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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Flasher Unit

Well a quick update on the quality of these

first one failed with 0 miles on the clock , just being pushed in and out of garage !!

the next new one has just failed (MAFCO) after 265 miles , just replaced with a electronic one from MOSS so hopefully that will sort it , just wondered if anyone else has changed to this ?

Cheers
Andy
Andy Sebring

Went electric on both turn indicators and hazards (courtesy of Halfords) about a year ago. No trouble since and flash rate is consistent.
Be prepared for numerous negative comments.. like spare wheels this issue polarises spridget owners. One comment is related to potential lamp or circuit failure. I'm not sure whether the electronic units will show up these issues or just keep ticking away even though the bulb at the end of the line has a failing connection.

The conclusion I came to was that the new "old style" units are just exceedingly poor quality.
Graeme Williams

What was the MOSS part number andy? My indicator flashes about once a week (with a new flasher unit!) so I'm thinking of changing to the electronic version.
graeme jackson

I would always buy the electronic type. They aren't affected by varying voltages and so the flash rate is constant. On the 1964 midget I had back in the early seventies, the indicators simply stopped flashing if sitting at traffic lights at night with the lights on. Ah, the joys of a Lucas Generator - how I miss them - NOT!
Mike Howlett

a s/h older original unit would probably work for many more years but many modern made ones seem to be, as Andy has found, complete rubbish

I got an electronic relay type via an eBay shop
Nigel Atkins

Modern ones are very poor quality so I managed to get a couple of old used ones from a breaker - still on the first rusty, old replacement, three years on.
Jeremy 3

OK. so MOSS sell two electronic flasher units. I only want indicators - do I just go for the two prong version or is there something more complicated going on? '71 1275.
graeme jackson

Graeme: they are rated according to whether they are intended to operate 2 lamps or 4. THe four lamp you would use in a hazard flasher.

I bought mine from Halfords, so no cripling postage. My receipt shows both part nos so I'm not sure which was which but it's one of either HFU203 or HFU204. £9.49
Actually I see from receipt that they haven't been on for as long as I thought -bought March this year (just prior to MOT as I now remember)
Graeme Williams

Andy,
Search on here for "dead turn signals", had problems with my 79, some good advice in the thread. I needed to replace my 2 prong flasher unit mounted in the top of the glovebox, got it locally at a "real" auto parts store for about 2 bucks
Bob Ketcham

I used a Lucas 'SFB 190' 'Electronic Flasher' 'Flasher Relay'

it has a mounting bracket and third spade for earth connection

(it can also be used for hazards, 98w loading)
Nigel Atkins

Edited:
for disclaimer

(it can also be used - on - hazards, 98w loading)

separate second unit required and IF it fits the wiring on a Midget
Nigel Atkins

as I've just seen the photo I couldn't find before of the electronic flasher unit (relay) I fitted I thought I'd post it now

plus I have an old s/h original (type) 2-pin flasher unit that works and (two) clip(s) if anyone needs them


Nigel Atkins

I ended up going for the Moss 2 prong flasher. Comes with a bracket. Nice steady flash at a proper rate and a good audible tick. Worked out cheaper than driving to the nearest halfords to buy one (assuming they'd have it in stock).
graeme jackson

Have you looked inside those rectangular replacement units? The heater looks like a piece of kitchen foil and probably is!! I have an old Lucas unit from a 1970 Morris Minor.............still working, my other car has an electronic unit from Autosparks...............perfect!
Allan Reeling

Graeme: one downside of the Halfords ones is they don't fit anyway of mounting other than using a tie.
Graeme Williams

Well changed the unit , not overkeen on the lok of it as very modern but fits easily , works and there is a much more pronounced click that also reminds me when i leave them on !!

Hopefully it will last
Andy Sebring

Getting the Midget ready for an MOT, I found the indicators wouldn't flash. Gave the flasher unit a wiggle and a tap, and it started flashing, but the rate was way too fast, about 10 times too fast I reckon. But following the comments in this thread about poor replacements, and to save a few quid, rather than buy a new flasher unit, I decided to rectify the flash rate on the original one. I think it's the original on the car, given that it was buried under the zieabart that was applied at least 25 years ago.

Anyway, here's what it looked like after I dug it out from under the bloody ziebart, and took the cover off.

A bit of surface corrosion as you can see. I ran a slither of thin emery through the contacts. Still flashing way too fast. So I bent the post marked by the red arrow, to open up the contacts gap a little, until I slowed it down to about 60/minute. It works perfectly now.

But here's the bummer. In checking out the indicators, I took off the front right hand light lense. Putting it back, I dropped the bloody thing onto the garage floor. Yup, it smashed. Now I've got to fork out circa 10 quid for a new lense. Wunderbar, Ja?






Lawrence Slater

New lens? I've got loads of the bl**dy things.

There again, there's the postage cost!
Dave O'Neill 2

Hi Dave,

Yup, it's the postage. Sussex sell the lense for £6.29, but it's another £5.74 just for the postage.

Meanwhile, for the mot, I can 'borrow' one from my Sprite. Assuming the Midget passes, the Sprite will come off the road for a while anyway. So I'll keep an eye on ebay to see if a cheap one comes up.
Lawrence Slater

I think I can post up to 2kg for about £3, so if you think of anything else you may need. . . ;o;
Dave O'Neill 2

Hi Dave, thanks very much. I think I've got a lense now, but there may well be a few other things I need, esp' when I pull my Sprite off the road for a 'makeover' ;). I'll let you know. Cheers.
Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 15/09/2013 and 08/07/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.