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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Heater air flaps

Whoops! I think I have had a functional mishap!

I have cleaned up and repainted the two air flaps that are fitted to the sides of the footwells. These are on my Frog, but I think they are the same on all cars. Having repainted them I then realised that they don't have the snap open - snap shut function which they certainly had when I first removed them.

The reason - no sign of any spring mechanism! So, what happened? - Well to get rid of surface rust I submerged them in a tub of acid based rust remover for a couple of hours, that's what! I suspect there should be a steel wire spring of some sort but now there's no sign of one on either flap - and no remnants at all of any in the acid bath. Whatever provided the snap function is simply no more. :-(

Next task therefore is to devise and make a new spring mechanism. Anyone got a photo?
GuyW

Google is your friend!

I found this from a quick search. There are probably some better examples.

Dave O'Neill 2

Is this what you're looking for?

W Dunsmore

Another pic.
Bill

W Dunsmore

2nd hand ones in the post :-)
David Smith

Thanks David. I owe you - again ! ;-)
GuyW

Just for future reference Ashley Hinton makes them (but in stainless steel) along with lots of other Sprite/Spridget/1500 parts, some at least, on OE tools.

His ebay shop is - ashleyhintonmgparts2002

and he's on Facebook (not that I'd know).



Guy,
he might have Sprite parts and repair panels that you might find useful, costs nothing to look at least.
Nigel Atkins

Thanks Nigel. Ashley Hinton has been a supplier of mine for the frog. I knew he made air flaps.

The tale posted here was as much a warning to others as a confession on my part. It did surprise me that the relatively mild phosphoric acid solution should totally dissolve the spring component whilst only lifting the surface rust of the steel flaps themselves. I guess it may be down to a difference in the composition of the steel in the spring wire - maybe a high carbon content?
GuyW

Postman brought a nice surprise today! Air flaps AND a pair of brake/clutch pedal return springs!

Many thanks to David. :-)
GuyW

This thread was discussed between 14/05/2017 and 20/05/2017

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