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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Mystery tools

Can someone identify these for me please.
Made by eclipse, the grooved metal blocks are clearly precision made and about 2" long.

Are they useful?

GuyW

They're V blocks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-block
David Billington

Thanks David. That's it exactly.

Surprised that having attached a round tube or bar to them, they don't then have some means of securing them to something else, like T-slots, eg for drilling.

I have had them for a long time, but never yet imagined something I could usefully do with them.
GuyW

Guy,

You can hold them in a vice or use finger clamps in the grooves in the sides. I have a set and they're useful at times.
David Billington

Can anyone identify these specialist tools appropriate to Spridgets and many other cars.

One is merely a modified tool from a well known home product supplier but what is it's use on say a Spridget?

The other is a precision handmade tool, obviously made by a craftsperson, but what's its use on a wide range of makes and models of cars including some Spridgets?

(I can't imagine the answers Prop would have given had he not defected to Russia).

Nigel Atkins

Well I have no idea what you might use them for, but I might use the bent wire hook for retrieving vagrant clips dropped into the dark recesses of bottom of a door. And the white plastic thing would make a good lifter for releasing Tennax fasteners when taking the hood down for a drive on a bright frosty winter's morning.
GuyW

Guy,
I'm insulted by your description of a craftperson's precision made tool as bent wire and it has a higher purpose than retrieving dropped clips.

But full marks for knowing or working out the use of the modified Tupperware spatula. I never had any trouble with the old hood fasteners but with the new hood I risked damaging my manicured nails and I couldn't have that.


O/T
other afternoon I remembered to time cooling fan delay, it was warm 11c weather, last few miles were through 20 and 30mph roads so engine warmed again. After parking up it was 3 minutes later when the fan cut in (by mental counting in seconds). The fan ran for about 7 minutes, by an electronic battery kitchen timer (that was already running).
Nigel Atkins

Im goimg to say the wire is for rotating the engine off the selinoid without getting in the car
Prop and the

Blimey Prop are you on downers, I wasn't expecting a muted answer like that.

No it's not.

Welcome back.
Nigel Atkins

I think the precision tool is open doors when leaving the keys in plain sight in a locked car.

I once had to fashion a precision tool out of a Magnum lolly stick with my teeth in order to open a locked boot inside which I had dropped the keys - this in a motorway service station just over the French / Spanish border ...
Chris at Octarine Services

Sorry Chris it'd be too, er sorry can't think of the right word so I'll say it would bend too easily.

Let me add - you would use this tool at times of servicing and in between.
Nigel Atkins

It looks fuzzy on my screen.I thought it was a rusty wire but maybe it is precision made from a high-tech material like a yellow pipe cleaner? In which case it might be for clearing something like the air slots under the oil filler cap.
GuyW

Oh - is it a pipe cleaner thingy? Used for wiping dipsticks??
Chris at Octarine Services

Guy,
yes I did use two commercially available pipe cleaners to made this precision tool (and a couple more previously on the prototype) but it is not for cleaning the air slots in the oil filler cap - I have other tools for things like that.

Chris,
you're both hot and cold at the same time.

A clue - it possibly wouldn't be as useful on all standard Spridgets.

Nigel Atkins

Ah - for measuring the water level in the rad??
Chris at Octarine Services

Getting very warm, but not coolant warm (even 4-life).
Nigel Atkins

Measuring oil level in gearbox???
Chris at Octarine Services

More specifically, perhaps, in one version of the Type 9 ?
GuyW

Chris,
well done.

Ford Type 9 gearbox hence "wide range of makes and models of cars including some Spridgets".

For those like yourself skilled enough to craft one yourself I can provide a paper template! :)

Your prize should you wish to accept it is six 4-Life stickers for decorative display or future use with the product -

or

- a photo of 'the good book' (not signed).

ETA: well done Guy, I just can't type fast enough.
You can have second choice of prize.
Nigel Atkins

Oh great!
Perhaps a short 1 3/4" length of red insulated wire ?
I wouldn't mind if it had been used before!
GuyW

That wasn't on offer - but - what shade of red?
Nigel Atkins

I thought you might be going to remove that short link wire from your Revotec controller. :-)
GuyW

Sorry, I missed that, doh, I read that as insulating tape (and I laugh at my wife missing the joke).

So I lookedf and found you a long 1 3/4" length of red insulated tape, pre-used so it's stretched.

Nigel Atkins

Thanks Nigel, I'll take it as a virtual second prize!
GuyW

The plastic thing makes me shudder - it looks more medical than mechanical...
Peter Blockley

You're spot on, Peter. The greater part of this thread has been pretty horrifying.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

This thread was discussed between 09/03/2017 and 12/03/2017

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