiator, grille, exhaust, crabs, generator, engine steady bracket, heater, hoses, distributor, plugs and transmission tunnel cover, I've got plenty of work to do before I'm ready. And as Butch's seals are backordered, I may not see the water pump yet for a couple of weeks minimum.
I'll just keep busy with other projects in the meantime...
Geoffrey M Baker

You can safely run for a minute with no coolant. I think that would be a good idea to make sure no massive oil leaks, knocks or issues. Been there, done that. Major pain if all assembled and you have to take all out. New springs always suspect and variable, may be better to use the old one.
George Butz

I'd order a ball with the spring, too. They can wear considerably, see picture.

Willem van der Veer

Several years ago I was in a hotrod shop up in Nine Mile Falls near Spokane. The owner had a 427(?, big anyway)Corvette engine he'd just rebuilt and was super proud of. It was sitting on the shop floor on some 4X4s with no cooling at all. Also no pipes out of the exhaust ports. He fired it up (the sound was incredible) and let it run with no cooling for 2 - 3 minutes with no concern and no apparent harm. I was aghast that someone would do that but all the hotrodders said it was SOP. I'm chicken so I wouldn't do it but apparently it's not a problem. Jud
J. K. Chapin

It's all about temperature control. If it doesn't get too hot then it doesn't need a cooling system at all. A TD engine obviously needs a cooling system, but for a short run, air cooling works fine. I ran my 5.3 litre tractor with no cooling for nearly ten minutes and it didn't get too hot.
Steve Simmons

I appreciate all the comments, but you guys terrify me :) I plan on running the engine ONLY after I've got a water system installed. I fully understand you CAN run without it - for a short period of time - but after all the work I've put into rebuilding this engine, I'm not about to take any chances!
Geoffrey M Baker

I agree that you can run an engine dry for a short period of time and have done it in the past, but why be in such a hurry.
I'm with you Geoffery, staying on the side of caution is the best policy. Piece of mind is a wonderful thing.


Paul161

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqdugZ0ON44

mog

This thread was discussed between 14/10/2015 and 15/10/2015

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