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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Throttle Adjustment

Hi Guys

On my 1500 there is a fair amount of slack on the accelerator pedal, I cannot take up the slack at the carburettor end as the nuts cannot go any further.

This makes me think that the cable has been routed incorrectly from the carburettors to the accelerator pedal.

Can someone give me an idea on the route the cable is meant to take from the throttle pedal to the connection to the carburettors?

I did buy a replacement cable from Sussex car parts but the new cable is longer than the old cable, so I am a bit confused!

Any thoughts gladly received

Rylan
R Williams

The replacement cables can sometimes be a bit too long for the application. The best way to do it is trim the outer cable to the desired length so that it fits neatly in the slot at the carb end and doesn't waggle about all over the place in the engine bay. Make sure it's not too sort though or else you might kink the inner cable and it won't slide smoothly. Once you've done this, pull the inner cable through the clamp at the carb end until there isn't any slack, i.e. the throttle isn't open but will open as soon as you press the gas pedal. Make sure the adjustment bolt is set up so that it is fully loose i.e. you can tighten the cable in the future as they can sometimes stretch.

As for the cable run, the inner cable should fit in the slot on the pedal and go straight up through the top of the footwell. The outer cable then goes on the other side and sits in the holder and from there straight over to the carb.

Im assuming you're running SUs although the methodology is pretty much identical for Webers too.
Jamie Watt

Rylan

The throttle cable on a 1500 has pre made ends at both ends, I think Jamie is referring to an earlier A series midget. I suspect you may be missing a feral at the throttle end (I think there should be one, I’ll check mine). Better than using a standard cable is to make your own from a bicycle brake cable, I buy mine from Halfords. You can then get exactly the right length and some are Teflon lined. This makes for a very smooth action and although it isn't as heavy duty as a standard cable is much better.

Bob
R.A Davis

You can pull the ends off the cable, cut the cable to size and then replace the ends but i agree with Bob that the Teflon lined cables from Halford give a much smoother pull than the standard replacement ones so probably best to go with that.
Jamie Watt

Another vote for the bike cable rather than the official throttle cable.
Just as it comes through the top of the footwell I used one of these:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tektro-tektro-91712-v-brake-lead-pipe-with-adjuster-90-deg-prod18060/

To route it more neatly. Added benefit of this is that it gives you micro adjustment of the cable too.

-Craig
C Robertson

I used a cycle cable for some years and decided to do a better job this year and bought some bits from this company.

http://www.venhill.co.uk/

The cable is heavier than a cycle cable and the outer is teflon lined.

I didn't buy a specific kit, I just ordered the bits and pieces I thought I would need to make the cable up, with adjusters, nipples etc, and put it together.

Works a treat.
JB Anderson

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2011 and 05/08/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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