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MG MGB Technical - Shock and transmission filling

I'd like a simple technique for getting the transmission fluid intot he the transmission from under the car. Do I just use a squirt bottle?

Also, how do I actually get fluid into the front shocks and how do I know they are full? I'm using an eye-dropper but I'm spilling so much I can't tell if it is full or just my spillage.
Tom Gillett

What year of car Tom? Some have a dipstick and other (later) have a side fill on the transmission.

Iain
67 BGT
I D Cameron

Tom -

On my side-fill transmisson I simply take a length of rubber tubing and attach it to a funnel. I then thread the tubing down to the filler hole through the engine compartment. That way I can stand and slowly pour the oil into the funnel. Much easier than trying to do it from under the car. - Greg
Greg Smela

Tom,


i allways use a 12 Volt electric oil changing pump succing from the bottle and pumping into the gearbox.
works very comfortable this way.

Ralph
Ralph

Sorry, this is a 74 1/2 MGB which I'm finding is part pre-1974 and part post-1974 based on wht the previous owners could find.

Thanks for the transmission advice so far. How 'bout the front shocks?
Thanks,
Tom
Tom Gillett

I use a small trigger oiler for add shock fluid.

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

I cut off the tip from a BF syringe just enough to be able to pass my 20W motorcycle shock/hydraulic fluid with. It was handy, and I can draw out the fluid from the can with it as well.
John Z

Tom. Any of the above methods will work. The hose and funnel to fill the dipstick style transmission has been mentioned often. Less common is the use of the hose and funnel to fill the side filler style. Ralph's idea about using an electric pump is excellent. I have used the hand operated pump which fits into the top of an oil bottle. It works, but, never completely drains the bottle (requiring about three partial bottles for a full refill) and is messy.

I think the ideal method of filling either style transmission would be to check the listed capacity of the transmission first. (Should be about 6 US pints for the four speed and 7 US pints for the four speed with overdrive.) Put that amount of oil into a container large enough to hold it, then, use the electric pump to fill the transmission. Final topping up can be done with a squirt type oil can. With the side fill tranny, you fill until it is draining out of the lower edge of the fill hole. Let it set until no more drains out, clean everything up, and reinstall the filler plug. With a dipstick style tranny, you fill until the oil line is at the full level on the tranny dipstick. Make sure the dipstick is fully seated when checking. A piece of 3/16" round rod, heated and bent to about a 120 degree angle and having a hook of about 1/2" long, can be used to remove the fully seated dipstick. I put a handle on mine and have been using that system for years. Much better than the length of string or wire commonly recommended--more leverage.

Like Clifton, I keep a squirt type oil can filled with shock oil and use it to top up the shocks. It has a flex spout of about 6" length and makes the job easy with both the front and rear shocks. Fill to the bottom of the hole, clean up around the area before filling and after filling.

John Z's comment about a device that can be used to remove old shock oil is interesting. A length of plastic tubing could be attached to it to allow it to fit lower into the shock. An idea worth considering and investigating.

Les
Les Bengtson

TO fill my side fill transmission I use the air compressor.
1. get some 1/4 inch tubing(I use clear to see the oil move.
2. Drill 2 holes in the cap of the oil can. The holes are the size of the od of the tubes
3. Install the tubes. One should go to the bottom of the bottle. The other just needs to be secure in the lid about 2 inches into the bottle works well
4. Most important now. TURN DOWN THE AIR COMPRESSOR TO UNDER 20 PSI OUTPUT. One time I forgot and expolded an oil bottle all over me, the undercarrage etc. I'm just glad I was wearing safety goggles
5. Connect the hose that goes into the bottle 2 inches to the compressor. I use an airblow nozzle
6. Inflate the plastic oil can.

It pushes the oil into the transmission in a very easy and smooth process. When the bottle starts getting low, you can hear the bubbles building up and see them in the hose.
Cris DeYoung

I fill my shocks with a plastic syringe, which I bought at a pet supply store. Put a short piece of clear tubing on the end and you can fill just about anything. Aquarium air tubing works perfectly.
Steve Simmons

Les.... you can't/shouldn't get any oil out of the fill plug on a from MGB shock. That "tuuret" area is meant to be "filled" with air. Inside the turret are 2 very small holes, maybe an 1/8" in diameter. When you top up the shocks there, it takes quite a while for the oil to work into the body. That's good, as overfilling is a problem. I can send you a picture with the top cut off, if you wish.

I think John Z was referring to drawing the oil out of the container, not the shock anyway.

Also, regarding transmission refilling. Look at a boat/marine supply house. They have a thing for filling lower units that is a pump for an oil bottle with a hose. Then go to a farm store and buy the same thing for less. Marine supply joint... $35.00. Farm store... $7.95 (it's all about knowing your clientele)

Peter C.
Peter Caldwell

1) Pete's right, that's how I use the syringe. But then, I'm diabetic, and I always fill syringes that way, no matter what size. Les's idea takes the application a step further.

2) About those rear shocks (and, I suppose, the fronts) - is there a socket that fits the bolt on the top of the shock?? For the fronts, an adjustable works just fine, but neither American/English nor metric sockets fit the bolt. I've been jury-rigging an adjustable snugly on the bolt, and then using my vice grips to clamp onto the handle that sticks out through the hole. Hardly the best way, but I'm at a loss as to what tool to use, and where I might find it.
John Z

John,
The actual size for the filler plug is a 1/4" Whitworth. We use open ended 13mm wrenches gently filed larger, but then we have the luxury of using them on the bench, rather than laying on our backs under the car.

I have to ask why you are filling shocks so often. The oil can only run out, and that will be obvious arond the shaft area. It doesn't burn or evaporate. If you overfill the shocks, the excess will run out of the shaft packing once it gets hot. And if your shocks are leaking, there is a very good solution to that problem.

Peter C.
Peter Caldwell

Pete - I've got two B's and I've performed the operation just a few times between both cars (4 rear shocks) over the last 5 (or is it 10?) years. Hardly emergent, and not at this time worth the money (although I am close to say you're right about the GT).

I figured - it always bugged me and while the subject was being discussed . . .
John Z

This thread was discussed between 29/05/2007 and 30/05/2007

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