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MG TD TF 1500 - Tickler pin

I've tried to find when the pin was discontinued in the archives without success, does anyone know for sure? Also, what is the better/safer lid, with/wo pin ? I'd hate to have this car up in flames and yes I did made new overflow tubes and route them correctly. Cheers Sam
SM Scott

I doubt it has been documented when the tickler was deleted; my suspicion is that it was an SU decision, not an MG one, and probably post-dates T-series cars.

I've had surprising gushers out the tickler pin when a float has jammed and the overflow pipe cannot handle the volume. Rare, but it happens.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

The tickler pins that I got from Moss, quite sometime ago are the same pin used to lift the piston in the H4 carburetors came with a neoprene washer that closes off the hole when the pin is at rest and seems to keep the fuel from fountaining up through that hole in the cap.

That said, the tickler pin was primarily used to push the float down to flush any debris trapped in the needle valve out. That was in the days of relatively dirty fuel at the pumps. Now days, the fuel is much cleaner, so there is no need to flush the needle valves anymore and if you wish, either get a new float bowl cover without the tickler hole undrilled or just fill the hole in the existing cover with epoxy. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

Above correct. I used JB Weld around the original brass pins (removed the pin, filled the hole, re-inserted and cleaned off excess) so they look original but are sealed. George
George Butz

Does the tickler pins have any kind of washer or seal to prevent them from leaking? Seems strange that they don't as the vent/overflow banjo is higher than the pin. PJ
Paul161

The oldest orginals I have seen over the years had just a tiny cotter pin holding them in. Over time from spring pressure, it would eat into the metal casting a bit. Later ones used a tiny e clip, and as mentioned above, the newer ones a seal. I suppose possible there was originally a seal under the cotter pin, but who knows? George
George Butz

Here is a photo of a gasket on the tickler that Dave DuBois described ...

Lonnie TF7211

LM Cook

I made a gasket for the ticklers on my TF-1500 from a neoprene washer from the plumbing department at my local hardware store.

Lonnie
TF7211

LM Cook

Here are the gaskets installed on my float bowl lids. Back up the gaskets with a SS or alum washer.

Lonnie
TF7211

LM Cook

You're becoming quite the fabricator Lonnie :-) Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

You are the Master. I'm the Grasshopper. Just following the advice of forum members!

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Mate I'm still a novice. Just a lot more anal than most.
Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Brilliant job Lonnie! George
George Butz

My TF #7157 built September 1954 still has them, assuming these are the carbs that came with the car from new (a big assumption).
Jack Long

Jack Long, many thanks to all that responded. Jack, I have also found since this post two TF 1500 owners that have them also, so thru 1955 I know at this point. I was also looking at a 1956 MGA 1500 service manual yesterday and they did not show them in a photo breakdown of the carb parts. My guess is SU used the MGA to stop them, maybe Joe Curto would like to chime in. Sam
SM Scott

This thread was discussed between 01/04/2016 and 03/04/2016

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