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Thanks Jeffrey That little flat is useless! I've put a wrench on that flat and it's simply not enough to stop the wrench from just rounding off. We're talking major seized lock nut here, I need to get some serious whooooooooooooomph on that lock nut and I can't do it. I've soaked it in penetrating fluid, I've heated it up for about 20 mins, but I just cannot get purchase on it. I guess I'll end up having to grind it off, which I hate doing because more times than not it damages the thread underneath rendering it unuseable.... MORE
HI ONE FRONT SHOCK I REMOVED FROM MY CAR FELT DEAD BUT I HELD IT VERTICALY IN THE VICE AND WORKED IT BACK AND FORWARD THE AIR BUBLED OUT AND IT FEELS FINE. IT APEARES THAT THEY DON'T "SELF BLEED" WHEN FITED BUT NEED TO BE WORKED IN THE CORRECT ORIENTATION TO DRIVE THE AIR OUT BEFORE FITING. PREHAPS TRY THIS ON THE DUFF ONE AND IT MAY BE OK GOOD LUCK ROB "denniseagle2002" 26556... MORE
Hi Trying to put the 'chrome' strip back on the sill of 1972 midget using new retaining clips. The ones supplied are far too small and fail to retain th e strip, good job I tried them first before pop riveting them to the sill. Anyone else had this problem or is this just a bad batch of clips. I get them from a local MG bit and pieces enthusiasts shop, think they come from same source as MGOC. I got an original BMC workshop manual for Midget/Spri te for =A310 from him yesterday. Just had to re exchange... MORE
I am at last a stage where I am trying to install parts on the car. When the old ones were removed, a mere 15 or so years ago, everything seemed so logical & it appeared that everything would just pop right back in place. Sound familiar? I kept all my old brake pipes etc. labelled everything & took lots of photos. However I didn't take enough. Is there anybody with a frogeye in the midlands who would let me photograph every inch of their car? It doesn't have to be perfect, mine won't be. My list of detailed... MORE
Bill, Yes, had similar problems when I installed my Moss sourced Roll Bar on my Mk IV Sprite. The main problem was the side parts of the hood (top in US lingo as opposed to bonnet!) frame fouling the lower parts of the roll bar as the frame was finally lowered onto the wheel arch pads, ie the last 6" or so. I cured this as others have suggested, by gently bending the offending parts of the hood frame outwards until I got a a good clearance. Does not seem to have changed the shape or weather tightness of... MORE
Oh yes! I know that feeling too. Doing jobs on these cars can be frustrating at times. With regard to the Midget though, I only have myself to blame, being the present owner and also the 'daft previous owner' . Having said that, when it was still quite new, the garage who serviced it (and supplied it, The Bedford Garage, in Exeter Devon U.K. - no longer in existence, by the way) failed to lubricate the king pins properly, leading to them seizing up, so I resolved to do my own servicing, spending the remainder of what I would... MORE
Jeremy There's no grit from what I can see, it has an inner metal disc over the top of the grease protecting it. I'll probably scoop off about 1/2 an inch worth off the top and throw it away, so hopefully that'll leave virgin stuff. Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 26500... MORE
Hi guys Sorry for another naive question! Once I've got the bearings out of the hub, I'll be in a position to start reassembling the front suspension. This is a fairly general question, but what kind of grease/anti-seize compound should I be using to assemble the suspension? Actually thats two questions - What kind of grease should I be using to assemble the suspension components?, and what kind of anti-seize compound should I be using on threads and nuts? Generic 'types' would be most useful, as brand names tend to be meaningless if they're only available in the US.... MORE
Nigel, the outer bearing should come out through the splined end, and since this is the smaller diameter, it's easier to do this one first, with a drift from the large diameter side.The large, inner comes out the brake disc side. If they are not moving at all, you can usually break up the bearings just leaving the outer races which you then VERY carefully grind through with a die grinder or similar. Regards David "David Jacobs" 26460... MORE
Nigel, You've removed the dust cover and the cotter pin (you call it something else) and the castleated nut, right? I believe you have to remove the caliper so the whole hub will slide off. Then you take a suitable drift and drive out the bearing from the other side. This is working from a 35 year old memory of having done this, but I'm sure I will be corrected if necessary. RH ...those idiots at the NRA, not only do they think the second amendment gives them the right to own guns, they think the first amendment gives... MORE
Listers, one and all. For the past few years we've had a group of enthusiasts gather in Madison WI (USA) for a bit of post-Thanksgiving turkey Sprite dismantling and/or rebuilding called Save Our Sprites. These "events" take place the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28,29 this year) and are viewable over the internet through some video magic. (details later) We hope to improve that this year with faster service for better interaction. In the past, those who wanted to contribute, but couldn't attend, offered food and beverage from their locality. We've had some great variety from scrapple to... MORE
Pete, I would endorse Gerard's advice and any others who have suggested the resleeving route. I took their advice around March and had mine resleeved by "Joe" (as I recall, Joe Way) at Sierra Specialties. (Somewhere back early this year in the archive for this list are some threads about resleeving.) The MC really didn't look that bad to me when I took it out, but folks had suggested that some fine pitting not easily seen could be a cause of a soft pedal. It came back from SS immaculate, and after reassembly, the firmness of the pedal was... MORE
You might try going through the group archives, Pete. A while back there was a bit of discussion about having the master cylinder resleeved. That has got to be a lot better priced than buying a new unit. I can remember the name of the place that was said to be avoided but I couldn't locate quickly the place that was recommended. Good luck, Nelson in Medina, Ohio Mk 2 Sprite pieces "Nelson Wittstock" 26419... MORE
Fellow spridgeteers, Just noticed a very slight leak from my dual line master cylinder (78 midget 1500), and it appears I'm going to have to bite the bullet and order a new one from Moss or VB for the handsome price of 200 clams. I checked with Dick Burger at the BPC, and he is willing to part with one for a slightly better sum of ~190 (delivered). Here's the question line. Is it worth my while to order the repair kit, and attempt to fix this (knowing the paramount issue here is safety), or if not, which vendor... MORE
funny amount of positive camber. I did this at an event one time many many years ago. I had help from a friend who should have also known better. We both were on the receiving end of lots of jibes and laughs from all the other club members who witnessed our folly!!! You can check: http://www.ahsdc.org/goblins/tech/frontend.htm for some diagnostics courtesy of the late Bob Gill and Gillspeed. If you don't find anything seriously wrong, then it is time to inspect the engine bay for signs of a smack on the front left side. (substitute front right side in case... MORE
Do you smell gas when driving of if the car is parked? If no puddles, no smell, no pools of fluid on the engine then are you sure you are losing fuel? Could it be the gauge? Fill it up drive home...Park it...next day go back and fill her up again. How much is gone? More than normal for that trip? Could someone be stealing your gas out of the tank? Bill French Hilton Head frenchww@... 26366... MORE
Hi, Gerard... Good to hear from you....glad you are doing OK and hopefully, things will get better with seniority as you stay longer and move up the ladder. Meanwhile you're earning a (hard earned) buck until maybe an opportunity presents itself in your real field. But yes, as least you've got an income in the meantime and as far as jobs go, it's a seller's market for sure so I too, would consider myself fortunate in your position. Hummer did it right but......... ...a rollover stability system is much needed on SUV's from the two accidents I've seen in... MORE
Hi All. I haven't had much time to write, but I wanted to share a driving experience I had last week. As most of you know I recently started a job selling new Volvo, Audi, Mazda and Audi cars. I've been out for some neighborhood romps in the Audi TT and the Mazda RX8, both of which are a gas to drive, but I had the rare opportunity to get a test track training from Volvo last week. They rented out a large section of tarmac at Alameda Naval Air Station and set up two coned off test tracks.... MORE
I have not seen the manual but what happens when the main hydraulic system fails is the leveling suspension system and the brake system are on the same hydraulic line from the main reservoir. When the car is moving it is in the up leveling position so the pressure from the weight of the car lowering after main hydraulic system failure provides enough hydraulic pressure for the braking system to come to a safe immediate stop. Immediate being the key word. Once the car lowers nothing but the emergency brake works. Don "Don May" 26305... MORE
Rick writes, in part, "Does the owner's manual contain suggestions...." LMAO! In the SAAB 340 I flew the "red" hydraulic light (steering, landing gear and flaps) came on when you had lost all your "main" hydraulic fluid. The emergency action item for this event was "Hydraulic Pump Switch to OFF (from AUTO) which was hilarious as at 3,000psi, you could never in a million years get to the switch in time....a completely useless red light if there ever was one!! :) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26295... MORE
My Brother-in-law just bought a 72 Citroen DS 21, the gauges are Jaeger Electronique. . . . It like ridding on air sitting on overstuffed living room couches. It has a central hydraulic system that runs the suspension, transmission, power steering and brakes . . . an inch and a half round red warning indicator is in the center of one of the gauges labeled "STOP", needless to say it is the hydraulic failure indicator. Being Scotch, Irish, French and German, and who knows what else I have a broad range of folks I can be politically incorrect with.... MORE
I have a restored 60 Bugeye that I bought from a P.O. that had stripped, primmered the body, and installed the disc brakes, rear end, and brake system(new), had the engine, transmission, rear end rebuilt, bought ALL NEW chrome and glass for the car. I am self employed at an obscene hourly wage, so I don't work very much ($100.00 hr), so I had my car painted and then I assembled, re- painted, Bought & painted hardtop, re-painted car, repainted car & hardtop, in 14 months with a total cost (me + P.O.) of 18,000 in parts and labor... MORE
I've started to install the carpet in the Sprite and found that the heel pad on the driver side might be in the wrong place, to keep it in the right place the end of the carpet on the firewall does not come up to the right level. This is indicated by the location of the carpet snaps. Does anyone have an image of the drivers side carpet installation that they could send me? Thanks. Martyn meastwood1@ cfl.rr.com "Martyn Eastwood" 26097... MORE
Martin, where does the rear edge come in relation to the cross member in front of the seat when the heel pad is in the 'correct' position? That's what I used as a datum point for mine. David "David Jacobs" 26117... MORE
Any dot 4 brake fluid will do. You're not a doofus. The doofuses are the ones who don't ask the questions . We all didn't know this stuff once. "Jeremy Cogman" 26003... MORE
