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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Seat removal

hi there

i have a 1500 midget and a problem with my seat!

the drivers seat is stuck firm in its position and cant be moved forward/backwards. This is a little annoying as at 6 foot 2 and with the seat being 2-3 inches in from its possible "as far as it can go back" position, my legs are a bit squeezed!

I have a had and I cant work out how to get the seat off the runners.

Is the seat stuck firm to the runners and they need to be taken off? or can the seat be removed from the runners?

help!
bk dyson

If it is the same as a 1275, the seat can only be removed with the runners. They are held in place with 4 bolts through the floor, and to access the rear ones you have to.... slide the seat forward !! I'd suggest protecting your carpet, and get a bit heavy with a can of WD40. There should be a lever which you press sideways, as the end of the lever slots into holes on one of the runners.
Geoff Mears

I agree with Geoff, the runners are held in with bolts and nuts.

I find it unusual if they are absolutely stuck fast and will not move backwards and forwards. As suggested make sure you release the lever and then try to push the seat forwards and back to try and release the problem. Even when nice and free actually moving the seat is extremely difficult and as an example my wife would be unable to do it! :) she would not have the strength.
Bob Turbo Midget England


It could be the runners are not parallel.

In which case releaase the 2 nuts/bolts at the front - the ones you can reach - then wiggle the runners. This may allow forward movement of the seat to gain access to the rear ones.
Gavin Rowles

I thought the bolts were captive, if not


Angle Grinder from below!

But before committing to that, get yourself to a proper toolshop and buy a 1mm thick cutting disc for the angle grinder and use that instead.
Will Munns

I can Not remember, But it seems the rear of the runners bolted in thur the leaf spring shackle, thhen agian maybe thats where the side of the seat belt bolts on...Just an FYI

One thing i did was use a large fender washers on the bottom and top of the floor pans where the runners hardware runs thur, To me it just seemed like a good idea to spread the weight out thur the floor pan, So it would be harder to pull thur in a violent crash, also I used grade 8 hardware ... not the common stuff, and I used butterfly nuts instead of regulat nuts in order for easy seat removal/installation
Prop

at the front of the lower seat runners a thread piece is welded to runner needing nut and washers under the car

at the rear of the lower seat runners are holes for screws to go thro' to nuts welded to floor under car

you can buy the lower seat runners new but not the upper seat runners

runners are handed
Nigel Atkins

new floors have holes, not captive nuts, so there is precedent for grinding them off and just using the holes ;)
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2010 and 07/09/2010

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