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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - fabric Lt lead ?

Where can I get a cotton covered low tension lead from , mines a bit thread bare, it goes from one side of the condenser to the other. ( tried to upload photo but it says its too big ?
Scott Coe

Here is the photo, my daughter did it for me !!!

Scott Coe

I think it's part of the condenser and you 100% need to get that from someone like DD as there are crap ones about.

Do you really need one though(?).

Others will know better as it's a long time since I've put up with CB points but the fitting of the leads doesn't necessarily look right to me, might be the photo but the black lead looks like it could rub on the base plate and the cotton lead looks stretched.

Also are those points the type that don't want grease on the shaft lobes.

Also check the sponge/felt pad for oil, or add a very small drop.

Check for Driver's Handbook for exact installation - to make sure we're talking about the same book cover below.

If you don't have it Chris could perhaps put up the illustration here for you.


Nigel Atkins

Hi Nigel the fabric lead is normally under the condenser, I moved it to be seen, I don't know about to grease or not to grease though. That's the handbook I have
Scott Coe

Scott,
ok with cotton wire, and if black wire is not against baseplate as these things can rub and cause hard to find and intermittent faults/misfire.

As you don't know the car, if those type of CB points require it, I'd add a very small amount of grease, and a drop of oil to be sure as those are the type of service requirements that are often missed, for decades - unless it's not the (DH) good book of course, I am a disciple.
Nigel Atkins

Think we might be getting a bit mixed up here
That black fabric covered wire is the earth wire from the points plate to the dist. body
The cloth covering cops a beating as it moves every time the vac advance moves , the cover doesn't really matter all that much probably better for movement without it, -as long as the wire inside hasn't frayed at the mounting point on the points plate, it can't short to earth as it's already earthed and the only power there is the orange condenser wire which is well insulated
The new ones that Moss list don't even have the cloth on them just bare wire

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/distributor-base-plate-earth-lead-153-645.html

willy
William Revit

Do you mean the Dizzy Pigtail: http://minispares.com/product/Classic/Electrics/Ignition/Distributors/37H2981.aspx?090802&ReturnUrl=/shop/classic/Electrics/Ignition.aspxBack%20to%20shop

Thanks
Mike
M Wood

William, that's the wire I'm on about, thanks, Nigel what's the DH in brackets and my email is scottcoe@virginmedia.com
Scott Coe

Scott
DH - drivers handbook
With the little wire, most are spotwelded to the points plate and if they break it's usually right next to the spot weld--if it's ok there I'd just leave it alone and leave it free so it can flex around as the vac advance operates
The replacement wire if you need one has an eye on it so it can be secured under the screw that holds the condenser to the plate
Can't quite see in the pic but I think yours may well be a screw on one already

William Revit

Yes Willy was right, I was certainly unsure and mixed up and more distracted by the black wire (relates to the Powerspark delicate wires fixing). I've not had the nasty points for so long I wonder if I dreamt them.

Willy, do those type of points need grease?

At £5.40 I think I'd make my own up - but I'd probably find I only had one eyelet of the correct size and file too much out the smaller one I used and swear about having to make the replacement. :)

Scott I'll will email you (you poor devil).
Nigel Atkins

Nigel
They look like a one piece set so no way to lube the pivot
A light smear on the cam wouldn't hurt and a drip or two of oil on the felt pad in the middle there
William Revit

It is missing the small felt wiper pad that lubricates the cam lobes. There should be a small square block of felt wedges down between the two spikes in the cam plate, lower left of photo.
GuyW

Sorry, my bad wording again I meant grease on cam not points as such.

I've not seen a set of point for years and I know you can get different types (do some have felt others not, I can't remember) but something in the photo just looked different to me but I don't know if that's just me.
Nigel Atkins

Nigel
I reckon that round, white nylon pivot is putting you off
On some point sets that's not there, the points base has a pin sticking up and the arm slides down over the pin and pivots directly on the pin
Then there are sets like this one where the set comes pre assembled with that nylon bush and the top of the pin(sometimes a tube) is flared out over the top of the bush to make an already assembled set eliminating the chance of missing out washers and things when fitting------maybe
I havn't seen one of the little felt cam oilers for years, -a smear of grease does the trick there, probably not as well as the felt though
William Revit

Willy,
I think it was that plus, the routes of the wiring, the blue instead of red(?), my only usual sighting of CB points being the illustration I put up from the good book - and that I can't remember, not a bad thing with such a nasty object though. :)
Nigel Atkins

Nigel
You're a harsh man, it took Uncle Joseph ages to develop his light sucking lectricity stuff so we could all have fun at trivia nights
William Revit

I've just found out that the Lucas trademark is owned by ZF (transmissions) which is almost unbelievable. The stuff in the boxes marked Lucas probably originate in a Shenzen factory or possibly Taiwan, who knows.
Bill Bretherton

This is the cable I use to replace the distributor ground wire, it's super flexible and is cotton covered just like the original.




R.A Davis

This thread was discussed between 15/10/2019 and 18/10/2019

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