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MG TD TF 1500 - Early TD oil filter confusion

I have a Moss vertical filter which I believe is part number 435-380 on my car. This takes a filter element 435-390. The metal housing is hammertone aluminum painted and apparently splits in two to fit the element. How do the two halves come apart and how do they reseal? Do I also need the seal kit 435-408?
John Quilter (TD8986)

I believe that item is obsolete. I just punched it in on the moss site and it doesn’t come up. I know this doesn’t answer your question but why don’t you upgrade to a spin on conversion. Bob Gruneu offers an excellent product and it accepts many modern filters that have far superior filtration capabilities, are readily available at your local auto parts store and are only a fraction of the cost. I believe Butch Taras A/S and others also provide the same or similar items. I have Bobs and I am very satisfied with the upgrade. Oh and in addition oil filter changes are much less messy.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

John, if your filter doesn't have a bolt on the bottom then it doesn't come apart. but if it is a 435-390 see this page. https://sites.google.com/site/tc8684/rebuild-2 You can see how the guy modified his to fit a new filter. I used a slightly shorter canister filter element in mine with a large washer and spring to make sure it was pushed up tightly to the top of the canister and sealed on the bottom.

Regards

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

John,

I believe the two halves - upper and lower unscrew from each other. I had one for years, but gave it up due to the cotton filter sock kept getting sucked into the outlet. This despite having a screen over the filter element.
Lew Palmer

Mine does have the bolt at the bottom so it must come apart. Since I have laid in two replacement filter elements I'll stick with this one for the time being then consider an upgrade per Bill's post above. I guess I will order the seal kit as that will be needed as shown in Timothy' link October 2010 photo. Thanks for the link and info.
John Quilter (TD8986)

John - as I have recommended before, you are pretty much wasting your time with that old, aluminum filter, which represents no better than 60's technology (as opposed to the original filter, which represents 30's technology).

The spin-off filter is by far the better filter, much more efficient and cleaner, and cheaper in the long run. Every car I work on gets one.

All you need is for the sock to get sucked into the inlet (see above) to starve your engine of lubricant before you can shut it down.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Tom, I agree with your assessment of the technology. But there are paper filters avaible with a wire cage that negate the use of a sock / cloth filter.

Regards

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

I'm certainly happy top hear that, Tim, but I have had no luck in finding one that seals as the sock one does. Do you have a part number?

Thanks.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I'll try and find it tomorrow.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Tom, I believe this is the filter that fit my early filter (1951). https://www.englishparts.com/products/gb/MG/MGTD/FILTER--ELEMENT--OIL--5-14X2-78-TC--TD-TO-E14223--FITS-435-385-ASSEMBLY-ONLY/10190/435-395.html?partner=googlebase_adwords&kwd=&origin=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg-2qtMvd2gIVnUwNCh1O4wrkEAQYBSABEgLsJfD_BwE I've switched to a spin on filter from Abingdon Spares so I don't have the old filter. Side note: when I bought the 51 the engine did not have an oil filter. The pump outlet and the engine block input were connected by a copper pipe.

Regards

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Tim,

Thanks for finding the web link. Went ahead and ordered one for TD 0581 (1950). See how well it works. Hopefully a good replacement for the awfully expensive "sock".
Charles Duffy

Charles, no problem I hope it is satisfactory. The only reason I went to the spin on filter is that I found changing the filter with the original set up was too difficult and messy for this old guy.

Regards

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Is this what is known as "the sock"? It's Moss number 435-390.

John Quilter (TD8986)

Yeah John. Probably excellent filter material as long as it doesn't come apart.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

John, the more modern filter is shown in the second link above.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Tim, et. al.,

It seemed too good to be true and it was. The early filter noted by Tim simply did not work...about 1/4" too wide (diameter) to fit in the original canister. Back to the sock.
Charles Duffy

Charles, sorry it didn't work. Was this the one you bought? https://www.englishparts.com/products/gb/MG/MGTD/FILTER--ELEMENT--OIL--5-14X2-78-TC--TD-TO-E14223--FITS-435-385-ASSEMBLY-ONLY/10190/435-395.html?partner=googlebase_adwords&kwd=&origin=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg-2qtMvd2gIVnUwNCh1O4wrkEAQYBSABEgLsJfD_BwE

It clearly states for the 435-385 ASSEMBLY and has the sizes specified. did you tell them it didn't fit? Hope you got your money back.

Regards

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Just today I got round to the oil and filter change and fitted the replacement element Moss 435-390 to the split canister Moss 435-380 (which is now NLS) using the seal kit 435-408. All seems to be working well with no leaks. Care must be taken to ensure both halves of the canister line up properly.
John Quilter (TD8986)

This thread was discussed between 27/04/2018 and 10/05/2018

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