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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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you'd have found that slipped gasket during servicing  When I picked my Griff up as a new car to me I immediately done a week's tour of Scotland (did pick it up at Hexham though) On the second day it was damp roads and the car seemed very slippy until I realised the reason - I'd pumped the tyres up using my friend’s digital gauge not realising it was set to bar instead of psi, he'd just used it on his MGB so I assumed and didn't look closely at the readout  dropped to correct pressures and my mate was no longer waiting for me in his Scooby (with manual water spray cooling that needed refilling regularly with hard driving) Midget to Scotland no problem, few weeks back I done an eight day, 1300 mile holiday tour of Wales driving hard over its mountains, negligible oil use, no overheating or coolant issues, slight whiff of petrol a couple of times as the carbs protested about incline/decline and sudden opening and shutting, I’ve no real idea of petrol consumption but the twins weren’t going short of supply – great Midget roads
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perdu
3,255 posts
68 months
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What makes the sock 'tiring'? I think the reference is for the TVR. It's in Lincolnshire and it went to Scotland for a meet!  I look forward to taking the Midget on a proper run once I've read and applied all the advice of course! (I bet I've buggered up the quoting, sorry if so) The sock is simply a foam bag across the inlet trumpet and unlike the normal air filter has absolutely no sound suppresion ability at all Some days it drowns the CD player out (I can normally hear my stereo because of my five speed gearbox being nine-tenths less noisy than the old BMC boat anchor gearbox!) Don't fear taking the Midget anywhere, been countless times to Le Mans in mine and am going back again next June now I have gotten over organising the Midget 50 celebrations at Burghley House this June New Year Resolution Do not, I say do not get involved in inter club organisations of huge national events 
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Druid
Original Poster
976 posts
50 months
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It's buggered! 
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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Druid said: It's buggered! or did you break it - c'mon spill the beans old technology so it can be repaired EFS
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Druid
Original Poster
976 posts
50 months
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No beans to spill Nigel, lost compression completely on no2 cylinder. Oil and water fine so my eager amateurish diagnosis is a burnt/damaged exhaust valve. The car's in North Yorkshire and I'm not so the head will be pulled sometime over Christmas to confirm. Actually I found it all somewhat exciting! 
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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ohhhh, no, no, no the only exciting bit is driving the car check for obvious things before rushing to take anything apart like . . . well, er, I can't think at the moment, or most other times . . . hopefully Bill will be along you sound certain it's compression to 2 so it sounds like you've checked and know I can hear the whole car slowly seizing up through lack of use Xmas means Easter - all those lovely winter driving days missed
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perdu
3,255 posts
68 months
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Nigel dont make him despondent It wont sieze just from a few weeks resting in Yarkshah I can't see any way to remotely diagnose if you and the baby are so far apart, but with no compression and no corresponding lack of compression on number three a valve sounds likely and if it were an inlet valve we'd be hearing about spitting back through the front carb  ergo likely exhaust valve "not sealing the combustion chamber" for one reason or another sounds a good (bad) 'un to me Sorry it has happened though, but soon fixed if so Do keep us informed, Nigel if I'm missing again (I spend most of my PH time up near models, airyplanes, pollyticks and the dear owld lounge) a nod on the BBS would work, I check your antics every day
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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perdu said: Nigel dont make him despondent It wont sieze just from a few weeks resting in Yarkshah we've got friends that live in North Yorks - check your antifreeze and clutch next spring  perdu said: Nigel if I'm missing again (I spend most of my PH time up near models, airyplanes, pollyticks and the dear owld lounge) a nod on the BBS would work, I check your antics every day yes it's sometimes difficult to marry up everyone's humour, especially if like with me it's not always written well got a new lad to perhaps teach about the real world if he's worth it I'm very busy fitting a second petrol pump at the moment, well you never know tough engines so the Sprite will return to the road
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Druid
Original Poster
976 posts
50 months
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There's no despondancy chaps, I'm quite happy to get 'involved' with the car. It is a beauty even if it is resting in the garage!
It's just happened at a time when I am busy at work and can't get to Yorkshire and get my hands dirty. All being well I will be there next weekend and remove the head for inspection by others.
Pics to follow.
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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oh I knew you weren't despondent, Bill’s a more gentle soul I can’t understand the excitement after my years with MG and TVR – I’ve done my bit for the British economy, got none left now I’m making a mental list of possible additional work, clean, flush refill, replace this, this, that . . . .  Bill will be good with the pics Bagsy the air filter and plate, I’ve always preferred that style and I’ve got loads of cleaner and recharge to use up - yeah you want a great big Webber on your car, I‘ll take that K&N off you just as a favour cos I’m such a nice guy any major head would try Peter Burgess
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perdu
3,255 posts
68 months
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pics will be nice gentler? hmm I don't think some of the BBSers think that I get very aggressive when I needs to As for power in a Midget, no way better than a decent SU 44HIF forcing petrol and air to marry inside a Peter Burgess cylinder head that knows. anti freeze, hmm best remember that this winter Mrs Bill keeps reminding me, I keep forgetting...
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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perdu said: no way better than a decent SU 44HIF forcing petrol and air to marry inside a Peter Burgess cylinder head that knows. TBH the replace carb(s) don't matter as long as I gets that oval plate K&N with it's deep filter for my machine I only have K&N for their red colour match on my car
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Druid
Original Poster
976 posts
50 months
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na said: don't matter as long as I gets that oval plate K&N with it's deep filter for my machine Like a vulture circling a wounded animal!
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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uhhhhhhhhm, I've always liked green bodywork too  if I could only locate it on Google Earth, perhaps when it's light again outside
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Druid
Original Poster
976 posts
50 months
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Ok the cylinder head is off and the fault is quite obvious!   I even have one or two bits left over for Nigel! 
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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Yes I think that shiny new cheap jubilee clip and the rusty replacement next to it could lead us to conclusions - I draw your attention to my first post, M’lud I think this could also be the cause of the fuel gauge and Euro not working It deserves the full coolant works posting, and oil - superglueing valves I’ll leave to others That K&N filter is edging closer my way all the time
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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When you said you’d checked the coolant level you didn’t mention it had the consistency of Albert Steptoe’s used bath water Before the picked onions fell in the bath
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Druid
Original Poster
976 posts
50 months
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Does the head look as though it's an original leaded?
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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Before starting consider if the water pump (good ones are only £14) and heater fan motor need replacing and (if not already fitted) whether to install an electric fan as this would dovetail in with the work below Also you may want to check or change: - filler pressure cap
- fan belt
- thermostat
- hoses - as recent new rubber cooling hoses tend to be poor quality you may also want to change your existing rubber hoses set to silicone - http://www.classicsiliconehoses.com/ - with rounded-edge clips
- heater valve/tap (only non leaking taps are from Ashley Hinton – http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-AUSTIN-HEALEY-... a copper washer will also be required to position the tap for the 'round' heater box
procedure: a) clean the whole system with something like Bars Flush Cooling System Cleaner b) drain the whole system - engine block, heater matrix and radiator c) get the radiator and heater matrix out of the car to give them a good shake at the same time as flushing and back flushing - flush clean water through each of the three until water runs out thoroughly clean
- reverse flush each of the three until water runs out thoroughly clean
- final flush through each of the three until water runs out thoroughly clean
d) gently brush clean both sides of the radiator fins e) gently brush clean the heater matrix and renew the seals and foam around the heater matrix and heater box case base f) refill with the correct coolant mixture but bear in mind tap water isn’t always the best water to use, distilled would be better g) follow the refill instructions from the owners Handbook to avoid getting air locks or ‘hotspots’ that could cause overheating of the engine - owner’s Handbook (not manual) (Ref: 0057) – http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
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na
6,600 posts
103 months
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Druid said: Does the head look as though it's an original leaded? sorry, I've no idea, at the moment, all the Spridget head experts are over in MG BBS including Peter Burgess who is a professional expert ETA
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