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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 - Radiator Cap TF

It is a glorious autumn day here in Scotland, crisp and bright. I have just had the TF out for a good run in the Loch Lomond National Park but when I arrived home found water was dripping from the radiator overflow pipe. The temperature gauge was at 85 so there was no boiling. I think water is leaking past the radiator cap. It looks brand new but there is no spring resistance when I fit it to the radiator neck. It feels like the spring and rubber sealing ring are too short. I have measured from the brass backing ring for the rubber seal to the underside of the cap and it is 25mm. The cap is rated at 7 pounds. Do I have the correct cap?

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Hi Jan,
25mm on mine, I think the TF is very sensitive to water level, small expansion tank on a lot of coolant.
I fill to 12" above the fins,if any comes out of the overflow I just leave it and the level never drops.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

You have the wrong cap. The correct cap is a little longer than the std length that is used elsewhere. I made exactly the same mistake when I first rebuilt my TF.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Mine measures 30mm from the top of the rubber seal in the cap to the top of the rubber seal on the sprung end. The spring compresses and provides resistance as the cap is pushed in. Mine is rated at 4 lbs.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Sorry Jan,
I measured my spare which is of course the wrong one!!!!!
Ray
Ray Lee

Hi Dave,

You mention "rubber seal in the cap". My cap has only one rubber seal and that is at the bottom of the spring. The 25mm I quote is from the upper surface of the brass ring behind the rubber seal to the underside of metal " lid" that you get hold of when you fit or remove the cap.

Cheers

Jan
J Targosz

Mine has a rubber seal under the lid as well, but the main thing is that the spring has to compress. You need a longer cap.
Dave H
Dave Hill

This thread was discussed on 29/10/2017

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