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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Bonnet stay parts.

Car may trundle, but there are plenty of bits still to fit!

MK1 uses a secondary bonnet prop. I have the bracket that supports the bottom end but it is broken and weakened by rust so I need to make a new one. But is this shape correct? (photo). The MOSS line drawing doesn't make it look U shaped like this and the photo in Horler (p31) isn't clear.

GuyW

Guy,

I took mine off as it was in the way of the oil cooler. I can't believe that little prop would hold the hefty bonnet in the event the side stays went!!. I'll see if I can find it to photograph
Bob Beaumont

No worries Bob. New bracket made now
I do see what you mean about the stay - it's pretty flimsy. Maybe now I've made it I won't fit it!

I've found another bracket which may or may not be Frog related. Anyone recognise this one?

GuyW

Bob,maybe the purpose if the stay is to prevent the bonnet from lifting in a strong breeze and releasing the telescopic support catches. It wouldn't take much
GuyW

Guy

the second bracket goes the other side od the radiator top bolt. It should have a spring clip fitted to it held by a couple of 3/16 screws and nuts. It secures the other end of the bonnet prop. The prop runs in front of the radiator.

I can't say I have ever had the bonnet lift up during normal motoring. I have on more than one occasion forgotten to lock it!

Bob Beaumont

Thanks Bob, I just came back here to say I had found the home for that bracket! Just as you say.

I wasn't imagining the bonnet lifting during normal motoring, and that prop stay wouldn't help if it did. I meant if you were parked with the bonnet open. A gust of wind might just lift the bonnet enough to release the toggle catches on the bonnet props. Or maybe more likely, for me at least, I might peer under the bonnet and then straighten up too soon! It has been known!
GuyW

On the frequent occasions I have straightened up quickly I just have had an unpeasant bump on the head. The bonnet has fortunetly remained securely open while I writhed about cursing!
Bob Beaumont

I laboriously made a custom stay that curves around the front mounted rad fan. After all that effort, I never use it!

Do steel bonnets get heavier over time, or is it just an age thing?

Les

L B Rose

Completed and fitted my bonnet prop stay. But when swung up to the bonnet there's no apparent place for it to locate with. I seem to have lost a hole!
GuyW

Bob,

Sounds like a common ailment for frogeye owners with steel bonnets. I was stopped by a guy in Bath that used to own a frogeye and he said he still had the dents in his head from standing up and hitting them while working in the engine bay.
David Billington

Frogeye bonnets do have a malevolent intent. I managed to hit my head on mine when it wasn't even attached to the car!

It was suspended from the garage roof to keep it out of the way whist I was restoring the tub.
GuyW

Guy The stay goes into a hole in the side of the radiator cowling. There should be a spring clip to hold it in place on the inside of the cowling.
Bob Beaumont

Bob, thanks. I thought that must be the case as I had rebuilt the cowling with new side panels where the old cowling had pretty well rusted away.
GuyW

This thread was discussed between 21/08/2020 and 23/08/2020

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