MG midget engine?

[Matt]

Mine never came off BMC and I didn't bother to tap up any edges or anything (didn't even get the file out to deburr )

[bmcecosse]

As above -some oil pumps are fine!

[bmcecosse]

Double post for some reason........

[morris1961]

it's a new oil pump... so wondering if the backplate wasn't put back on because it didn't fit back on!

[bmcecosse]

Could be......

[Matt]

Phil... Thats the first time I have heard that... And I have 1275 sprites as well.

Ive had a few 1275 backplates and none have been cracked

[dunketh]

Never heard of any issues with stat housing before. Dont recal if I just used my 1098 one or the 1275 one. Either way had no issues. Top hose is bendy enough.
The heater tap is a bit of a pain. I just knotched my battery tray so I could keep the 1275 one. I wrote a whole guide on the conversion some years ago although lord know where it is now..
Dont forget the front oil trap/breather needs either squashing with a mallet or cutting and welding properly. Its only a tin with some wire wool inside so dont be too precious about it.

[philthehill]

Matt
I can assure you that they do crack. You must be lucky. I have had one crack on me and it had to be replaced. Why only the 1275cc Midget/Sprite I do not know; perhaps there is more strain in the area of the oil pump housing because the oil pump cover is considerably larger and the metal around the pump is much reduced and if I remember correctly that was where it cracked.
If you go on 'e' bay and search for 1275cc Midget/Sprite rear engine plates those advertised state "NO CRACKS". 1275cc Midget/Sprite engine back plates are hard to come by these days and most cost in the region of £55
I now have an alloy back plate and hopefully that has cured the problem with cracking.
As regards the fitting of the 1098cc rear engine plate to the 1275cc Midget/Sprite engine; because of the reduced size of the 1098cc oil pump cover I found that it was a problem getting the right combination of oil pump body and oil pump drive shaft to provide clearance, both in depth and width, luckily I had several old but serviceable oil pumps on the shelf to make up a hybrid oil pump. If you do not have the spare pumps to make up a hybrid it may be easier to purchase a S/H 1275cc Midget rear engine plate.

[morris1961]

Thanks for the heads up guys. I dont have a spare backplate kicking around anyway so i'll just get a 1275 one i think.

[philthehill]

Make sure that it comes with the correct oil pump cover!

[mike.perry]

I have dropped a 1098 back plate and broken it
Some spacing washers behind the fan blades gives clearance for the canister[frame][/frame][frame][/frame].
Note also cut out on stabilser bar bracket

[philthehill]

Dropping the 1098cc back plate and breaking it does not count !!!!!!!!
The 1275cc back plate cracks in use and that counts 'unfortunately' !!!!!!!
That is a neat adaptor conversion for the heater tap!
Two alloy heater tap bases (Pt No: HTR103) screwed back to back I presume?

[tysonn]

On investigation of oil leaks from the rear of my 1275 midget engine we discovered the backplate had been cracked then welded up.The heat transfer has made it bend.Now in the process of replacing the backplate amongst the myriad of other bodges and downright idiotic problems on my so called "unfinished project" needing very little to complete.

[mike.perry]

That is a neat adaptor conversion for the heater tap!
Two alloy heater tap bases (Pt No: HTR103) screwed back to back I presume?

Something like that, I believe that I cribbed the idea off Declan