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MG TD TF 1500 - Length od wiper studs

The studs of the wiper motor are as long as the shaft. Should the studs be shortened or is there a reason for this length?

W_Mueller

That is the same length that where on our TD (1953). I shortened them the first time I worked on the wiper on our car. I don't know if they were correct or not, I just thought they looked dorky - like something that someone jury rigged the mounting. Cheers - Dave
D.W. DuBois

I have seen original wiper motors NIB for sale and they come with several very thick spacers for different applications, and likely studs for the longest possible use. I would cut off the inside end, leaving the finished/rounded ends as you have now. Dave is right that they look dorky! George
George Butz

This is a NOS wiper motor still in its original box. Note the cylinders with the 4 grub screws used to dress the wiper motor studs. I had these chromed & have fitted them. They may not have been original on the T Types but they are period correct LUCAS fittings. I can easily imagine that if they were fitted originally they wouldn't have lasted in position for very long as they would have been easily misplaced, pinched or shaken off. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Nice one Peter. Like you I doubt there are many left in place.

It is not a decision I have to make, (mine is a TF), but a neat solution would be to cut the studs to length and use plated acorn nuts as a lock nuts.

Kind regards
Michael
M R Calvert

Thanks for all hints!

I guess I'll shorten the studs and use chrome plated acorn nuts. Does anyone know the exact thread size or where to buy such nuts in U.S.A.? Here in D it will be difficult.
W_Mueller

Probably a bsf size (someone will say). Acorn nuts are also called dome nuts. May be easier to find in stainless steel than chrome. You could look on the websites of several sellers of nuts and bolts before finding them in bsf sizes, but there are plenty on ebay uk.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I think they could be 3BA which is 4.10mm.I have tried an M4 nut and it will only go on about 1 1/2 turns. The thread on my motor is 3.91mm on one side and 3.96mm on the other side measured with a micrometer. The nut on the wiper motor will screw right onto an M4 nut but not vice versa. The smallest BSF on my list is 3/16" which is too big. A thread gauge measurement on the motor shows the tpi to be 34 which would also suggest 3BA.
A possible source if my assumption should prove correct would be:
http://www.stainlessautomotivefastenings.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6986


Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

If its smaller than 3/16bsf its unlikely to be a bsf size. A 3BA nut will be 7.25mm across the flats or thereabouts. Well spotted finding a potential source Declan, such a beast is hard to find - the GPO preferred odd BA sizes, but few others used them.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thank you Dave and special thank to Declan for your measurement.



W_Mueller

The studs and other pieces are there on a new wiper motor because they were used on a very large number of different vehicles from 1933 onward.
The studs may be cut and left just long enough to protrude through the mounting block, the cork gaskets, the trim piece on the outside of the windscreen frame, and the securing nuts.

The studs are most definitely 3BA.
Lew Palmer


OK, So what is their correct length for a TD? Does anyone know without assembling everything and just cutting off the excess. I think some I have may be too short?
Richard Cameron

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2017 and 28/05/2017

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