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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - A series front plate

Hi All.
Are there any differences between a 1275 engine front plate and the small block engines?
Thanks
s page

you have to countersink the 2 small holes (and use c/sunk setscrews) to clear the back of the duplex gear. Think that's the only difference.
David Smith

There is another difference - the 1275 has a hefty stiffener plate welded to the dynamo/alternator mount.

I can only assume that they must have suffered from cracking in that area.


I have a couple available, if you need one.

Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks. Daves
s page

Dave. My 1965 10CC engine, which I know is the original one, also has the reinforcement, so maybe it was just the 10CG and previous engines which didn't have it.
I did however, have to countersink the two holes at the bottom, as David points out, when I fitted a Duplex kit.

Bernie.
b higginson

Thanks Bernie, that's interesting.

I will have to see if I can find the change point.
Dave O'Neill 2

On the stiffener plate point I can confirm its to stop cracking. If used an earlier plate on a 1275 and went through a couple of dynamo brackets and a water pump bracket. I renewed all the bearings in the dynamo and a new pump but
to no avail as the pump bracket broke again! Finally the front plate cracked. I replaced it with reinforced 1275 one and had no further problems. Expensive learning curve!!
Bob Beaumont

Bernie

According to Horler's OS&M, the engine frontplate 'changed', along with the Dynamo adjusting link pillar, from engine number 10CC5279.

Dave O'Neill 2

Dave.That explains it then. My engine number ends in 5925 and it is a March '65 car. I've never had any problems with water pump lugs breaking or the plate cracking, so the mod obviously worked. I now run an alternator with the same plate, but different rear bracket. I have had water pump problems, but not structrual failures, just noisy bearings and leaking glands, which I put down to poor quality pumps.
b higginson

I think that some racers, that don't have an alternator or dynamo, remove the reinforcing section.
Daniel

This thread was discussed between 28/02/2018 and 04/03/2018

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