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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - How to use the forum

Just a lighthearted observation on how to find an answer to a problem.

Step 1 Google your qestion
Step 2 get directed to this forum
Step 3 go down a rabbit hole with Nigel, Guy Alan et al reading the fascinating discussions on and off the topic
Step 4 Go downstairs and fetch the drivers handbook.

😁

Brendon Le Page
B M Le Page

Well! What an insult!!










😁
Does my constant repetition of plugging mean nothing - steps 1 and 4 should be vice versa.
Nigel Atkins

You wont get much discussion from me. I dont opine. I will give the answer with accuracy, brevity, & speed. Take it or leave it.
Alan Anstead

I was trying to be sarcastic and lighthearted. Im sorry it wasn't taken that way.It was just a joke

Is there a way to delete the thread?
B M Le Page

Brendon

Nigel is being sarcastic, your comment is hilarious and closer to the truth than many here would admit. Keep it up!
Dominic Clancy

Thanks Dominic. I hate the idea I might have offended someone. Unfortunately there is no sarcasm font! I guess I was excited because the Sprite is running as smooth as silk - not least through the help on this forum.
B M Le Page

Surely you keep the driver's handbook in the loo? As separate pages, ready for use. 🤣
anamnesis

Brendon

Good news on getting your Sprite running smoothly. I have looked out your car picture - looks smart.

Please share with everyone a bit more about your rolling restoration and what condition your car was on purchase. Also have you previous experience with other old cars, which along with recent Sprite experience can be very useful to others (including sharing frustration in how to fix stuff and find good quality parts).

Any technical or supplier tips to offer?

I am hoping that Step 5 is not ‘be sarcastic’. Only joking 😀

Best wishes
Mike
M Wood

Sorry Brendon I hope you didn't think you'd upset me, or anyone, my post wasn't meant to be sarcastic, it was humour rather than sarcasm, hence the smilie.

I totally missed any sarcasm in your post, I don't think there was any just good humour. If you think that was sarcasm then it was far to refined for me. Maybe hard to believe but if required, or not, I can lay sarcasm on with a trowel or overtime shovel, wouldn't put a smiley (now I've found where they're kept).

Mike right, please tell us about your Sprite and how and why it's running so well - obviously mainly because of your reading and referencing the Driver's Handbook!

Everytime I fall for that loo joke, but makes me laugh ever time to, they're all followers here but some resist it (some resist it very well). 😊
Nigel Atkins

Hi Mike.

I would love to share my current project. I have previously done a complete nut and bolt restoration of a '69 midget I got off ebay for £1500. I taught myself to weld replacement panels, make copper hydraulic system and spray paint and rewire - every skill. It took 2years but I did everything myself. I was so proud of the result. Driving it for the first time imagine the smiles

This time my son and I are going Half shares on a rolling restoration except it didn't go. New brakes, clutch slave,refurbished shocks and a thorough service and tuning etc and it runs beautifully. It's done 32 000 miles tracked through services and mot's

So I've been driving it every excuse. Next project is the heater motor and then replacing wire wheels with steel and anything rubber in the suspension and rear shocks.

The car does look OK in the pics but actually the paintwork is abysmal and is cracked and crazed everywhere. So a preliminary respray is a necessity. Then off to Scotland.

One day we will strip to the shell and rebuild this one too.

Should I just start a thread and keep posting with pics etc.?



(My son and I both tend to take reading the manual as a sign of failure. He's got a geiger counter to repair and a collection of radioactive rocks. It's in the lounge. He will still not read the manual except as the last resort. Smh.)
B M Le Page

Brendon,
I could tell you a bit about getting the heater hot and the heater motor (do they ever go wrong?) but it's all written down - but I could leave you a voicemail to keep your principles, I am a poor and reading and speech so would have to do it in half hour episodes, and some fink I have a strong accent (dialect?), unless thar frum Lunden. Where's that dictation machine...
Nigel Atkins

Well I did wonder if there was more than one use for a drivers manual. It also makes excellent kindling.

Nigel sarcasm was completely the wrong word. Jeepers I can't even cross the P's and mind the i's any more. Also I noticed the smiley, so I knew you were answering in kind.

The reason it's running so well - I'd like to claim the credit but it's mostly the low mileage I think. There is barely any gearbox whine even in first. Also I've just looked at the numbers for a heritage certificate and V5 says the engine number starts 8G so Gold Seal presumably.

I really only serviced it. There was no oil in the gearbox or the engine 🙄. I replaced points and plugs the old fashioned way, checked the timing and tuned the carbs (several times). Most things in the fuel supply were a bit gungy. Especially the floats were sticking. The clutch slave was bust but now the gear change is much better than any of the modern cars I've had. That's it!
B M Le Page

Gearbox is quiet, perhaps sawdust, or paperdust from loo reading material. 😊

A good Spridget gearbox is lovely, lovely changes and as you say better than modern cars.

Keep on top of the gearbox (hot) oil changes as nice boxes seemed to have disappeared even before I got my Midget 13 years ago hence I have the not very nice Ford Type 9. The Spridget box that came in mine had the loudest 1st gear I've ever heard in one and others agreed.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 10/04/2021 and 11/04/2021

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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