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MG TD TF 1500 - RHD Pedal shaft

I have converted my TD from LHD to RHD. At the time I had the pedal shaft drilled and fitted with a grease nipple so that I could grease the brake and clutch pedal bushes. In order to access the nipple more easily I thought that I would replace it with a right angled nipple. Today I tried to undo the existing nipple. I couldn't. All that happened was that I turned the pedal shaft anti clockwise! My question: On a RHD TD should the pedal shaft rotate in the tube running through the chassis or should it be solid so that only the brake and clutch pedals rotate on it? I have read conflicting reports
but as the shaft is secured on the outside of the chassis by a circlip I am inclined to think it should rotate. Over to the experts please. Lionel TD3490
L.F. Thorne

It should be able to rotate on a RHD car.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I agree it should rotate. Mine does
Mel Pascoe

It should not rotate, most I have worked on required an air hammer to get out. It does rotate in an LHD and I pity our LHD friends trying to work on it.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Many don't rotate on RHD because they are rusted into the tube in the chassis, this doesn't really affect functionality but makes them very difficult to remove (hence the air hammer). Nevertheless they should be able to rotate, especially when the shaft has been drilled and fitted with a grease nipple. On LHD the brake lever is welded to the end of the shaft and the pedal fixed by a key, therefore by necessity the shaft must be able to rotate through a narrow angle to facilitate braking.
Dave H
Dave Hill

As an engineer I can't agree. Why would you put bushes in the pedals where wear occurs then non in the chassis if you expect movement.
The LHD chassis has bushes in the tube to allow the shaft to move.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray. Look at the original question. When I wrote "should be able to rotate" it was quite deliberate.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Maybe I am missing something, the pedals have bushes to rotate on the shaft so the shaft does not have to move. Steel on steel rotation is a no-no.
Ray TF2884
Ray Lee

How would it not rotate, it is round ,in a round hole.

What would stop it from rotating?

??
P G Gilvarry

The steel to steel connection should provide sufficient friction to stop the shaft turning and leaving the pedal bushes to do their job. The attempt to remove the end grease nipple would have overcome the friction permitting the shaft to rotate ! 😇
Mel Pascoe

On a RHD MGY which i imagine is the same or similar to a TD -both the pedals have bushes and rotate on the shaft--the shaft itself is a light tap in fit in the metal (non bushed) tube through the chassis rail--When all new and perfect it could possibly rotate but doesn't in normal service because the pedals can rotate easily on the shaft,and it can be removed with light tapping--I'd imagine they were greased up when fitted originally
By now most have either seized/rusted in the tube or flogged out a bit, usually not much and a new pin is all that's needed
If it's really bad the tube could be drilled and bushed or internally knurled and drilled to size
William Revit

Thank you all for your comments. I now feel reassured that all is well.
Many thanks. Lionel.
L.F. Thorne

This thread was discussed between 04/05/2021 and 05/05/2021

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