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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Random questions

I occasionally have basic questions that don't warrant a thread title on their own and it seems unfair to hijack some other thread for a disconnected question. Hence this universal "Random Questions" thread title that maybe others can use too.

Rubber blanking grommets to fill things like floor drainage holes and in this instance, for closing off the hinge bolt access holes in a MK1 door. Are they specified by the hole diameter, or the external diameter of the grommet, which is obviously larger or it would just fall out?
GuyW

You're making the wrong bit more complicated, hole size is grommet size but then on top you have to allow for depth of panel, or whatever, the grommet is going too, add on if you need a grommet with large overall width for some reason. Then of course there's metric equivalents that may or may not be exact ID to the hole, unless you've got an exact metric size hole, or metric hole with imperial grommets. Simples. :)

Watch someone come along and blow this out of the water.
Nigel Atkins

Now you have confused me with your convoluted answer, Nigel!

What I need to know is what size of blanking grommet do I need to order, to fit firmly into a 1/2" diameter hole?

Do I need to add on the required edge making it up to around 1 3/8" OD when I order them? Or will it be called a 1/2" one, even though it is bigger than that!

Strangely, in 60 years of fitting such things, I have always had stocks of various sizes to select from, without ever having to order stocks of individual specified sizes.
GuyW

Found my answer on the AES site, where they helpfully quote both hole size and O/All diameter.
GuyW

I would say hole size is the normal way to size them.

Trev
T Mason

Here's a random question.

What are the chances, you could buy a box of randomly sized grommets, and get enough of the size you need? 😉.
anamnesis

Fairly low. Mainly because at the last count I need something like 24 of that size and the selection boxes tend to have only 6 or 8 of each size.
AES and Vehicle Wiring Products both have the size needed at around a fiver for 50. Even if I only use half of them that is a lot less than Moss at 1.26p each!
GuyW

Guy,
I put the answer at the very start but as you seemed to be looking for complications I gave what they could be. I was surprised you were asking and not just ordering and experimenting to find out for yourself. :)
Nigel Atkins

For future reference here's a page from a grommet supplier that includes sizes and a video of what to measure. -

Grommets Ltd, UK rubber moulding manufacturing company - https://www.grommets.co.uk/products/grommets/blind-pvc-grommets/

ETA: just to be clear, Guy this is not a suggestion of a supplier you can order from unless you want to order a minimum of £30 worth.

Nigel Atkins

Thanks Nigel. That supplier you link to might be helpful for future reference, but I have already placed my order for now.
I don't think my original question was looking for complications:
I said, "Are they specified by the hole diameter, or the external diameter of the grommet". About as straightforward a question as I could manage!
GuyW

Nigel, did you see that they’ve opened another pyramid in Egypt and found a mummy covered in chocolate and nuts?!

















They think it was Pharaoh Rocher. 😄
GuyW

Yeap, I'll 'ave that one, gud un. 👍
Nigel Atkins

Somehow I thought that would appeal to your sense of humour, Nigel. I expect it was the chocolate that did it!
GuyW

No, the nuts! :)

Nigel Atkins

Guy
If you are a midget & Sprite Club member there is a Technical Officer as well as an Enquiry line who you could ask.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Yes Alan, I could have asked Mark, but its just as quick to ask here. And the advantage of asking on a public forum is others get the information as well, which just might be of interest. As it was I found the answer and suppliers myself.
GuyW

But well said Alan, its good to remind - or inform - of the benefits of MASC membership. I think I am coming up to 20 years a member and still find it worthwhile and excellent value
GuyW

Grommets ! I'm gobsmacked...... Who would have thought there was a third generation company employing 12 people and two dogs making grommets in the UK.
One to bookmark I think ;-)
Dave Warren

Another random question:
HAN5 cars (Frogeyes) are listed with an 8" wiper blade, but measuring from the wiper arm fitted on the car suggests that a 9" blade would fit. I think that the arc of the blade would just pass the edge of the screen rubber seal as it sweeps round.

Can anyone confirm that a 9" blade would work ok?
GuyW

Guy

The 9" does fit but it does depend on the length of the wiper arms. I once had a problem with the 9" blade just touching the hood when erected. The 8" avoids this but if it works then fine!
Bob Beaumont

Ah, my hood hasn't arrived yet. Does the fabric of the bar fitting hood extend down below the rubber screen seal?
GuyW

It can do. Again it varies. My hood bar tucks into the slot in the screen but the hood just extends beyond the rubber seal. I am still using 8" blades.
Bob Beaumont

Guy,
unless things have changed, the modern Tex spoon fitting blades are pretty hopeless for practical use and if using 9" blades the extra drift and wobble on the spoon fitting might have them wander onto your hood more.

Adjustable length bayonet arms with bayonet blades may get you better fit, and without the extra drift and wobble.
Nigel Atkins

Nigel where do you get bayonet fitting sets? Do you have a link to a supplier please.

I only thought there were spoon and hook versions. And I am not even sure what the difference of those are as the name sort of describes the same shape does it?

Having 2 cars does let me swap bits like this around to experiment so I will try my 9" Sprite ones on the AH Sprite once the hood arrives.
GuyW

Guy,
a link to the Tex site to show you the difference only, unfortunately, unless they've changed quality, I can't recommend them.

We use 5.2mm.

Arms - https://www.texautomotive.com/classic_wiper_arms.html

Blades - https://www.texautomotive.com/classic_wiper_blades.html
Nigel Atkins

Thanks Nigel, that's useful.
Now I see what you mean by the bayonet fitting. Does that give a more secure connection between blade and arm then? This always seems to be the bit prone to flapping about in the breeze.
GuyW

Guy,
yes the baynet is a much better fitting, in fact very tight on my combination of different makes of arm and blade.

There's a lot of choice to arms with crank and length.

Having had problems in the past I still have a couple of sets of arms so can measure them for you, any good to you they're yours just for the asking.

IIRC the blades I have on my car are MGOC Q-Parts but widened to take Unipart elements, I'm not sure if I still have any Tex blades but I can look.

My mate with a Westie got his spoon arms and blades directly from Tex (Westfield wanted an arm and leg) I think they might be 8", and they're hopeless - obviously he didn't listen to me and had to learn for himself.

Nigel Atkins

Nigel, since I have owned Spridgets for 35 years it probably seems odd that I should be asking. The truth is that for most of that time I have rebuilt blades with fresh rubber inserts and not had to buy designated new complete blades or arms. Someone working for a rally team in Wales once gave me yards of the stuff years ago. Its only with having the new Frogeye and no blades to start doctoring that I need to look to buy new parts. I do have several spare wiper arms for the Austin Sprite now, thanks to Dave, all of the spoon type.
GuyW

I've tried replacing just the elements (rubbers) before with buying 18 or 20" rubbers as by cutting one set into two you have two sets. But they didn't work that well and I needed to bend the finger parts of the blades to hold them as the original elements have wider ends to the rubbers to hold them secure to the metal part of the blade.

The Unipart elements I bought have a metal spine of their own and a cap that clips on to serve the same purpose.

I've no idea about the originals but the Tex spoon blades that my mate got directly from Tex have a far too loose fixing mechanism on them. In use one blade actually worked off the arm and barely remained with the car. Being loose they barely smear the water across the screen.

I did consider buying the arms and blades in black finish as sometimes the sun can reflect off them causing a distraction or even directly into my eyes.
Nigel Atkins

Just remembered the 'rubbishrubber' file.

In the first image, at bottom of, is the Tex (5.2mm bayonet) wiper (for 1275).

In second image it's now at the top and at the bottom is the Tex "prototype" arm with wider and stronger spring.

I still have both sets, but have given away the set with two rivets.







Nigel Atkins

The arms I have on my 1275 car are secured with a screw and wedge which seems a better arrangement than the little spring clip thing. Less likely to result in the soft splines of the wheelbox shaft wearing out.
GuyW

The original arrangement works ok on mine with the spoon end and spring clip in the arm. The later arms from a 1275 etc can foul the bonnet on a Frogeye when its lifted. I say can as they do on mine but others may be ok. This is because the bonnet is adjusted to get a nice even gap on the top and down the A posts. Its not so much an issue with later cars with a seperate bonnet. The early arms are smaller and provide just enough clearance. The problem with the early arm is not so much wear on the spline but wear in the pivot which does not allow the blade to remain at right angle to the screen causing smearing
Bob Beaumont

Wedge and screw seems a much better idea and is shown in the good book so was fitted to earlier cars. Interestingly Tex list it as a sort of repair option.

My bonnet catches on the wiper arms, I forgot this when the bonnet catch pin had rattled loose I decided to also 'improve' the shut bonnet gap at the scuttle end.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2020 and 23/11/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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