MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Early Distributer Spacer Rings


Seems I've started quite a discussion locally about the actual dimensions (thickness) of the early distributer spacer ring that goes on the base shaft housing above the mounting clamp. I have heard that they were 1/8" thick most of the time a discussion takes place and the technical article says 1/8".
http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/distributor.htm

However, the sample I have and believe to be original, actually measures .144" thick with a digital caliper. I had some made per my sample, and now people ask why mine are thicker than the discussed 1/8".

If any of you have an early distributer out on the bench or readily accessible, could you please measure your spacer ring thickness and help me confirm what the originals actually measure.
Richard Cameron

Richard - I'm going to stick my neck out and ask, what difference does 0.019" make? The idea of the spacer is to get the gears to mesh properly between the camshaft gear and the drive gear of the distributor. I had a spacer made so I could use and early distributor with the XPAG/TD2 engine that was in our TD and as I remember, it was just slightly thicker than 1/8" and it worked fine for many years - That was in the days BBBS (Before Bulletin Boards). Back then, if it worked, it was considered correct. I will search through my bits and pieces and see if I can find that spacer and measure it. Cheers - Dave
D.W. DuBois


Thanks Dave, I don't think it is of much consequence since the special clamp bolt still has to register in the distributer shaft housing machined slot to fit properly. Even with the spacer at .144" and everything fully assembled and snug, there is some clearance in my distributer to engine block so I can rotate the spacer by hand. Mr. Bob Grunau said he thought they should be 1/8" but manufacturing tolerance was possible. I also measured the thickness of my clamp bracket at .137" which is more than 1/8" as some state.

I'm just trying to confirm what I'm seeing with my cars and be able to answer the question about what they originally measured.
Richard Cameron

I've often thought about a spacer under my TF distributor; but rather in metal - in felt or some similar material ~ to prevent oil leakage from that area which I continue to have.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

I have an early TD and have been considering replacing the ring with a TC micro-adjuster. Does anyone see a problem with this?
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

Rich,

I had the same idea, it will work if your car is RHD, if not the steeering column will interfere with the adjuster. You also need a distributor body which has the spacer ring.


John

52 TD
J Scragg

Thanks John,

My TD is LHD so I guess it is a no go.
Rich (TD 3983) Taylor

This thread was discussed between 15/06/2015 and 16/06/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now