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MG TD TF 1500 - Broken Distributor at Pivot For Clip

The distributor casting on a club member's 1950 TD broke at the pivot for one of the distributor cap clips.

Any suggestions for a fix without buying another distributor?

Thanks,

Lonnie
TF7211

LM Cook

drill, pin, and epoxy
Lew Palmer

As an emergency repair I put a cotter pin (split pin) through the bottom of the spring clip, held it in polace as I installed the clip to hold the distributor cap. It is still there doing its job awaiting the next time I have to remove the distributor.
.. CR
CR Tyrell

I ran a distributor once with only one side and it worked fine for a lot of miles until I replaced it. Was just fiddly getting it clipped. I'm not sure there is a good fix for it other then replacing the body. I've heard of guys doing it but I don't know how it worked out for them.
Steve Simmons

I doubt its that easy and the casting has probably failed. I suspect it needs to be built up again with something like Lumiweld, then filed to shape. Difficult, to say the least.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I just realized I should elaborate, the distributor I spoke of had two clips, but one clip had only one side hole. I didn't run it with only one clip!
Steve Simmons

What are these bodies made out of? Looks like pewter or some other alloy.
Christopher Couper

Aluminum alloy. Not quite pot metal, but not much better probably.
Steve Simmons

I believe the distributor is much heavier than aluminum, and is actually made of mazak, an alloy primarily of zinc, with aluminum added. It turns wicked brittle.

I once carefully built up a flange of JB Weld (Araldite); it was a lot of work. It really depends on the break, and whether the pieces are there. JB Weld can re-connect the broken pieces, and be re-drilled for the pivot.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

The brittleness certainly supports the possibility that it's Mazak. They used it in other components so I don't see why not.
Steve Simmons

I fixed mine with JB Weld, but the damage was quite limited - see photos




P Willows

I have repaired a few like that.
I installed the clip and bar onto the dist body and then filled it in with limiweld. A little filing to clean it up and you will never notice it all and the pin does not need to turn.
Sandy
Sanders

This thread was discussed between 13/03/2021 and 22/03/2021

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