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On our way back home on the M62 after a lovely day.

Great to meet Steve this morning and his lockdown purchase, a very nice looking TF 115.

We went over armed with the bearing press as he had been advised his wheel bearing needed replacing, but on inspection there wasn’t anything wrong with the bearing, it was just slight play on the shocker bottom bush.

Cambelt service carried out, with new alternator belt. Really nice quiet sounding engine. He’s got himself a great car.

We then went over to Swinton, where it was lovely to see David again (and Bodie too) for a few things on his very tidy TF 135.

Last time we were there David had bought himself rose jointed wiper linkage arms, but they needed a bit of modification, so we took them away with us and then refitted them today.

Alternator adjuster bracket also fitted, new belt as the last one had been squealing again and fitted a new reverse light switch.

Enjoyable day in great company (at distance of course) and the sun shone too, which made a welcome change. ☀️

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Luddington and Dinnington were our destinations today…

For our first call it was lovely to meet Gillian whose MGF stepspeed had succumbed to head gasket failure. We replaced this plus carried out the cambelt service too as this was due.

Before carrying out any work the car was a bit down on its stops so we pumped her up to the correct height.

Couple of other little niggles sorted.

Really great to see Noel and Melanie again on the next call. Their fab looking LE’s engine management light was flashing at first and then on constantly. On code reading we found 11 faults, which pointed us towards either Lambda sensor or coil pack. On investigation found that one of the coil packs had burnt out. New one fitted and problem solved.

Looking forward to getting another date arranged for them to come over to the workshop once lockdown restrictions have eased.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

What a really lovely day we had in Bromsgrove. Already an owner of a TF 135 Keith had spotted a MGF for sale last year and thought it looked a good one to take on. So he asked us if we would come over and do all the essentials to make it sound. What started out as a long list was reduced as he has got himself a really fab MGF mpi 120 in Volcano.

As there was no service history, apart from the odd thing written on the back of an envelope we carried out full cambelt service.

The list included pads and discs, didn’t need them as all new, underfloor stainless steel coolant pipes, didn’t need them as already fitted, brake lines, didn’t need them as all sound. So Keith was a very happy man with a lot less of a costly day than anticipated.

Date to be arranged for a visit to the workshop for underfloor treatment and some other bits.

Thank you to Keith for the very thoughtful presents! Even including the shirt off your back from your days at Rover!

We look forward to seeing you both and ‘Mabel’ again up in Yorkshire.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

When we last saw Tony in Macclesfield we took out the Pektron unit for him on one of his TF’s, in order to send off to Technozen, as the central locking relay had given up. So we returned today to refit it for him. Unfortunately, the battery was flat and the bonnet release was broken, so what was supposed to be a quick fix turned into a full morning of getting into the car and then the bonnet.

We got the doors open and into the bonnet eventually. Pektron unit refitted and new bonnet release fitted. We like a challenge! Really pleased for Tony that his car is back up and running again.

We then went over to Bramhall and good to see Stephen again. He had noticed a small amount of coolant loss, and from his description it sounded very much like the thermostat had sprung a leak and sure enough on pressure test it was evident that that was what the problem was. New thermostat and housing fitted, system pressurised again and no more leaks.

The car was sitting a little low so hydragas topped up, now looks a lot better.

A successful day and we even managed to dodge the rain somehow.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Good few days at the workshop on this great looking TF 135, with an early start on Monday morning.

• Pre-emptive head gasket replacement carried out

• Cambelt service done

• Full underfloor treatment carried out

• Underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless steel

• Full grill set replaced

• Exhaust control valve opened up

• Valet

• Under bonnet shiny kit fitted

• Removal of split rear screen, which we have sent off the brilliant company we use in Ireland.

Few other niggles sorted.

Car and the owner, Andrew reunited this afternoon.

Lovely to see Ray again, this afternoon, who brought his, also lovely looking, TF 135 (in the same colour) over for minor service and for us to sort the SRS light out. On code reading it was found to be the pre-tensioner, so we replaced this and problem solved.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Great to receive Andrew at the workshop this morning for work on his TF 135 for some work over the next few days.

Local call after that this afternoon to try and resolve a none starting issue on Bob’s very nice looking MGF 120 mpi. On code reading it showed the crank sensor to be at fault, so replaced with a new one and still didn’t want to start. Had compression, spark and fuel. So next step is to try coil pack and distributor cap to see if the spark is just too weak.

Busy evening on the old admin.

Got the best valentine present from Jon. Who needs flowers, chocolate or even cheese, I just need these!! 😀🔥

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

First call in Chesterfield this morning to see Stephens very tidy TF 160 that was having a couple of minor issues.

One of which was a slight coolant loss, on pressure testing the system found one of the hose clips to be loose. Battery had died on him a couple of times, so we advised him to get a new one with more amperage, in order to cope with the colder weather as it’s the cold cranking that makes the difference on these cars. Stephen also thought that a problem had occurred with the power steering, on these cars if they are stood for a while sometimes the power steering ECU thinks there is an issue and turns the power steering off, once the car moves again it registers that all is ok and switches it back on again. Handbrake adjusted as there was a bit of free-play on it. Tested the voltage on the alternator, which was kicking out 14.02 volts, which is fine.

We then went a few miles along the road to Calver to see John again and his very tidy MGF VVC that was also having an issue with loss of coolant. John had spotted a couple of leaks, so on pressure testing we found where they all were and fitted new clips, which resolved the problem. Pressure tested the cap and checked every other pipe union just in case.

We last saw this car a couple of years ago when Jon replaced the VVC mechanisms, John says it’s the best thing he has had done to the car, it went from sounding like a diesel to a sounding like a sewing machine.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Banshee 2, Adrian’s fab Trophy 160 was in need of some work, so we made our way to Coalville this morning.

Another sphere replaced on the rear offside this time. Welding to nearside sill. Rear discs and pads replaced.

Adrian had waited that long for us to come he had forgotten we were going! Lovely to see Leigh and Hayley who made us a very welcome cuppa on another freezing cold day. 🥶

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.