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MG MGA - 1600 Rear lights

I have a job to do on a 1600 rear light setup and have the following questions

1. What is the thread on the screws that hold the indicator light assembly to the plinth. The usual suspects list either nothing or a self tapper, but the plinth is clearly threaded.

2. I have received a set of the seals for between the plinth and rear fender, but they are about a centimetre too short and about the same too narrow. They will be rejected back to Leacy Classics, but can anyone suggest a source of known good ones?

Thanks
Dominic
Dominic Clancy

Dominic

I believe those screws are 2BA. I can remove one and check if you wish.

I bought plinth seals from Moss and the fit was OK after some manipulation but no cutting.

Cheers

Dave
Bolney Coupe

1) SPL lists PMZ0308

And the BMC fasteners decode gives

Phillips recessed screw - UNF pan head (filister head), zinc finish, No.10 x 1/2"

( No. 10 = 3/16" )

2) I got the seals from Bob West. Better. but still not exact.

Cheers,
Jim
120:0:2

Thanks for the replies, but I need the screw thread for the upper light. This is show as 16 in Plate N10 here as PTZ604

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/books/spl/spl_1600_n.pdf

they are much smaller than the screws for the lower stop / sidelight fixing, PMZ0308, which is either 2BA or 10-32 (both fit easily)
Dominic Clancy

Hi Dominic
Just been out to the garage and taken a screw out of my rear light and found that it is a PK screw.!! Brown and Gammons state that it is an AB606041, Moss state N0.6 ½" long.
So maybe there is a difference to your plinths.
Brian
Brian Paddon

My mistake, Dominic, I was looking at the screw for the stop/tail light.

The indicator light unit screw is PTZ604, which I think will be a No.6 x 1/4" 'self-tapping'. It goes into a spire nut PFS326; the hole in the plinth is drilled through, and not tapped.
120:0:2

OK, the 3 screws are 0.137" diameter which is 4BA and which is virtually interchangeable with 6:40 at 0.136" diameter. Pitch is almost identical too. So you can take your pick or bodge in with a self tapper.

Cheers

Dave
Bolney Coupe

Hmmm... something odd about the SPL.
That definitely lists item 16 on N10 as Screw PTZ604, with Nut PFS 326.

It would seem bizarre to use a those when the stop/tail light used a machine screw into a tapped hole. ( PMZ0308 No.10 UNF x 1/2" )

I've just braved a cold garage, and agree with Dave that yes they are machine screws.
Mine measure about 0.111" major diameter, which will be No.4 UNF. 0.138" will be No.6 UNF. ( Possibly the larger size used in a hole that had got worn ? ). Easy enough for Dominic to try them and see which fits. ( Which is how I size unknown tapped holes )

Highly unlikely to be BA, although as Dave says, 4BA and No.6 are very close.
120:0:2

Leacy tells me that the plinth seals are the same from every supplier. Moss price is double that of Leacy! The Moss order has been placed and I will report on any differences when they turn up.
Dominic Clancy

The Moss plinth seals turned up today, and are a world different.

For a start they are silver plastic, and the Leacy ones look brown against them

Then they are a full 6mm longer than the Leacy ones, and 3mm wider along the entire length

Also the Moss ones have a uniform curve to the shape, and the beading around the edge is also constant in profile and width. The Leacy ones are irregular on all counts.

Photo attached, Leacy seal at the top, fresh out of the bag.

The Moss ones fit the plinths, the Leacy ones don't.

So if buying ask for a check on the colour. If they are described as grey rather than silver, steer clear.
Dominic Clancy

forgot the picture. I took this at a slight angle to avoid shadows, the size difference is not as extreme as it looks, but enough to make the Leacy supplied variant a no-go.

Is anyone else selling the same seal as Leacy?

Dominic Clancy

Dominic

Did you ever find the correct screws, and if you did what were the diameter and thread?

Cheers

Dave
Bolney Coupe

The 4BA screws I ordered were too small. I will probably use self tappers when I get back to the job in a month or so - I am on a diving vacation till the end of the month and then have a waiting list to get done first. The plinths need to be painted first as well.
Dominic Clancy

Moss one looks exactly mine which I got in mid 70s and fits. Could be early repro but pre Moss so probably original.

Paul
Paul Dean

This thread was discussed between 12/02/2017 and 13/03/2017

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