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MG MGB Technical - Instrument Rheostat

The rheaostat has seized on my 1977 b roadster. Replacement parts seam rather expensive and as i never dim these lights on any of my cars i'm inclined to either put an on /off swtich in its place or simply do away with it altogether.

Any one had any experience of this?
andrew

Andrew,

I took mine out and put an intermittent wiper control in its place. The wires that ran to the old rheostat simply connect to each-other.

FWIW,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

Andrew

I removed mine last week took it apart and cleaned it, it is now working fine. If you don,t want it at all you should be able to move the connectors on the back to bypass the reostat. I removed the tacho to give me access.

Carl
C Bintcliffe

Allen,

Do you still know the source and cost of the intermittent upgrade?

Charley
C R Huff

Charley,

Moss #161-250 @ $64.95. But LBcarCo lists them for $55.21. Very useful device - one of the best upgrades I've made. Slightly awkward as it's not integrated with the stalk-switch, but I've used it a lot and I like it.

Allen
Allen Bachelder

Charley,

Some years back I fitted a Smartscreen obtained from the MGOC. It's completely hidden and gives an easy to use variable intermittent wipe. You flick the ordinary wiper switch once, then flick it again when you want another wipe, from then on it wipes at that interval until you cancel it or change the time. I'd definitely recommend it.

Miles.
Miles Banister

I think Andrew is talking about the instrument light dimmer. I took mine out of circuit 10 years ago and don't miss it at all. It's left in the dash for cosmetic reasons.
Stan Best

Many have bypassed the rheostat by connecting all the wires that go to the switch on one side of the switch.
Kimberly

Thanks Allen and Miles. I have copied and saved the info.

When I get all of the necessities taken care of on the new roadster, I would like to have that luxury item.

Charley
C R Huff

Stan,

You're right about Andrew. I'm only suggesting an alternative use of the location - which is not only cosmetic, it's useful. ' Didn't mean to hijack the thread. ' Sorry about that...

Cheers,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

They are expensive for the use they are, and all three cars I have had with them have come to me burnt out. I used to think they couldn't handle the load, but none of them burnt out again in my ownership and that includes one of the cars being a daily driver in the winter dark night and morning for long journeys for many years. They *will* burn out of the dash lights short out for any reason as they are unfused, so maybe that is what happened.

If you don't need the location then simply bypass it - for maximum brightness as many of them don't give that when in circuit - as has been suggested. On some years this is easier than others as there are two male spades for each connection on the rheostat and only one male spade each side, so it is simply a case of moving one spade from its connection to the 'spare' spade on the other side. Other years have two *wires* one side, if these are on separate spades you would have to do a bit of jiggery-pokery to join all three together.

Like Miles I have the Smartscreen on both my roadster and V8 and have no need for space for an additional control, they really are excellent. However I jibbed at paying an extra £18 or just so the wipers would automatically wipe when I used the washers. Web site: http://www.smart-screen.co.uk/ It allows selectio of any periodicty between about once per 3 secs and once per 30 secs. My 1989 Celica only had four switchable rates and I often found I needed to be between two of them ideally. Byt my 2004 ZS only has one rate and that is a apoin, so much so I'm thinking of getting another Smartscreen for that as well.

By now you may be thinking I have some connection with the company, I do, but only as a satisfied customer.
Paul Hunt

I have a 'smart finger' - I use it to flick the wiper switch on and off whenever the screen needs wiping!

Seriously, I bypassed the rheostat. Five minute job and the lighs are much brighter. Used the space for an oil pressure warning light.

N
:-)
Neil

Like every few seconds, Neil, for mile after mile? I use mine on intermittent noticeably more than on constant, I hate the wipers scraping back and fore when there isn't enough to wipe off. Saves a lot of wear on the blades and mechanism as well.
Paul Hunt

Paul, I was being silly. N
Neil

This thread was discussed between 18/11/2008 and 22/11/2008

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