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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering Wheel Swap and Prog Update

Now I've been for a drive and had to get in and out of the car on a busy road I realise why lots of you have smaller steering wheels. (It came to me while watching Heartbeat and Nicks Missus Jo get primly out of the drivers side of a Sprite - it must have had a small wheel)

I have a smaller wheel that came with my other car that came in bits (a P reg 22/09/75) in boxes and storage. Can anyone tell me the criteria for the splines in the wheel for an S reg (09/01/78) so I can tell if this one fits before taking the old one off? Is a P reg column the same as an S reg?

Looked in archive and I know I need to check cos some interchange and some don't but could not find a 'spec'.

Progress Update:

Went about a mile and back this morning for the first time after a 10 min on the drive warm up: .....

Engine: not as rough at the end as the begining. Smelt a lot at the end of oil, fumes and 'burning'.
Transmission: Not as whiney now (2 trips to MoT it was improving as well)
Gearbox: Shifting OK now and quieter.
Temp Guage: No reading
Heater: Cold

Brakes: I will get used to them, they do exist, its just my day car stops easy not that my Migdet doesn't stop.... Just Kidding, not spongy and as good as I can expect with no servo. Need to 'bed them in' when I think its OK to go further and faster.

Just right for working on at Christmas.

Must work harder again!
Dave Squire - Notts

Steering wheel should fit.

"Temp Gauge: No reading
Heater: Cold"

Do you have a thermostat fitted?

Is the heater tap open?

Do you have dual temp/oil pressure gauge with capillary tube, or separate electric gauge? If the latter, it's easy to check if the gauge and wiring work by disconnecting the wire from the sender and connecting it to ground.
Dave O'Neill2

Dave,I understand you're being cautious but a mile and back after a 10 minute warm up will do the car very little good, it hardly restore to the battery what you've taken out of it let alone get all the components on the car in action to loosen them up

look for a decent pub at least 25 miles away, if you don't fancy that do a 50 round trip

if you use the car frequently on reasonable length journeys you will soon find the car feels and runs better and becomes more reliable (subject to full and proper servicing, maintenance and repairs)

I'm not sure what you mean about the steering wheel, I prefer the large standard narrow rim 15 1/2" wheel as it keeps the midget's sweet steering feel - of course I am'slim, young and athletic

for heat and temp as Dave's put plus of course once again the Driver's Handbook will explain all this to you, I'd expect my heater to be hot after a 10 minute warm up

brakes - the feel of the brake pedal can be greatly improved by adjusting the rear brakes, again details in Driver's Handbook - plus of course something that doesn't get checked on the MoT if the brake fluid is old it might not be at its best

the lack of servo is so that you can feel the brakes more under foot (and judge and use them better?)

keep going and keep reporting (and maintenance and Handbook reading)
Nigel Atkins

Dave, I'm with Nigel on the steering wheel. My car had a 13" wheel fitted when I bought it. I never liked it and changed it for a 72 OEM wheel. I find the handling and the driving position to be much improved. However, It's the old adage, your car your choice.
Pete Ottewell

Ive got a 5 mile route that uses only right turns (finger to nascrap), its around my shop ....

i can do it over and over, you might try something like that...that way you can drive 500 miles at a time and never be far from home, incase of a breakdown

Prop

Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Has it got enough water in it? No heat could be a bad sign if it smells "burning".
John Collinson

Dave
I always preferred a smaller thicker steering wheel even when the car was fitted with sticky 185 rubber. Do you have a wheel you can try? not a big job to go back if you don't like it.
Carl
C Bintcliffe

This thread was discussed on 16/12/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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