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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Ignition Wire Washer

I was changing over to the Bumble Bee wires tonight, and one of the brass washers that fits in one of the distributor connectors has gone missing. Kinda like socks in a dryer. Checked everywhere. Is there anything else I can use as a substitute until I get another?

Also, what is the secret to getting the plug wires through the holes in the wire loom? Old ones wouldn't come out, and new one won't go in. Enlarge the holes with a drill, or do I have some Mickey Mouse aftermarket loom? Getting more fun by the minute :-)

Larry
L Karpman

Found it, so disregard. I'm also enlarging the holes in the loom for the Bumble Bee wires to pass through. Would have thought they would without having to modify it.

Larry
L Karpman

What 'loom'?
gblawson - TD#27667

Hi Larry
What did you find? As for the "loom" I think one landed in our back yard and has been eating the wife's prized pond fish? The reason the bumble bee wire will not fit in your "loom" is: it is not original. Bob
Bob

Excuse the incorrect terminology (loom), the "wire seperator."

Larry
L Karpman

I thought the 'loom' ate the 'bumble bee' wire. If you ever lose your wire washer, you can always fabricate one out of the lid to a tin can (canned food container).

dave
Dave Braun

I love the sound of the 'looms' on our northern lakes...sigh...!!!!
gblawson - TD#27667

We use a $1.00 coin up here that we call the 'loomie' !!!!!
gblawson - TD#27667

Gordon, I thought it was a "Loony" to go along with your $2 "Tooney" Guess a "loom" to seperate wires is a "Merikin" term :-)

Larry
L Karpman

Thot the $2 coin was a dubl loon - Lou
Lou Van Koningsveld

They gave us a choice... Tooney or Dobloon...seems Tonney stuck... So we now have a looney and tooney...!
gblawson - TD#27667

Reminds me of the original 1 Pound coin. When it was introduced, it was called "The Thatcher" - "hard, brassy, and rough around the edges".

Cheers,
Lew Palmer
Lew Palmer

I can't believe the junk that I removed from the car when I pulled the PO's "new" ignition wires and replaced with the Bumble Bee wire. The cheap stuff I pulled out had all of 6 strands of wire inside, as opposed to the Bumble Bee wire's 26 strands. Granted the internal 6 strand wire was a wee bit heftier, but not much.

It's definitely not in my head that the car starts much quicker, idles smoother, and runs better with the Bumble Bee wire replacement.

Larry
L Karpman

Larry,
Did you change over to pertronix yet?
IMHO ...you will have the same reaction to it as you did the BB Wire!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Larry,

I know you collonials stole our language and for the last two hundred years have been progressively destroying it but what on earth are bumble bee wires? Please, please let us know.

Have a happy Christmas

Jan T
Jan Targosz

To Jan Targosz Bumble Bee wire is a spark plug wire with a distinctive yellow woven covering which has a black tracer woven in. It is I believe, a period accessory much used back in the fifties.

Since I never used it thats all I can tell you about it.
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Bumble Bee Wire is a solid standed copper wire for spark plug wire. It has a distinctive yellow insulation with a black stripe. (Hence bumble bee).
Most modern spark plug wire has a carbon impregnated paper filiment to act as a resistor for radio noise suppression, and does not work well with our period wire attachment ends.
Don Harmer

David: Yes, I am looking at the Pertronix. Got a little wobble in my dustributor bushes and the Pertronix can assist there. Then again, so would new bushes :-) Does the Pertronix come with any sort of timing instructions, or am I on my own to figure it out?

L Karpman

For around $50 there is a guy in Oklahoma who will take that wobble out of your distributor. His name is Jim Taylor, 1222 Harned Dr. Bartlesville OK 74006-5508. Darn nice guy too.

dave
Dave Braun

Thanks Dave. Would you happen to have an email address for him?

Larry
L Karpman

Bumble Bee Wire is a great description - I now know exactly what you mean. The other excellent description is Rattle Can - much better than aerosol.


Best Wishes


Jan T
J Targosz

Pertronix comes with goo instructions.
Or you can go to Ttalk and see them there.
OBTW: You Do need to make sure you order correct unit for "Poss / Neg" ground and also for correct dizzy ...so if there is a chance you might be swapping your dizzy out ...I would do that first!
Cheers,
David 55 TF 1500 #7427
David Sheward

oops meant "good" ...parden the sticky "d".
It is a very easy install. I love not having points to deal with any longer...but still carry a set in my spares.
David Sheward

Thanks David. Apolgies to Bud, but I must have forgotten he had complete timing instructions there too as he said,

"I then shut it off and rechecked the static timing. It was advanced by about 8 degrees. I hooked up my light bulb, loosened the distributor clamp and reset the static timing to TDC just the same way as with points, i.e., turned the crank until the pulley pointer was aligned at TDC, rotated the distributor CCW until the lamp went out, rotated it back CW until the lamp just came on, tightened it down. Simple as can be. (But next time I'll try to remember to take the crank out before I fire it back up.)
BTW, I then dug out my adjustable timing light and tweaked the advance for 30 degrees at 3000 rpm."

Guess I was engrossed in the pics :-) Say Bud, Wish I had one of those modern spiffy "adjustable" timing lights. I hear they are very good, but cost $$$$

Larry


L Karpman

Larry

Jim Taylor pre-dates computers... I know he would be happy to hear from you Snail Mail!

dave
Dave Braun

This thread was discussed between 16/12/2006 and 19/12/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.