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Mobile MG Rover Repair Service

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Welford & Harpole, Northampton…

An extremely wet day yesterday. Our first call was in Welford for head gasket replacement on Simon’s ‘95 MGF 120 mpi in paint code HAM. The gasket had gone some time ago, Simon had been topping it up with water so there was a considerable amount of sludge to clear out, never a nice job when it’s combined with a load of water from above! Despite deploying the gazebo we still got drenched. The car also has aircon fitted, which generally adds on an extra hour to the proceedings.

A very welcome constant supply of cups of tea kept appearing for us though accompanied by a delicious homemade lemon drizzle cake. We’re pleased to have got the car back up and running as she should be for Simon, who it was lovely to meet.

Not too far along the road found us back in Harpole for head gasket replacement on Neil’s ‘02 TF 135. Unfortunately, the wet stuff followed us! Good to have got Neil’s car back on the road again for him, and thanks to him also for plenty of warming cuppas.

Sadly for Jon one his favourite places, just around the corner from there, Hotel Choklit was closed by the time we got finished. 🙁

Ruskington & Bracebridge Heath…

A much brighter morning today, thankfully, as we headed down to Ruskington for our first call for work on Tracy’s TF 115 in paint code MBB that she’s owned since 2009.

Head gasket and all other gaskets replaced, plus full cambelt service carried out along with a few other bits that needed sorting. Lovely to meet Tracy and Chris, pleased to have the car back up and running as it should be for them.

From there we headed up to Bracebridge Heath as John and Lorraine had got in touch about their MGF Trophy that had recently developed a problem with the battery not charging. On checking it over, as suspected, it was down to the alternator having packed up, new one duly fitted and happily for them back up and running once more.

A pleasant run back home this evening. – https://ift.tt/jx8ZNvf

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A trip over the Pennines to Altrincham on Thursday morning for work on Michelle’s ‘03 Stepspeed, in paint code PBT, that she’s owned for the last 19 years.

Full cambelt service carried out, plus she wanted us to give the car a check over and advise on anything else that she should be concerned about. Nice to meet Michelle who had cleaned the car the day before ahead of our visit, but the Sahara sand decided to ruin that for her!

From there we headed over to Rainow, for work on Richard’s ‘04 TF 135 80th Anniversary, in paint code MBB.

Cambelt service carried out. Richard had noticed a bit of a rattle coming from the cams, he’d tried a couple of applications of hydraulic lifter cleaner, to no affect, but he hadn’t used the better one, which is the one made by Wynn’s, which does usually have good results.

Richard asked if the cam-rack could be removed and resealed as it was leaking. We cleared out all the oil ways, resealed it and added one of our cans of Wynn’s Pro hydraulic-lifter cleaner. Once back up and running the car was sounding a lot quieter.

An interesting afternoon chatting to Richard, whose car has a couple of very nice stable mates, a V8 MGB GT and a Midget that he’d owned from his student days.

A late finish for us getting home, but what a a perfect evening for a run back over the peaks, such stunning scenery on days like that, particularly going through Winnats Pass. Lots of para-gliders out enjoying the thermals.

This morning we headed over to Hull for a nice local call, only to find that the owner had already had the cambelt service carried out locally and forgot to tell us. So we headed over to Goxhill a little earlier than planned for our next call.

We’d last visited Rob in Goxhill back in May, when we did the cambelt service etc on his MGF 120 mpi, he had asked if we could call back at some point and replace the distributor cap and rotor arm as they were original ones on it. So this was done for him this morning. Shame not to see Rob, but pleased we’ve got that done for him.

With time to spare we had a bit of a ring round local people to see if we could pull our visit forward, but everyone was at work. So went over to Rimmer Bros, to pick up some parts instead and had the afternoon free.

I walked back home over the Humber Bridge which was a little less gloomy than when we went over it this morning, a right pea-souper!

Have a great weekend everyone, hoping the weather holds up for runs out and top down fun! 🌞 – https://ift.tt/bFLhRU2

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Norfolk…

On our way back home after a 3 day trip, starting off in Wiggenhall St Peter, on Sunday, for our annual visit to see Mark and his TF 135, one of the Chinese models, post the LE 500 run.

The left hand drive-shaft oil-seal had a bit of a weap that was noted on the MoT, so we replaced this. Plus the front arms had come up as an advisory for play, these were soon sorted with a good application of grease, which does often get forgotten and can give all sorts of other symptoms. Mark had the invested in one of the new anodised aluminum 3-way-splits as had read about the plastic ones not being the most robust of parts, they do just snap so easily with no warning, so a good move on his part, this was fitted for him. New clevis pin on the slave cylinder and an oil change.

Lovely to see Mark and Pam and have a chat and bacon buttie before we headed along to our digs in Dereham.

Monday morning found us back over in Wickmere for work on Judith’s ‘04 TF 135 in paint code PBT.

Full cambelt service carried out. We had gone armed with gear cables as they thought that the cable had snapped, but it was actually still intact and the garage had made a really good repair of the gearbox selector arm. The only other issue was the hanger on the exhaust was coming away, with it being a gravity exhaust they are non-adjustable and fixed, so despite us going with some new hangers etc it will require welding to repair it properly.

Lovely morning at their amazing place, horses and woofers a plenty! Great to meet Judith this time and have loads of fusses with their lovely gang; Dot, Pip, Bell & Gus. We look forward to seeing them all again next year.

From Wickmere we headed over to Norwich, where it was nice to meet Matt, who had recently purchased a ‘04 TF 135 in paint code CMU.

Minor service carried out and a health check. Couple of minor niggles noted, one of which was a bit of play in the front wheels, both front arms took a fair amount of grease, so don’t think they’d been done for a while, which has sorted this for him.

Back to our digs again near Dereham and making the most of the fab weather and really nice surroundings I enjoyed a lovely evening walk. Jon enjoyed a bit of peace with Star Trek and just a couple of cream cakes.

This morning found us in Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin.

Head gasket replacement and cambelt service carried out on Richard’s ‘00 Mk II MGF 120 with aircon in paint code HFF.

Whilst we had the head off Mark had asked if we could replace the cams with a set of 135 cams that he’d got hold of. This is his first step in converting the car to a 135. New set of plugs, new alternator belt and she’s all good to go again. We look forward to seeing him again at the workshop.

It was good to meet Richard and have a chat. Another spot with horses doggos! One, of which, is quite famous and has appeared in productions and films, Zoio their beautiful stallion can currently be spotted in Merlin, with the character of Merlin using him as his mount! How fab! We’ve been watching that lately, so when we get back tonight will be watching it to see if we can spot him. He’s got a small star on his face and a coronet on his nearside hind leg. Sorry I can’t help myself when horses are involved!

Not a long trip away this one, but a really good one, fab people, fab cars, lots of sunshine and great locations. – https://ift.tt/GDzFs4d

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Shinfield, near Reading & home near Hull…

Day 6 of 6 – Latest Tour South.

After leaving our really fab digs, in Bracknell, this morning we headed over to Shinfield, where it was great to meet Simon and his 2001‘ MGF 143 in paint code HFF, which he’d owned from new, sold it and then had the opportunity to buy it back again.

The head gasket had gone, so we replaced this, along with all other gaskets, plus all service items.

An enjoyable mornings work, thanks to Simon for many cuppas and homemade flapjack. We look forward to seeing him again next year.

A nice way to end a successful week away, with good run back home, despite the torrential rain at times, with thunder and lightning on the M62, which resembled a river at one point.

Just want to add, “Big Thanks”, to everyone for their warm welcomes and such lovely hospitality all this week. Great people and their fab MGs! – https://ift.tt/0R1tZxj

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Farnham & Finchampstead…

Day 5 of 6 – Latest Tour South.

After departing from our digs in Eastleigh this morning we started to head back north.

Our first call was in Farnham, where it was lovely to see Robert again and his ‘97 MGF 120 mpi in paint HAM.

It had been noted, on our last visit, that the engine bay coolant pipes were somewhat corroded, so Robert had asked if we could replace them on our next visit. These were duly replaced when stainless ones this morning. Along with a clutch fluid flush-through, as it was a touch on the black side, plus oil change and fuel filter replacement. The cam-cover gasket was looking in bad shape as it had delaminated, so this was replaced too.

On firing the car up it was revving too high, and on running the diagnostics we found that the ECU temperature sensor was registering about 30 degrees lower than it should have been, this was due to a poor connection. Once the connection was sorted out we set the ECU back to its default settings.

Big thanks to Robert for the many welcome cuppas and chocs. We look forward to returning next year.

From there we carried on our journey north, to Finchampstead, where it was really great to meet Frances, who had won the charity auction for a cambelt service in aid of ‘UK Homes for Heroes’, which took place for this years ‘Friends Round London’ annual run, which is held in February. (Details can be found on the Facebook page of the same name).

Cambelt, water pump and tensioner therefore all replaced on Frances’ ‘04 TF 135 in MBB. Plus we fitted the stainless steel backbox that he had bought in ready for our visit.

What an interesting afternoon, he’s got some fantastic cars in his collection and wants to increase his MG fleet further too! Big thanks, also, for the pots of tea and to his wife for baking us a lemon drizzle cake especially for our visit, so kind, it will go down well this evening. Thanks, again, to him for his winning bid on the auction, a very worthy cause.

We’re now in our last digs of the trip between Bracknell and Wokingham. – https://ift.tt/LOVZPK1

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Winchester & Southampton…

Day 3 of 6 – Latest Tour South.

The first call of the day was in Winchester, after departing from our digs, in Chichester, this morning, where it was nice to meet Lyn for work on her ‘97 modified MGF mpi, in paint code CAQ.

Hydragas pumped up to the correct height as she was sitting a little low, plus cambelt, water pump, tensioner and alternator belt all replaced so she’s all good to go again for Lyn to enjoy.

We then headed over to Southampton for our annual visit on Mark’s MGF 1.8 mpi in Copperleaf.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, spark plugs, oil and all filters replaced. Plus the gear gaitor was looking a bit ragged so Mark had bought a new one, which we fitted for him too.

Really good to see Mark, as always, and have a catch-up. He pointed out that it was back in 2016 when we first started work on this car, when it had undergone a bit of a restoration, as it was on the verge of being scrapped. Mark and Joanne are heading off to Jersey for a long weekend sometime soon in the car, which should be fun. Thanks to Mark for all the welcome cuppas and the enormous cake! Jon was very happy!

We’re now in our digs in Eastleigh, and making the most of the amazing weather this evening I enjoyed a yomp through ‘Hut Wood’. – https://ift.tt/aBUXlo7

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Crawley & Chichester…

Day 2 of 6 – Latest Tour South.

Our first call of the day first thing this morning was over in Crawley, with a good run over from our digs in Tonbridge Wells.

Great to meet Alex and his ‘99 MGF 1.8 in paint code MNX. Underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless for him today, it’s really sound car that he’s future proofing to enjoy for years to come. Next stop for it is for some body work to be carried out. We look forward to seeing him again next year for a service on it.

From there we headed over to Chichester, where it was lovely to see Rod again and his ‘04 TF 135 in paint code LEF that we’d last seen about 3 years ago for clutch & head gasket etc. Rod has since replaced the front subframe and has now commenced work on the back end. It looks like a new car underneath at the front end, fantastic job.

Today the key fobs were sorted, reverse light switch fitted, which needed new wiring putting in, so this was done for him, the crankshaft bottom pulley had a chunk missing out of it so we replaced this for him too. A K-maps remap was attempted, but, unfortunately, the signal round there was not good enough to carry this out.

Rod wants to bring the car up to the workshop next year, anyway, for fitting of a Mike Satur Daytona and 4-2-1 to coincide with a visit to his sister, so the remap will be done then. By this time Rod will have finished all his work on the car that he has planned. Great to see him today and have a chat.

One of those calls where I’m like a spare part, so I walked into the town to the post office to get some clothing orders posted out. Thanks to the people who have ordered things lately, they will be with you soon! 👕 🧢

We didn’t get as far south as planned this morning as our call in Eastbourne was cancelled, unfortunately we only found out a couple of days ago, it’s a shame as we’ve been going for a few years now, but had forgotten to let us know the car had been reluctantly sold. Never mind, these things happen.

So we’re now in our new digs just outside of Chichester town centre, which made for a nice evening walk in the sun to the cathedral, well for me anyway, Jon had a well deserved rest to watch Star Trek and eat chocolate. – https://ift.tt/aBUXlo7

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Tonbridge Wells…

Day 1 of 6 – Latest Tour South.

Yesterday morning found us at the workshop to pack the van ahead of our latest tour to the south of the country.

Plus we were so pleased to meet Mik and Sarah, finally, when they came over from York to collect their MGF ‘Tess’ that had been in with us for a few things. Great to see Andrew again, who dropped off his TF with us.

This morning we headed to Tonbridge Wells, where we’re staying this evening, which proved a perfect spot to get some things looked at on ‘Pearl’, Adrian’s very well travelled TF.

The seals that Adrian had recently fitted were still leaking the drivers side window needed adjusting, it was also noticed that the cable tensioner in the soft-top had snapped, this would account for the amount of play in the soft-too edge and the inevitable and annoying ingress of rainwater!

The exhaust flexi was blowing slightly at the joint, so this was taken to pieces and resealed, being an early Mike Satur 4-2-1, it didn’t have a tubular insert, so next time at the workshop Jon will make one to fit it.

Good to see him and have a cuppa and a catch-up in the car park. Hope his journey back through the Dartford crossing isn’t as hideous as it looked when we came over the bridge, miles and miles of queues!

What fantastic weather, made the most of it with a lovely walk through the local woodland this evening. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/ir1ITX3

Rough Luck Racing

Rough Luck Racing are specialised MG mobile mechanics who can provide servicing or repairs for your daily runabout, fair weather drive or track day car.

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May 2025
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