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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Heater Plumbing

Time to plumb the heater on my 63 Mk 1 1098 10CG. Looking at the old pipes I got out of the box, they would suggest that the return to radiator is from the left hand pipe on the heater ( as you look at it) and the tap on the head goes to the right hand pipe. Also the orientation of the tap would support that. However looking at moss catalogues etc it goes the other way with the right hand pipe on the heater being the return. Which ways right?
Mike


Mike Quilter

Looking at this photo the left one connects to the tap and the right one connects to the special rubber tubing that goes down to the radiator. From heating radiator it starts as a rubber hose then an L shaped copper pipe then connects to the downhose.

I can take pictures tomorow if you want.Bas
midget MK I 1963
Bas Timmermans

the heater tap is incorrect, the cable-operated ones were never fitted on Spridgets, it's from a Mini or similar. With the correct tap (with knurled wheel on top) it becomes obvious that tap feeds RHS and LHS goes to pipe to bottom hose. Don't forget left and right is *always* as seen from sitting in the car, not standing in front of it !
David Smith

That isn't the proper tap for a Midget / Sprite

looks like a mini or 1100 tap to me

the proper tap has a screw type tap control knob on it IIRC

(I have a different tap on Lara)


Bas is right (as so usual!) the course of flow takes water from the head out of the tap into the lower (L)pipe on the heater. Then out of the heater [at the higher (R) pipe] across the top of the manifolds and down into the bottom hose and then into the rad.
Bill

Wow, that was quick. Thank you gentlemen, I now understand.
Thanks, Mike
Mike Quilter

All of what has been said about the tap is correct. You really do have to open the hood to turn it on or off. in truth I never turn it off. It helps the engine to stay cool and there is still the air on off knob on the dash and that is usually all I need.

Anyhow, not shown in your photo is the metal tube that hooks up to the small branch on the lower radiator hose on the one end, then runs past the carburettors and then hooks up to a small hose and then to the heater on the right side (with respect to the photograph)

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S.A. Jones

On the subject of the heater tap.
I would like to know whether spridgets are the only cars where you turn the tap off in the winter to help the engine run a little hotter, and in the summer you turn the tap on to assist with the engine cooling.
Either way, freeze your whatsits off in the winter and roast in the summer.

Dave
Penwithian

A better method would be to use the tap as designed, and blank off part of the rad if it really runs too cool in winter...
David Smith

This thread was discussed between 17/09/2008 and 19/09/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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