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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear cylinder e-clip quality

...as supplied with the cylinders, crap, crap, crap. These are supposed to be spring steel and the first application of any force (like how else are you getting them on) they bend and stay that way. Spring steel my ar*e.

And breathe.
Jeremy Cogman

Jeremy, look in the Archives Guy puts up a method or you can use the expensive tool I bought or the very simple method Andy Tilney taught me (same sort as Guy's I think).

There will be a better description in the Archives but here's mine for now.

Get a machine screw to hold the the cylinder to the plate using the thread for the nipple, this leaves both hands free. With a suitable screwdriver fit the E-clip tangs on to the cylinder and then put the screwdriver behind the E-clip to to settle position and check security of E-clip.

Once the cylinder is held steady by the screw Andy can fit the E-clip with his eyes closed in less than three seconds and I can do it in about 5 seconds (but I keep my eyes open) safety goggles on of course.

Make sure you get the clip the right way round as in the red highlight below.


Nigel Atkins

Or get the correct washer and circlip combination that they were originally designed to be ftted with. These correct parts are now availabele again.
GuyW

Totally forgot that. I couldn't find them at the NEC but there'd be limited stock taken there.
Nigel Atkins

AH Spares:-

Circlip: XBRK182C (OE No. 17H7622) £0.38 + VAT

Washer: XBRK182W (OE No. 17H7613) £2.75 + VAT
Dave O'Neill 2

I found the example of the tool Nigel posted to be made of cheese metal and useless - I think I still have it and its available to anybody who wants to collect it.

Think that is a scan of my instruction leaflet !

I must oder the parts Dave noted for stock.
richard b

Hi Richard,
yes that is a copy of the leaflet you sent me, thanks, I find it easier to use with the E-clip highlighted in red than try to explain which way round the clip should go as I still can't get my head round whether vex or cave is dip or bow.

Whilst I've found the modern E-clips supplied to be a bit on the flimsy side the very expensive tool I got from Moss seems reasonably sturdy, so far on the few trial fits I've used it for.

But after Andy's instruction I'm happy to pass on the tool I have too.

Nigel Atkins

Guy, thanks for the heads up, I've been waiting for those parts to become available for thirty years and have some on order.

Thanks for your input chaps.

I added some shoes to my order too, I wonder if AH Spares shoes are made from the correct thickness lining material? The only supplier I've managed to get decent shoes from in the past is Ahead4Healeys.
Jeremy Cogman

This thread was discussed between 24/02/2019 and 26/02/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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