News from America
Click here to add your MG News.
Extract from October's MGCC publication - Safety Fast
AMERICAS
Nick Cox
Tel 01628 533149
A warm welcome is extended to Jim Ray of Georgia (MGB), Thomas White of
Carnation (MGA & B GT), Wayne Hardy of Diboll (ZB & MGB), Mark Friedman of
Allison Park (MGA), Michael McCann of Portsmouth Va (MGB), Bengt Lydell of
Vista (MGB), Dale Pace of Fairfax (MG TC), John Difede of Hopewell Junction
(MGB), David Bones of Plantation (MGA), James Ellis of Cincinnati (MG PA &
TA), Gordon Birrell of Palm Coast (MG PA), Michelle McDevitt of
Massachusetts (Midget), Reinout Vogt of Prospect Heights (MGC), David
Schneeweiss of Williamville (MG DT), Carlton Schiller of Albany and Diana
Johnson of San Diego (YA & ZB)
This month's article comes from MG Talk the newsletter of the Southeastern
MG T Register, on the gathering of the faithful in Florida.
GATHERING OF THE FAITHFUL SOUTH
MK XXXI
HOLIDAY INN TITUSVILLE, FL, 32780
APRIL 25, 26, 27, 1997
This year our tour group was limited by various prior commitments, etc. A
small group, Muffin & Scot Sewell and Don Harmer & Ellis Carfton left
Thursday, stopping at Lake Park, where we were joined by Len & Martha
Thomas for the trip to Titusville on Friday morning, arriving in the early
afternoon. After greeting many old friends, and sharing the tales of the
trips, we had an excellent barbecue dinner. The Saturday car show included
over 85 M.G.s of all vintages, including Jerry Keuper's J2 and L type police
car
The SEMGTR was well presented by Jon and Jan Gardner, TC, Tallahassee FL;
Del & xxx Fruit, TF, Miami, FL; Hank & Bette Rippert, TD, Charlotte, NC;
Lyle & Toni Jones, TD, Stuart, FL; Len & Martha Thomas, MGB, Stone Mountain,
GA; Ellis Carlton, MGB LE, Chamblee, GA; Don Harmer, Muffin & Scot Sewell,
TF, Atlanta, GA.
The rains came at the end of the Car Show and delayed the tour of the Space
Center launch sites. Many of us went on to the Visitors Center and spent two
hours seeing some of the many exhibits (not nearly enough time) before
meeting the tour group at 3:00 o'clock for a tour of launch pad A where we
saw the next shuttle being prepared for the launch at the end of May.
The huge "crawler" which transports the shuttle and its rockets and liquid
fuel tank from the massive assembly building to the launch pad, was
available for viewing from close range (underneath) and served as shelter
from the rain for a brief time. It should be noted that one of the four
mufflers for the diesel engines of this gigantic piece of machinery was larger
that our "T"-Cars. It moves 15 million pounds over a mile on a special
Georgia river gravel road, which it pulverises in the process.
Len Thomas diagnosed at a glance the problem with my TF that was causing a
lot of black smoke on start-up with no smoke after running at speed. Len
suggested that I might have a partially sunken float. Upon opening the float
bowls, one was just flush with the liquid. Shaking produced the tell tale
sound of liquid sloshing around inside. Luckily I was able to get a good
used float for the H-4 carb from one of the flea market vendors. I was also
able to find a good TF gas tank, without pinholes, for my project car. Ellis
was kind enough to transport it back on his MGB's luggage rack, as it would
have been impossible in the TF.
NOTE: These brass floats in the H-2 and H-4 carbs are not really repairable
when they spring a leak, since the repair would require soldering the
pinhole, which unless you know exactly where it is, and you have consummate
skill you will add too much solder and it will float too low, causing you to
run or flood. This is after you figure out how to get the gas out of the
float.
The new floats often have leaks because of inexperienced workers. The
problem is not evident until the float has been heated up by the engine,
expelling some air by expansion. On cooling, a partial vacuum is created,
sucking some gas inside. Lamar checks out all new floats by immersing them
in hot water, and then allowing them to cool, and then applying the "shake
test". Suggestion, carry a spare float, it can save your day. The banquet
and awards dinner, Saturday evening, was a gala affair with a Mars trip
centrepiece in each table. Don Harmer received a third place award in the
popular vote with his TF 1500.
The trip back on Saturday was difficult, due to the stormy weather and
torrents of rain that reduced speeds to a crawl. A minor problem of points
pitting, delayed us briefly at Jacksonville. Quickly remedied by Len with a
point file.
MGCC Home Page
Back to the News content
Made in England