--WebTV-Mail-12956-46
I thank all who were kind enough to respond to my earlier post on this
subject, which is reproduced below.
The new seals are installed and the MGB is back on the road. I confess
I used the counterfeit seals, and with much hesitation after the
responses I received here. But there is more to the story.
About five years ago I hit a severe storage space snag and it was either
buy a lift, expand my garage (brick), or build an additional one.
Cheapskate that I am I bought the lift, an Autolifters M6 (four poster).
Well the lift was purchased __strictly__ to enhance storage space for my
"fleet". It has worked out really well, has been in use 24/7 since
purchase, and I have no regrets. I store a Daimler SP 250 over my MGB.
However for the MGB seal replacement task I decided to use the lift as a
service lift. This decision was not for me straightforward or obvious
for reasons too detailed to merit elaboration. But it was my _first_
time to tackle the seal replacement job with the aid of a lift.
The result? Boy the work is _hugely_ easier (JMHO) using the lift. My
statement in my original note (below) turned out to be wrong. The labor
was a breeze. While the car was up I greased it as well. Zero effort.
The minimal labor effort influenced my decision to take a chance on the
questionable seals.
I know all this is obvious, but it sure is helpful having a service lift
in the garage - and a heck of a lot easier on my old bones and joints.
<G>
Thanks again.
Bruce Burrows
'59 MGA basket case
'60 Daimler SP 250
'61 Daimler SP 250
'73 MGB driver
My Dart website (not my cars!):
http://community-2.webtv.net/guardian45/THEDAIMLERSP250DART/
--WebTV-Mail-12956-46
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From: bburrows@webtv.net (Bruce Burrows)
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 20:13:18 -0400 (EDT)
To: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: MGB steering rack seals
Message-ID: <4450-39724F9E-2599@storefull-156.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
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Reply-To: bburrows@webtv.net (Bruce Burrows)
I have needed to replace my MGB rack seals for several years. With all
the recent chatter here on this subject the fire is ignited and I have
decided the time is now.
So today I sought and found the new seals I had bought a few years back.
They had been put away, out of sight and mind. Instantly upon looking
at them I was reminded of a problem also tucked away and forgotten. It
is re that problem, or concern, I now seek the wisdom of the list:
They are not MOWOG seals. I bought these things from "ProperMG" and
they are not English. They were made in CA and they are not exact
copies of the originals. They will work, but the volume of each seal is
significantly less than a real MG part. At the very least this will
affect the rack capacity (I usually empty everything and then fill with
whatever volume of oil the shop manual dictates).
I remember at the time I received these things calling ProperMG. The
proprietor assured me they were OK and would work. I recall being
unhappy but I went on to other things and forgot about the problem.
To describe these counterfeits a bit better, the ID is roughly correct,
and the end diameters and overall length are close enough, but the OD is
smaller than it should be and the "folds" are correspondingly of smaller
volume. Also, very much different than standard, the final "fold"
iteration (small end) is very much of reduced OD. Only God knows what
material was used to make these things, not that the material in the
MOWOG seals I have seen over the years stands up all that well to oil.
These seals came in a package of two, and new clamps were included. The
manufacturer, Starmag Classic, is not known to me.
Any experience you might have with non-standard seals would be of
interest and would help me. I do not know whether to go ahead with
these or hold off and try to purchase the correct seals. Goodness knows
the real effort with this job is in the labour. It would be unwise to
proceed with these seals if list wisdom indicates they are known to do a
poor job or to suffer from shortened life.
Many thanks.
Bruce Burrows
'59 MGA basket case
'60 Daimler SP 250
'61 Daimler SP 250
'73 MGB driver
My Dart website (not my cars!):
http://community-2.webtv.net/guardian45/THEDAIMLERSP250DART/
--WebTV-Mail-12956-46--
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