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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - What's wrong with my door lock?

Fitting new locks in my door and they don't work. The end of the lock where the fork is moves up and down so when you turn the key and it tensions up it rides up the rod instead of moving the mechanism. Anyone know what the problem is?

If I bent the fork flat I think it would work ok but it must be bent in a dog leg for a reason.

Here's a short movie. I know you all like movies and pics. http://youtu.be/g2G8ozaXVP0

Greg H

Does the rod move easily with direct finger pressure?

A
Anthony Cutler

Yes rod moves ok and internal lock mechanism works fine. Just the fork floats up and down so sometimes it just works or slips over the top. If I hold the fork down so it doesn't ride up it works ok. Odd the the fork floats up and down. Both locks do it so I think the way they're meant to be.
Greg H

Hi
it looks like the lever was installed on your key cylinder backwards. Try flipping it over and perhaps that will fix it.

When I bought new key cylinders ("locks") the levers were mis-installed, and the little slot on it that controlled the range of motion was also a little bit short. I took it off, filed the notch until it stroked the lock lever fully, and every thing was fine after that.

There have been some folks over at the MG Experience in the US who have also seen this, and MOSS has put a stop shipment on selling new cylinders until they get it sorted out. The maker is the same one who made them for BMC back in the '60s, so they must have simply screwed up.

Confirming them before assembly, like you did, is a wise precaution for any new part, isn't it?

Norm


Norm Kerr

Agree with Norm. I just looked at the online Moss catalogue to confirm and your fork is on upside down.

Bernie.
b higginson

IIRC MGB levers are the other way round - i.e. tne way yours are.
D O'Neill

I checked with originals and they were upside down so flipped them over and all sorted. Thanks. Norm what would be easier, would be if the manufacture checked it before they shipped it. i.e. some form of quality assurance. A bit of a novel idea.

I checked the suppliers website and their pics are how they should be with correct part numbers so no issue there.

Gees it's hard, although I think the rest of the car will be so much easy because it's just not and bolts. So only one thing to remember lefty loosey, righty tighty. :)
Greg H

This thread was discussed between 15/11/2011 and 16/11/2011

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