MG Car Repair: MG Midget Valve adjustment, oil pressure gauge, feeler gauge

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I´ve just adjusted the valves on my MG Midget. I used a .012 feeler gauge like described in the Midget manual and handbook. All went well and I checked my work twice before starting the engine again.
When I tried to start the eginge, it tried to start (turn over), but would not fire up.
While adjusting the valves, I had to to let the motor turn over a few times, so that the next set of valves were opened and closed. Could it be that by doing this, the engine is now flouded or drowned with fuel?

I hope you can give me an idea...

Thanks in advance!

Thomas Elsenburg

ANSWER: Hi Thomas,
That is possible but since you used the starter to rotate the engine it is a good chance you set the valve clearance in the wrong sequence and possibly have them wrong.

Do this if it still will not start, remove the spark plugs and valve cover. Put the car in 4th gear brake off. Move the car by either pushing the top of the front tire or just apply leverage on the front bumper with a leg. Watch the valve action and stop when #1 & #3 valve springs are completely compressed. At that position you can set the valves on #6 & #8 valve. looking at the engine and thinking that there is a mirror in the center between #2 and #3 cylinders you turn the engine until a valve spring is compressed and set the opposit valve. When #1 is compressed you set #8, when #2 is compressed you set #7 and so on. You will note that two valves are compressed at one time so that means you can set the opposing valve to two at a time, this way you don't have to move the car very far to finish.

If after resetting the valves you did not find any very far off than something else happened so you need to check spark and fuel.
Let me know,
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Howard,

Thanks a lot for the answer! Before I'm going to able to adjust the valves again, I'll have to reinstall the dash and hook up the oil pressure gauge and watertemp (I got a new one).
In my dash there's a hole just above the watertemp and oil pressure gauge, there should be a warning light for the oilpressure. Do you know where to bold this into the motor? And how does it work?

Best regards,

Thomas

ANSWER: Hi Thomas,
As I remember it was an oil differential pressure light that lit up when there was too much difference in oil pressure before and after the oil filter to warn a driver that the oil filter was dirty and getting clogged up and needed to be changed. They assumed American drivers were idiots and didn't change filter each time they changed oil. In some cases it was true from some of the burned up engines I use to see in the dealerships I worked in.
If you are going to restore it back the way it was and want to wire it up tell me what year it is and I will look at a wiring diagram to see how it was connected.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Howard,

Thanks again for your answer.

I'm kind of flattered that you're thinking I'm an American. Because I'm not... Is my english that good? :)

I'm from the Netherlands and the car was bought from the dealer in 1972 in the the Netherlands (by my father in law), so I can quite sure say it's a European car.
The car is a MG Midget MKIII from 1970, GAN5 90448G (LHD).

I've been told that the warning light is to warn you for a low oil pressure; around 8psi. I found a switch that will aluminate the warning light at 25psi, because 8psi is way to late...

But I haven't found the hole to srew the switch into, yet...

Hopefully you can help me again.

Thomas

BTW: When adjusting the valves, should the engine be hot or not?

Answer
Thomas, there should be a port on the right side of the engine close to the back where they put the oil pressure gauge line in. You can add a "T" fitting there to operate a switch. It is just behind the distributor and above the oil pressure regulator valve.
Howard