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MG MG Y Type - Steering column slip ring contacts

I suspect that the subject matter of this message details a common ailment and I apologise if it's been covered before.

Since I've had my YT the horn push on the steering wheel has never worked and therefore an extra switch has been fitted under the dash that operates the horn. Five minutes with a multi-meter pinpointed the problem as being with the slip-ring unit on the steering column which obviously came as no surprise.

Now as the YT only uses one of the four slip ring contacts for the horn (there being no traficators) I thought "I know - if I connect all four of the contacts together on each side of the slip-ring unit then with any luck (even if the contacts are a bit dodgy) at least one of the rings should be making electrical contact at any particular point in the turn of the steering column and hey-presto, faultless horn push operation."

So I finally got around to removing the steering column this weekend (as that's the only way to access the slip ring assembly) in order to investigate the problem. Unfortunately on removing the sleeve of the unit I was confronted with the remains of the sprung contact "pins" looking very sorry for themselves. Three of the four sprung contacts were nigh-on missing (either broken off or simply worn down to nothing) and the fourth was very worn and looked unlikey to provide reliable connection or in fact any connection at all.

Please is anybody able to offer advice as to a (simple) means of fixing or refurbishing these contact springs? Or perhaps at alternative method of running the electrics down the steering column?

I'm sure I'm a long way from being the only one with this problem.
I just feel sorry for you chaps with saloons where you have to keep all four of the contacts functioning perfectly (unless you've copped-out and converted to flashing indicators running off another switch).

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

Hi Saul

Yes - its a problem!

You should be using 2 of the four: horn, left, right, and return. That will also be a part of the problem.

If you get the datasheet - Y SHEET 1 STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICS all will be revealed, including how to reassemble the assembly.

Good luck

Paul
Paul Barrow

Paul,
I don't think I need more than one of the four contacts do I?
Surely a YT just uses one and that's for the horn.
Please explain your reasoning.

Also (though I don't actually own a copy) I have previously had a look at the datasheet and don't remember it shedding much light (it being mainly geared toward the saloon set-up).
I don't think I need anything "revealing" I just need to know how to repair the slip ring contacts.
If you can guarantee that the datasheet will tell me something useful that I don't already know (like how to fix it) then I will happily splash out on a copy.

Also surely re-assembley is just the reverse procedure to how I dismantled it? ;-)

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

I repaired my slip ring contacts back in the early 1980's and they still work OK. What happens as has been said is that the contacts wear flat and fail to touch the brass rings set into the outer part of the 'slip ring' system. What I did was to have new contacts made up by a Lucas agent - apparently an auto electrician of some skill can do this - you must remeber that the material you use has to be softer than the brass in the outer slip ring otherwise it will wear a groove in it (the brass) - I did originally intend to solder on the 'points' from a contact breaker set (to the inner worn contacts of the slip ring system) but these points are so 'hard' that they will wear the brass away in the outer bit - if that makes sense. 'Soft'(well softer than the brass rings in the outer body) deposits of "solder like material" - not sure what exactly- deposited on the old contact surfaces worked fine for me but it was done for me by an auto electrician to whom I had explained the problem and the workings of the Y slip ring trafficator system etc. This was only required for 2 of the inner contacts as the other 2 were fine on my car.. Hope this is of some help.Aas I recall it did not cost me that much but it was 20 years+ ago and in a local Lucas agent.
David Mullen

Saul

My rationale is simple - 4 contact points, four wires in the stator tube, one left, one right, one horn, one power feed/return (depending on your grounding).

Provided you measured all the required distances correctly, and you know how to ensure correct alignment of the slip rings, you are correct you have no need of the book. I didnt measure all the distances properly, and even with the help of the book still got the connection alignments wrong 4 times in terms of putting it back together (not connecting the wires - that's easy).

As David mentions electrical solder is to hard a compound if you have to buil from scratch.

Personally for the £3 plus post involved, I was VERY glad of the use of the datasheet and do not begrudge spending the money for it, nor for any of the very cheap data sheets we provide.

Good luck,

Paul
Paul Barrow

I believe (on the YT at least) the horn push on the steering wheel closes the contact between the single wire (running from one side of the horn up via the slip rings) and ground - which is provided down through the steering column not through a return wire via the slip rings.

I think the other three slip ring contacts are nothing to do with the horn at all, are unused on the YT and I assume therefore all for use with the saloon's trafficators. I could be wrong however.

All advice though is gratfully received. I was joking about "splashing out" on the datasheet and of course know how cheap and what good value they all are. I'm just a bit blinded at the moment as to whether or not the sheet might be of use to me simply due to not being able to see past the initial problem of what a poor state my sprung contacts are in.

I have a couple of photos if anybody wants to be amused at quite how knackered they can get.

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

Saul

On the US Export version of the YT the steering wheel humb has the clockwork turn signal control and this uses the other 3 wires for the left and right turn signal lights. THe fender (wing) lights are dual element, and if I remember correctly the rear fender lights were originally just turn signals. On mine I have dual element bulbs in these also.

FWIW

Larry
49 YT since 1961
Larry Hallanger

Larry: On the YT EXU the rear lights which are flared into the fenders are Lucas 482 and operate as running, brake and turn signal light. That is the reason for the complex relay system.The D lamps function as running and reverse lamps.If you use halogen bulbs in both it makes a 500% diference to visability for following cars. On the YT EXU all terminals on the slip ring are used. Mine wore out about 10 years ago, and I can't find anyone locally who think they are able to repair it, so I have bypassed it both for the horn and signals. At some point sometime I hope to find a new slipring. Terry YT since 1956.
Terry O'Brien

Apologies Saul, I was going completely from memory - not a good thing! Checking back, Saloons and YT/EXUs are 4 wires - Trafficator common feed in, left out, right out, and horn. All other YTs are single wire.

Hope this clarifies the wiring.

As to removal and refit - they are tricky to align on refit - if not careful you can get out of alignment and shorting problem - hence the need for care in measurement for placement and reassembly - both covered in the data sheet.

If the arms are shot, you may be able to get a fabricator to make up a new one from brass, but as David points out - the contact bubble should be a soft material too.
Paul Barrow

Terry

Mine came without the relay system, and I didn't even realize until a couple of years ago that it was supposed to have it.

Oh, the things the POs have done to these cars.

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Does any body know, starting from the stearing wheel end the sequence of the 4 wire contacts?
I have managed to pull all my wires out and need a bit of a guide.
Steve Randle

Steve

You have email.

Larry
49 YT
Larry Hallanger

There are three little screws that secure the slip-ring cover to the steering shaft. Undo them, turn the ring cover through one-third of a revolution, and refit the screws. You will now present an unworn part of the slip ring to its contact. Repeat this in another 50 years time.

Neil.
Neil Cairns

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2005 and 24/02/2005

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