MGB Vacuum tube connector for 72 MGB melted...

[peterh]

The tube (rubber tube connecting to the vacuum unit on the distributor) for 72 MGB has melted. The car will turn over but not start now. Wondering is anyone knows:

1. Why this happens
2. Best way to repair
3. Can I order just the tube somewhere or does it only come with a full vacuum unit.

Thanks!

 

[spankyway]

My vacuum advance on my 75 MGB uses just a rubber hose to draw vacuum.

 

[Roger]

I highly doubt if the loss of the tube would prevent he car from starting. I thin kyou might want to look around to see why it melted, and what else might have melted with it .

 

[Rick_Stevens]

Yep. This stuff is generic vacuum hose and should last until it rots. Rot good; melt bad. Something else happened.

Rick

 

[tony barnhill]

If you had the thin factory plastic ling & it layed against the valve cover or head, it melted...it hould never touch any engine part.

 

[martx-5]

Man, when I read "vacuum tube connector melted", my first thought was that you had some old vintage radio you were trying to repair. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

 

[Nunyas]

ditto on the vacuum tube odd thought. First thing into my head was, there's vacuum tubes in MGBs?!?!? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

Thirded... Was having thoughts of looking thru the old stock of vacuum tube sockets I've got stuffed in the attic of the garage... "Six pin or eight?"

 

[Rick_Stevens]

Dang, we're old. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Limey]

Hey - I had a vacuum tube radio in my first car!

More seriously, as somebody else pointed out, that should not prevent the car starting - but it may be an idea to plug the port on the carb or manifold.

 

[Guest]

My first thoughts were of radio tubes wondering where you found one in a '72 "B" too.
I have a '72 and have had mine plugged for many years due to a bad vac. advance. I have a '75 distributor with a mechanical advance that is full advance around 2500 rpm and it runs great so see no need for the vac unit. Just plug it and see if that clears up the running problem then fix whatever melted it.
Bob