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I have gotten m 66 sprite to run well and sound great. Now if only I can get rid of all those suspension squeaks. Anybody have experience getting rid of them - silicone spray, replace bushings, ??? "slacsteve2000 " 17419... MORE


I had a lot of annoying squeaks that stopped when I sprayed the leaf springs well with WD40. I suggest trying that first and see if it quiets down. Don "Don May" 17420... MORE


Mine did this bad. Replaced rear springs and problem went away. Even though they looked ok. "stanley hill" 17413... MORE


Hello all listers, And let me be the last to wish all of you a mechanically sound year (that goes for the spridget too). Does anyone have a clue as to why the midget (mk3) pulls to the left on acceleration and veer to the right on deceleration? I've recently replaced the brake pads on the rear wheels, but I can't see this influencing the drive characteristics. In the summer I rebuilt the engine, and now that it's run in I give it more welly, but I can't imagine the engine producing so much power that it torques the... MORE


There is nothing quite so sweet as that low resonance sound of a spridget when running well. I had neglected the MK1 for several weeks because of bad weather but yesterday started it up to take it out for a run around the block. Did not expect much in the way of engine performance. It has been constant cleaning, adjusting and tinkering to get it to run well after its previous owner had let it sit in a garage for 16 years without starting it. The moment it kicked over yesterday there was no doubt everything had fallen into... MORE


Thorvald... I hope you are "right" on this problem and I am "wrong"!! :) Better the simply fixed U-bolts than the rear spring attachment points, any day!! :) Cap'n. Bob (Ret'd) '60 Frog PilotRob@... 17403... MORE


Olly..... Under normal circumstances, stock or "tuned" Spridgets don't "torque steer". Check all engine and driveline mounts for security, but I've got a funny feeling..... I'd check the rear springs, again...especially the attachment points. Cap'n. Bob (Ret'd) '60 Frog PilotRob@... 17402... MORE


The loop end of the cotter pin was in the back piston and the other ends wrapped around the front pin. There is no sign that the cotter pin broke, more like it unwrapped from the front piston pin. Looks like the cotter pin ends were wrapped around the front pin in opposing directions. If I knew what the correct spacing between the pistons are I would know if I can simply rewrap the ends or fabricate a new linkage of the correct length. Do you know what the spacing between the pistons is in a good unit? Don... MORE


Bob, and all Have the nylon washer out now and have removed the pistons. The rear piston was not attached to the front by anything. The manuals I have do not show the wire, or what ever, that wraps around the pins at the end of the front piston to the front of the rear piston. There is what looks to be a cotter pin attached around the rear piston pin but loose. I have no idea how long it is suppose to be, the distance between the front and rear piston, or how compressed the spring is supposed... MORE


According to Horler the 950 Innocenti used engines with the prefix 9CA-U-H or 9CB-U-H. ( The "U" means a center change lever gearbox and the "H" means high compression. I can find no reference to a 9D prefix . Could it be 9CB and the C is not ledgible and D you see is actually a B? George Stronghilos 17365... MORE


Once I used compressed air to remove the insides of a clutch slave cylinder, had never done it before, zapped it with 80 lbs of air pressure . . . I found the spring a month later during a major shop clean up. :-) I was lucky that time, it was not pointed at me and I had a spare slave to rob one from. Now I do not use 80lb, I don't point it at myself, and I make sure I have some rags wrapped over the end. Don "Don May" 17351... MORE


I am overhauling the dual cylinder master cylinder from the 69 midget. Having a problem here. I have removed the spriolox retaining ring and the outer spring then with some effort removed the circlip which should release the Nylon guide bearing and seal and allow me to remove the rest of the internal parts . . . can't get the nylon guide to come out Ahhhhhhh! cleaned around it, pushed in and quickly released the plunger so it would act as sort of a hammering effect on the rear of the nylon seal. Still cannot get it to come... MORE


It is that cross member that the steering rack and the transfer pipe are attached to that is bent back on this car. The previous owner must have hit some deep pot holes or curbs because that tubular cross member is bent inward about a quarter of an inch or more toward the engine making it almost impossible to remove the belt. There is no sign that the car was damaged from stricking anything with the bumper. That is why I am thinking of parting out the car because I do not want to invest the money to cut... MORE


Terry Horler's book gives the reason for the change as being to make room for the air injector pump and associated gubbins. The transfer pipe for the crossflow rad is actually a separate item from the steering rack but is fitted to the same crossmember mountings. Regards David "David Jacobs" 17316... MORE


Either way, Don... The '67's had the 1275 with the downflow while later models used the xflow which was a "closed" system with it's own overflow tank, through which the system is filled. I've had an alum. downflow for the past two years and my PO'd '67 Sprite had the stock downflow so I'm a little rusty in the xflow dept. I seem to recall the xflow's steering rack incorporating a crossflow tube whereas the downflow cars didn't. However, this facet of the installation can be easily attended to by other means I'm sure. There are those who feel... MORE


Good questions!! Do I think the RWA (Round Wheel Arch - as it appies to the rear wheel openings, Don) '73/74's are worth more? Yes, I do because IMHO, RWA Spridget's look far sportier and more well balanced, though I love 'em all. 'Course, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder, and it is the beholder who will be doing the buying, in the event. Anyhow, since RWA Spridgets were made for only two years, I would guess there would be fewer of them than their "square" brothers/sisters. Supposedly, structural strength was the issue in terms of going... MORE


I suppose we have all heard stories of getting a SU fuel pump started with hammers, crowbars, lug wrenches, or any object capable of delivering a blow. The 69 Midget I am working on at the moment has been sitting since 1980 and the fuel pump did not respond to any blow tactics. Curious that I am I opened it and found the culprit. There are points that are attached to the end of a fine spring metal ban. Most points that ark develop deposits on their surfaces and soon their ability to conduct current diminishes if not stops... MORE


From Colin Dodds... G'day Steve et al Funny you should be having problems with the fulcrum pins (which I assume to be the outer ones at the bottom of the king pins). Just yesterday I was helping a customer remove his. One side came out under duress and three broken screwdriver blades. The other wouldn't budge. The king pin moved fine, but the fulcrum pin was siezed onto it. So the fulcrum pin also moved fine in the threads of the wishbone, but only through about 1/4 of a turn as we couldn't seperate the fulcrum pin from the... MORE


Sorry chaps in view of the recent correspondance re Brakes, I will add my tuppenyworth to the list now as it appears appropriate. ...................................... Ref. The brake shoe springs are supposed to pull the shoes back from the drum and their close relationship is governed by the proper adjustment of the brakes, via the adjuster. ......................................................................................... If each wheel cylinder has two rubber seals, why don't they auto retract and bring the brake shoes off the drum, LIKE THE FRONT CALIPER SEALS ARE ALLEGED TO DO ? Unless things have changed since I worked for Lockheed Brake Co. and... MORE


I can't tell which fulcrum pins you;re talking about, but if you are referring to the ones for the king pin, they are screwed in. You can't drive them out with a punch no matter how much heat you apply. The ones in the frame have rubber bushings with metal sleeves. Those frequently will rust onto the pins. A good penetrant and some patience is you best first shot. If that doesn't work, a torch will help, but you'll make a hell of a toxic sting from the burning rubber bushes. On the pistons, it would be a mistake... MORE


I am having a tough time getting the fulcrum pins out, and yes I did remove the pins that keep them from rotating. They were rusted in and it took a hammer and punch to get them out. I am reluctant to get out the torch and heat these up, but that looks like the last resort, any suggestions? Also, my car has a Spitfire engine in it, how does one differentiate between the 7.2, 8.5 and 9.1 compression pistons? I want the 9.1's when I am finished with the rebuild. The cylinder measures right on the money for... MORE


I've never had wire wheels before, or I should say, never had a car with wire wheels. Therefore I am ignorant about the things. The 69 Midget I am working on has them. 1. Do they use tubes? Reason I ask is the spare that came with the car is loosing air where the spokes enter the rim. What seals all the areas where the spokes enter the rims? Haven't removed the old tire from it yet to explore and figure it out. 2. These are filthy. I am very good at cleaning things but never hurts to ask... MORE


I know it may sound mad, but make sure all the return springs are in place and working. Over a period of time the heat shield tends to cut through them, resulting in over reving. Other than that make sure the pistons are dropping back correctly (that is if you have SU's) You can check by operating the lifting pins on the side of the carb body. Check the colour of your sparking plugs to see what state the mixture is in also. R "Roger Stinson" 17172... MORE


What happens if you pull down on the throttle return springs? If the idle drops, try replacing the springs. The could be losing their tension when they get warm. Also, you should have 3 springs; one at each butterfly and one at the center on your throttle cable connection. Try also to see if you can push the jets up when this condition exists. Sometimes they get stuck partway down and will cause the same rich condition as having the choke on. Gerard "gerardchateau " 17164... MORE


Well, shes been sitting for 8 to 10 yrs, only my aging back caused me to quit driving! British Racing Green(originally mallard green)with tan seats. Heres my plan, Squirt marvel mystery oil down the spark plug holes to prepare the engine for a hand turnover via the fan blade bolt and a long ratchet(hope its not too hard to turn). I tried inflating to flat tires and only two inflated. I guess I will have to take the wheels off to get the other two to inflate as tubeless bead arent making a good seal, maybe I can just... MORE