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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Seat recline mechanism

Hi all,

I have an incredibly annoying defect that means my driver's seat will not stay upright on the recline ratchet mechanism. Once I set the seat back and accelerate it clunks straight back untill it hits the back bulkhead behind.

Now I need to work out how to get at it all to define what is worn/broken. By the look of it im going to have too pull the seat covers off to see anything (not looking forward to that..)

Is there anything in particular that wears or goes wrong with them that I should be looking at?

Pictures would be grand!

Cheers
Karl
Karl Bielby

Karl. The mechanism is all at the bottom of the seat back except the rod from the lever. If you undo the bottom of the trim on the lever side, you should be able to get at it. Obviously, the seat will have to come out of the car first.
When you push the lever backwards, there are two sets of serrated "teeth" which disengage allowing you to move the back to the required position. The teeth may be knackered, but it might also be just lack of lubrication at the bottom of the lever not allowing the teeth to re-engage when the lever is released, so check that first. If the teeth are knackered, you will have to find a second hand mechanism. Unfortunately it's all riveted together, so that may be problematic. But maybe you could drill out the rivets and use nuts and bolts.
I may have an old seat kicking around at the back of the garage, but I may have tipped it when I had a clear out.
I'll check today and get back on here.
Bernie Higginson

Karl. The mechanism is all at the bottom of the seat back except the rod from the lever. If you undo the bottom of the trim on the lever side, you should be able to get at it.
When you push the lever backwards, there are two sets of serrated "teeth" which disengage allowing you to move the back to the required position. The teeth may be knackered, but it might also be just lack of lubrication at the bottom of the lever not allowing the teeth to re-engage when the lever is released, so check that first. If the teeth are knackered, you will have to find a second hand mechanism. Unfortunately it's all riveted together, so that may be problematic. But maybe you could drill out the rivets and use nuts and bolts.
I may have an old seat kicking around at the back of the garage, but I may have tipped it when I had a clear out.
I'll check today and get back on here.
Bernie Higginson

I don't know why that last post has double posted, but I'm afraid that I have indeed thrown out the old seat frames I had.
Bernie Higginson

Yeh I got the seat out and had a little plkay, it looks as though the lever lifts the whole seat back away from the toothed plate? I think I need to peel the vinyl back a little further to have a good look.

But it does look to me like il be needing a new seat! Which opens a huge can of interior trim worms... If I pull the handle forward (surely engaging the teeth more) I can still slip it back over the teeth...

Cheers for the reply!
Karl Bielby

It could be the seat frame is rusted out...

i have no clue why id ever think of something like that...haha


T shirts anyone ?

Prop
prop

As expected, the worm can is on the cusp of opening! Can't find any seats with my trim colour, which leaves me to have to buy some seats for the frames, then new foams and covers as there is no point putting old faded ones on!
Karl Bielby

Karl is there new seat back foam available? I've been on the look out for my midget (will save splitting a seat on the spare to make a good one) but haven't found any yet.
J White

J

Try PJM Motors...

http://www.pjmautotrimmers.co.uk/7080.html
Dave O'Neill 2

I haven't looked into it properly,but looks like it on the above link. 25 quid.

The foams aren't bad at all on mine to be fair, more the faded autumn/cream/whatever it is vinyl..
Karl Bielby

Karl it may seem daunting to disassemble the seat but it turns out be quite straightforward, you have to remove the old covers anyway. according to Arnie "you can do it"
when you have then apart think about replacing the old rubber straps underneath (late model seats, you may have springs??)
cheers
Rod
R W Bowers

Cheers rod, I was thinking about this yesterday and I have nothing to loose be having a go! Them maybe try and cobble come sort of repair together.
Karl Bielby

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2016 and 20/05/2016

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