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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Thermostat housing

Over the winter I am replacing the radiator in my 1275 1974 MG midget. All seems to be going well at present but I decided to replace the thermostat at the same time and can't get the housing off!

Can anyone offer any help on the what tricks there are to getting it off? Thanks. Andy
Andy Davies

No tricks "glass bottle! bottle glass" will not work on this occassion, what does work is sound engineering.

First you must warm up the housing and 3 studs with a blowlamp or whatever to begin to release the studs from the housing. Then probably the best method is the lock 2 nuts together at the top of each stud in turn and try to remove the studs. You may need to heat the unit more as you try and turn each stud out.
Bob (Robert) Midget Turbo

Gentle tapping with a wooden / rubber mallet along with Bob's sound engineering principle of loads of heat. Also try dousing with cold water after heating up, repeat as neccesary.
Steve Clark

If during your titanic struggle you happen to shear a stud off, don't try and get it out with a stud extractor( like what I did) because the stud extractor broke and then I was really in the **** because the extractor is made of hardened steel, almost impossible to drill out. Not having taps and dies I "potted" a new bolt in the hole with epoxy resin,using heat and it's been ok for the last 5 years.
M J Chapman

MJ.

Removal of the broken stud (even with broken tap in place) can be achieved by ARC welding a nut to the end of the stud (even if it is sheared flush with the head), the heat will release the stiction and the nut will give you something to turn it out with.
More sound engineering practice...

I've had to use this method on many occasions during various restorations and have had almost 100% success rate.

Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

Snap-on left handed drills work for me.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

If you need to get the stud out I used a draper stud extractor. Available in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm they have three rollers to grip the stud.

Be carefull if you use them to put in again as they can damage the thread on the stud. As I found out.

It grips the stud and saves the hassle of having to drill out....

My favourite addition to the tool kit for jobs like that.

Shaun
Shaun

Mark,
That arc-welding of a nut on a broken stud sounds like a great idea. I never fail to learn on this site !
Paul W 1976 1500

Works on siezed and broken calliper bleed nipples too

When the bleed nipple breaks off and you think it is going to cost a fortune for a new calliper, you cannot believe how good it feels to get out the wreckage with a few seconds of "arc" and no damage to the calliper seals

priceless!
Bill

This thread was discussed between 20/11/2008 and 24/11/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.