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MG TD TF 1500 - XPAG Crankshaft - Opinions/Recommendations Please

Evaluation of my crankshaft came back from the machine shop and not good. Cracked and not straight. Have a lead on a crank that has been magnafluxed and reground to .030" by a machine shop in business for almost 60 years. Have the receipts on the work. Comes with bearings for $875. What I'm interested in is opinions about the .030 grind and whether that's too much - and if the cost seems reasonable. This will be a Sunday, country driver and if I but 10,000 miles on it in my life time I'll be amazed.

Don't know if the casting numbers are meaningful but one of the pics shows the detail.

Thanks





RS Scardamalia

The 22528 crank is the standard crank for a TD, and while not as good as the later TF crank, does well as long as the radii are correct, and magnafluxiung shjows no issues.

The TF crank (168557) has better heat treatment, but a modern, new, forged crank is the very best.

I would have absolutrely no qualms about using a 30/30 crank - and the price is right! Most are in the $1,000-1,500 range.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Thanks for the quick response Tom.
RS Scardamalia

For a car driven casually, I would be fine with 30/30. For a car driven hard through the mountains and on long tours, I would prefer something a bit fresher.
Steve Simmons

It would be fine at -0.30 for your driving habits. My concern is twofold. 1) How long ago was it machined and how are the journals condition now. For example was the crankshaft lubricated to prevent rusting and was it stored in a manner to prevent nicking the journals. 2) If the crankshaft was stored for a long period was it done properly to prevent it from becoming out of true? Improperly stored crankshafts over long periods of time can sag from their own weight.

Also will the machine shop stand behind their workmanship as a regrind after you have purchased it.

Even if you buy the crank I would send it to your shop and have them verify what you have been told. Assume nothing.

The asking price for a reground and trued crank with bearings seems reasonable.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834
W A Chasser

Just took a closer look at the machinist's receipt and it's data 1/2018 so I'll get back to the owner and ask about storage and current condition.

Thanks for the input.
RS Scardamalia

It'll be fine-
Just to compare-
In rough measurements these cranks are around 2" journal size even with the .030" undersize
The best of the 1275 Mini cranks were-
: Main bearing journal diameter 2.000", Big end journal diameter 1.750" and they stand up to a real pounding by some owners
The only thing I'd suggest is to either get a guarantee that it's straight which you will pick up on straight away at assembly time or if the seller is near the machine shop that did the work to it ,get them to set it up and check it's straightness
OR check it yourself-easy to do -
Just fit the front and rear bearing shells into the block, oil them up ,sit the crank in and run the dial indicator on the centre main
Being freshly(unused) ground it should have '0' runout---if it's any more than .001" runout it's bent either through incorrect storage or rough handling and at .030" already starts to be a bit of a worry
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 31/10/2020 and 01/11/2020

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