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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 - Nylon Check Straps

Can anyone suggest a company in the uk that will make a pair of bespoke, non-standard length of nylon rear suspension checkstraps without charging the earth or requiring an order of 100?
Graeme Williams

Looks like polypropylene would be better (all properties superior to nylon).
Graeme Williams

I would try a yacht rigging company who make safety lines etc such as jimmy Green Marine - they make similar to what you are asking for

https://jimmygreen.com/webbing-soft-shackles/32984-jimmy-green-webbing-reefing-strap?search_query=webbing&results=98

They would probably need a sketch as i doubt they make check straps every day !
I have used them numerous times for my yacht gear and they are very good and quite quick.
Other than that try a crane lifting supplier as they make safety items and crane lifting strops etc.

No polyprop is not superior ! - I think I would use polyester for this.

R.
richard b

Richard: yes just come back because I realised I typed the wrong one! Put it down to getting past it!

Greens was one company I found, but I think they will be very expensive - £10 per run of stitching!

Mrs thinks she could have a go as she uses webbing in the handbags she makes. Don't know what type though.
Graeme Williams

As Richard suggested cranes, you could try Pegasus in Leicester.

The company I used to work for used them for various things. They were quite helpful when you needed something making in a hurry.

http://cranemanufacturers.co.uk/ancillary
Dave O'Neill 2

If your wife can do the stitching with the correct 'thread' and the straps you want need to be shorter than what's available then buy them and have your wife shorten them to your measurements (be very careful and accurate with your measurements and instructions as only you can get it wrong).
Nigel Atkins

The straps I linked to were £8.00 incl VAT for a bespoke hand made and quality product !!! NOT Foreign rubbish !
Certainly not what I'd consider expensive.

I would phone them for a quote as they are a small firm in Beer Devon who are usually very willing to help in my experience.

You would need a very heavy industrial machine to work with numerous layers of webbing and the thick thread used etc.
richard b

I missed Richard's link, at those sort of prices I'd not bother the wife and risk the needle or machine, plus you then don't need to worry about oil and crud resistant thread.

I don't know what machine would be needed for the webbing but the needle might go through what's possibly a quite open weave easier than might be expected, IIRC the old Singer machines at my mate's leather belt factory wheren't much bigger than domestic machines of yesteryear.

No doubt you'll want body coloured straps but what colour thread?

Nigel Atkins

I recovered my frogeye seats myself with an old hand cranked Singer and it went OK but that was like 2 layers of leather cloth for the piping, 1 for the side panels, and a layer of leather cloth and calico for the top panel, 4 layers of leather cloth in total, jeans needles did it, just with suitable thread. I would be sceptical if a domestic sewing machine would be up to sewing check straps, likely best left to those with the correct kit.
David Billington

Nigel, body coloured straps?! But you can't see them! I presume you're joking ;-)
Bill Bretherton

I made door check straps from a leather belt, using copper split rivets. But then, they don't take the snatch loads that I imagine axle check straps take.

Sorry - an irrelevant comment really!
GuyW

Richard: quoted 350mm long (which is what I need rather than standard just under 9") £21.....each!
Graeme Williams

Hi,

My 2 cents comment : did you tell them which load they need to support ? The one posted by Richard say "Top Quality Polyester 2000kg Safety Line webbing"
=> Maybe they have less robust for less cost ? And say that you can advertise them to other MG owners :D

CH Hamon

Bill,
yes I was, I often do in many of my posts, previously I didn't put smilies but now I just forget.

I should have addressed the post to Graeme as I'm sure he'll have colour combinations in mind.








Oh, and :)
Nigel Atkins

CH: the material costs are pretty low - about 60p/meter. It's the makeup and sewing costs you are paying for.

Nigel: I have hunted around for an exact colour match and the supplier will send colour samples so I can match to the crud under the wheel arches. Alternatively I may go for dayglo yellow as typically when I put something down in the garage I can't find it again.
Graeme Williams

Graeme
What length do you need--
maybe MGB straps-
RB strap is 9.25" between centres and the CB is 8.25"
William Revit

And , why do you need longer straps, I would have thought std. length or shorter if the car's been lowered

These guys seem to have plenty of options-
might be worth a call-----

Orange----
https://picclick.co.uk/MG-midget-Check-Rebound-Strap-in-Poly-391877618058.html

William Revit

William: I need longer straps because the suspension has been lowered by around 35mm, which of course would suggest shorter straps. However, there are no attachment bolts fitted (originals sawn off) and I wonder whether that makes the straps too horizontal.
Looking for an alternative attachment point I am thinking of somewhere around the bracket to which the link arm fits.
Having to remove the battery tray at the moment but once that is done I can do a dry assembly and get a feel about the straps and their attachment points.
If I need to avoid the shackle at the rear end of the spring reversing that doesn't leave much scope for a strap longer than the position of the unsupported spring position (ie hangind under its own weight).
If i can use a standard strap then I will, of course.

Graeme Williams

Ahh-got it
William Revit

When I raised my B for rallying I faced the same issue. Solved by making one up out of non-dtretch marine rope, spectra I think. Cheap, simple, worked a treat.
Paul Walbran

I now have 2m of webbing which will carry 1000kg per side and which my wife believes she can sew. Total cost abiut £4 inc postage. She needs to try it but is fairly confident.
Graeme Williams

This thread was discussed between 21/07/2019 and 25/07/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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