MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fried Crane?

I'll start at the beginning..

Upon reinstalling my 1275 motor, I hooked up the battery and left the car for the nite.

The next day, I realized my mistake, and rechrged the now flat battery.

I tried to start the car, but instead had a bar-b-q in the tach. I chalked this up to dodgy connections, replaced the tach and tried again tonite. NO spark at the plugs.

When I put a test lamp on the coil with the ign. switch on, I have power at the + terminal and weak power (dim bulb) at the - terminal.

I have a 25D distributor with Crane XR7000 ingnition, new cap and rotor, and a flamethrower coil

Phil
Phil Burke

<<The next day, I realized my mistake, and rechrged the now flat battery.
>>

Can you tell us what the mistake was and why the battery was flat?
Dave O'Neill 2

Did you leave the ignition on?
Gary & Gaps

Oh yeah, I left the ignition switch on overnite, draining the battery

Phil
Phil Burke

if the engine was sitting in the position so that the "points" were closed, then, yes, that will fry some electronic ignitions (some have a protection circuit, but some do not)

sounds like that is what happened to you (and the dead battery is evidence that is what happened)


Norm
Norm Kerr

Phil

Connect your test light between the negative on the coil and ground and then crank the engine, you should see the light flash on and off, if not my guess is you've fried your electronic ignition. I see this has a box that sits external to distributor, if you have a fault this is the most likely location, it may be possible to repair this. I'd look at it for you but I'm on the wrong side of the pond, or maybe I could convince the other half I need to visit you.

Bob
R.A Davis

Norm,
The motor was at TDC when I reinstalled it, and let it sit overnite w/ the switch on. So I guess the points would have been closed, if there were points.

Bob,
I'll test that later today,
Please feel free to come and help anytime, and bring the other half as well

What concerned me was the dim lite on the neg. side of the coil with the ign. switch in the on position
Phil Burke

Phil...

Probably the easist is to revese build .... try dis connectng the crane, then run points /condensor then barrow a good coil back to where it starts....id almost think the crane has a fuseable link or reset switch of some type.... have you looked up the company wring scematics or called them

Like the rest im afraid the blue smoke imprisioned inside the crane found freedom sometime during the night and escaped.
Prop

The only other coil I have is the old Lucas I removed about 5 years ago, when I changed to Elect ignition,

It worked then, so I ass/u/me it should be adaquate for a test.

The Crane box is sealed, and they're closed till Tuesday. I'll talk to them then, if I haven't had any luck.
Phil Burke

It was a bad coil.

I didn't want to mess with the dizzy, so I started with a good looking coil I found at the pick and pull today.
Voila, the midget runs again.

If I only had seats in it I could drive!!

Thanks guys,
Phil
Phil Burke

Just get a crate and sit on that ;)
Onno Könemann

You don't need seats! I found it quite comfortable to test drive my Midget sitting on the floor with my back against the rear wall, and I'm not tall. Actually got me to thinking about getting some less padded seats so that I'm closer to that position!
AndrewF

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2011 and 30/05/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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