Wanted - Rear Trophy Sphere

[Tim.]

Well, that thing that MGF owners dread has happened. I have a ruptured diaphragm in a rear displacer sphere.
I know they are like hens teeth and it will cost dearly, but anyone know of any Trophy spheres around or anyone breaking a Trophy.

Thanks

Tim Guy.

[mgfsoldier]

Mgfntfbitz have a trophy just in for breaking.

[Tim.]

Brilliant - Thanks, I'll give them a call

[Tim.]

Indeed they are breaking a Trophy but, alas, the spheres are both spoken for.

The quest continues - please.

[johnny-h]

You and me both tim I just called them myself and got the same answer

age defying bald bloke lol

[nigelandjo]

Martin Smith http://www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk/ had a Trophy in when we were there today ~ couldn't say whether it still had the spheres, but worth giving him a call. Say I recommended you to contact him.

[webba]

I asked this on face book, What is the differnce between Trophy and standard sheres ? could you not swap / shorten the cones on a standard pair and put a little more pressure in ?

[Rob Bell]

The Trophy spheres use a different part number - so certainly MG Rover themselves indicate that they are indeed different. The displacer cone (aka the "Tapered Skirt") has a different profile (so will provide a different dP/dT characteristic) and the internal damper valve is also said to be different. I have not had Trophy spheres, but it is possible that they have different fluid chamber shapes (but I doubt this).



Can you use front spheres on the rear? I would not advise this.

Can you use standard hydragas spheres on a Trophy? - yes, but I'd change all four at the same time. But I'd re-use the Trophy displacer cones to preserve the springing characteristics. Sadly I don't have the nitrogen egg characteristics for the Trophy sphere - I'd hope that this is the same as the standard unit. You may need to look at aftermarket dampers to get the correct damping rates however.

Interestingly Tim has now fitted new Hydragas spheres - with nitrogen and hydragas fluid top-up. Unfortunately he was having some teething problems at Snetterton, but hopefully he can get this sorted as it looks to be a good long-term solution for nitrogen depletion that is a problem for all Hydragas spheres, standard or otherwise.

[idrawcad]

Is there an alternative for the spheres, i.e another suspension set up?

[Rob Bell]

Yes Chris - some more drastic than others:
1. Standard MGF
2. Suplex (or similar) spring conversion
3. TF suspension conversion

[Dell]

I had this issue & after a bit of research on Robs & Dieters websites I did exactly what you are talking about ie fitted the cone from the Trophy sphere into a standard F one & it drove just like the original Trophy one . I did contact Dieter a couple of weeks ago to ask him if he was aware of any changes made to the internals of the Trophy sphere & he said that he was not aware of any but of course that is not a definitive answer.

I would also not be surprised if 15 years down the line you measured the nitrogen pressure of 10 spheres that no 2 would be the same anyway.


As I managed to get a genuine Trophy rear sphere from the bay of fleas last week I will be fitting the correct one again in the near future not because I have problems with the setup that I have but because it feels like the right thing to do.
.

[Rob Bell]

That's really interesting Dell I think that this (fitting the tapered skirt/displacer cone from the failed Trophy Sphere into a standard Hydragas sphere) is the most pragmatic solution for Trophy Owners.

Therefore - if a Trophy unit fails NEVER throw it away: remove the displacer and keep it!

If anyone has a scrap Hydragas sphere can you give it to me or Dieter? I am sure one of us will cut it open to compare with a standard sphere to see whether (a) the internal dimensions are the same and (b) whether the internal damper valve is different or, as we are starting to suspect, the same.

Actually, when you think about it, it would make sense for MG Rover NOT to order an internal change to the Trophy Hydragas sphere: this would have been exhorbitantly expensive for such a limited run vehicle.

I therefore fully expect to find that the Trophy sphere is identical internally.

Of course, it would be good to demonstrate this once and for all!

[160steve]

Rob - Please PM me your address and I can send you a failed Trophy rear unit