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RE: MGB steering rack seals

To: doddk@mossmotors.com (Dodd, Kelvin)
Subject: RE: MGB steering rack seals
From: bburrows@webtv.net (Bruce Burrows)
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 22:51:05 -0400 (EDT)
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Oh come on, Kelvin <G>.  I am probably a good bit older than you.  These
things happen in the fullness of time.  Besides I am making back the
cost of the lift with ongoing savings on property tax (seriously).  And
lift prices are much higher now than they were five years ago.  

Re the ceiling height, though, you "raise" a good point.  I was sitting
on a chair to do the work on the seals.  My ceiling height is only circa
9-10 feet.  With things back in piggyback storage mode as they are now,
I have probably at most 1-2 vertical inches to spare when the MGB top is
up.  It is tight but it just works out.

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/


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From: "Dodd, Kelvin" <doddk@mossmotors.com>
To: "'bburrows@webtv.net'" <bburrows@webtv.net>
Subject: RE: MGB steering rack seals
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 15:47:14 -0700
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Oh shut up!!!!

        From someone with a tight bank account and a low garage ceiling.  :
)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: bburrows@webtv.net [mailto:bburrows@webtv.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 3:24 PM
> To: mgs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: MGB steering rack seals
> 
> 
> 
> --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/
> 
> 
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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>
> Content-Disposition: Inline
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> Sender: owner-mgs@autox.team.net
> 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/


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