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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - steering wheel boss

Where can I buy a steering wheel boss for my Lempert steering wheel? I have a "modern" retractable steering column and, if possible, want to keep the original horn button in the center of the steering wheel.
Flip


Flip Brühl

wow Flip, I know old peole shrink the older they get but nature has been tough on you! LOL!!
A de Best

Internet says they use a Moto-Lita pattern - do any of these help?

https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/collections/bosses
AdrianR

Thank you Adrian,
Moto Lita does not sell Bosses for the Mg midget MkIII , Mk VI or Austin Healey sprite MkIV and later for the American Market. The home market did not have a collapsible energy-absorbing steering column. What I need is a boss for 36 splines diameter outside 17.47 mm. The original frogeyey has 36 splines, diameter 16,30 mm


Ari,
I am 74 (old?) and not yet shrinking but slowly growing fatter! Do you know some body in the Netherlands who can alter my existing boss?
Flip Brühl

Flip
a motolita boss kit wasn't available from Demon Tweeks (who supplied the wheel) so I got a suitable one from BB Classics
https://bbclassics.co.uk/
the reference was - B056M-MG Midget 1970-1981 Steering Wheel Boss Kit - however a quick look doesn't reveal a listing for it now.

Your boss looks like it has 6 bolts/screws so would any of these fit with your collapsible column?
https://www.nickygrist.com/steering-wheel-boss-kits/mg
Jeremy MkIII

Have you tried calling them as they say they can make special bosses to order.
Other possible manufacturers are Momo or Nardi.

I have a ‘basic collapsible column’ on my RWA with a Motolita boss and wheel.
richard b

My neighbour had this sort of problem when he bought a reproduction Bluemels wire spoke steering wheel for his Morgan and IIRC hubs weren't made for that fitment or the design didn't suit the car so he made one himself. He has all the machining equipment required to do it, he consulted me regarding the serration as I've done that sort of thing before and the machinist we used to know that could have cut it was no more.





David Billington

Technically the fitment is a serration not a spline as the flanks are straight and all the ones I've examined , apart from one of my Lancias which had a spline, had a 90 degree included angle so the broach is easy to machine using the corner of a milling cutter. He could probably have cut the serration in his Myford using a headstock spindle dividing attachment and single point cutter like a shaper but opted for the broach method. As it was only intended to make a single cut in wrought aluminium, likely 6082-T6, it wasn't hardened and only had a single cutting edge, it worked fine. The 2 broaches shown I made some years back to suit Pegler tap spindles, Pegler as in the guy that saved Flying Scotsman, the lower one being the style used to cut the steering wheel boss serration.






David Billington

Merlin Motorsport ?

https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/mg-midget-springalex-classic-sports-boss-kit-kk1015

11/16" = 17.4625mm

I got their Springalex boss for my Mk1 Midget which is the 5/8". (only place I could find that sold one)
Tim C

Flip

You might want to email Mike Lempert direct to see if he has a suitable polished spun aluminium boss to suit your steering column: https://pbase.com/mdlempert/prices & https://pbase.com/mdlempert/bugeye

I have a similar Lempert replica Falcon Le Mans wheel on my MkII Sprite - from various spares I can check out to see if the steering wheel bolt pattern is the same for Motolita, Momo and possibly Mountney. I do not have a boss for the later column - what year column do you have please from which model Spridget?

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

Hi Flip, I might know a local company who can do this for you.
We speak over the phone or chat comming friday eve in Aalten ;)
A de Best

Thank you all: Tim, Merlin motorsport seems to sell the item!!! Arie: See you tomorrow.
Flip Brühl

Triumph Spitfires also use the same size, as do 70's/80's LR Defenders
Tim C

This thread was discussed between 03/02/2026 and 10/02/2026

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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