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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Wiper arms and blades

Can anyone enlighten me on the current state of windshield wiper arms and blades? I just finished the restoration.The car had aftermarket (and unidentifiable) wiper arms and can’t find modern replacement blades. Looking into the archives, there is a lot of concern for arms fitting properly. Is this still true today? Also, I have a pair of “original” MGA blades and they look pretty flimsy. Should I go with the current state of “original” replacement parts, or are there more suitable modern replacements? This car is not intended for concurs, I drive it weekly and on 100 – 300 mile trips and would like some help in heavy rains. Yes, I use Rain-X.
Bruns

I used Moss arms and blades. VG prices and no problems in operation. The parking angle is not as flat as it could be, but does not obsure the vision.
Art Pearse

I bought Moss's wiper arms a number of years ago and they were junk--had to modify it so it wouldn't keep blowing off the shaft while driving. Don't know if Chinese quality has improved since, but I'd see what else is available first.
JV
J Vallely

I had so much trouble keeping the standard wiper arms on the spindles (I lost a couple of arms),
that I switched to the MG midget design arms.
They have a screw clamp that firmly grips the spindle and they cannot fall off.
They look slightly different to the std arms but most people don't notice.

They also work great with my 2-speed wipers.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

I agree that RaineX works really well and using it, you can see fine through the screen without using the wipers, so long as the car is moving.
I once drove 100 miles on the motorway in heavy rain with no problem after I lost the drivers side wiper arm.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Ref the RainX: beware their anti-misting spray! I used it. It does not work but forms a gel with the water on the inside of my screen which I can't remove despite trying every household solvent and cleaner I can find. If anyone has any suggestions how to get it off as I have two moderns with it clarting up the visibility.
Graeme Williams

Colyn -- I admit I am uninformed/confused. The term MG Midget seems to be used in several directions. My TD owners manual refers to the car as a "Midget". I assume you are talking about the Sprite/Midget. What years were you referring to?

As an aside, I have focused on TDs and MGAs. When I go to GOFs I see Ts As and Bs, but don't notice Midgets. Was the Midget a US car?
Bruns

Call it the "modern Midget". Think 3/4 scale version of the MGB (with flat sides). It came on the heals of the Austin Healey Sprite, when it was redesigned to lose the frog eye headlights and one-piece bonnet. AH Sprite MK-II and MG Midget (MK-I) are the same car with different badges. It came out a couple of years before MGB.
Barney Gaylord

Between 1958 and 1979, a total of 354,164 Sprites and Midgets were produced. More than 271,000 were exported - mostly to the USA.


Dave O'Neill 2

I restored a pair of Rainbow wiper arms. See the bottom of this page on Barney's site http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et112b.htm

I had replaced my wheel boxes with new ones from Moss and found that the splines of the new spindles did not match the splines of the Rainbow arms. I ended up restoring my original wheel boxes with new rubber seals from Todd Clarke. The Rainbow splines fit perfectly on the original spindles.

Jim
JL Cheatham

I've had an extraordinarily frustrating time with replacement wiper arms.
I replaced both my MGA and MGB arms with "top quality" TEX items only to find they gripped the drive splines poorly. I lost three in the rain, and caught two more just before they flew off. I bitterly regret throwing away my original arms before I realised the issues with the shiny new replacements! My MGB has now been fitted with original used arms I was lucky enough to buy. They fit snugly, with no issues. I've not been fortunate enough to find good right hand drive original MGA items.

While I no longer have my measurements, the photo tells the story. The centre arm is an original, the top and bottom, replacement Tex items. The diameter of the replacement arms' hubs are clearly larger than the original, and the "splines" don't even come close to the drive spline's configuration.

I asked my supplier to forward my photos, measurements and sketches on to Tex on my behalf. I received a breathtakingly dismissive arrogant reply from Tex essentially saying that there was nothing wrong with their arms and if I wanted to see poor quality that I should buy from their Chinese competitors. A fantastic example of public relations and interest in quality control, not!!

With attitudes like this it is no wonder that the British motor industry imploded and destroyed itself!



T Aczel

Has anyone bought new rubbers for their Rainbow wipers recently, and if so where? Or do I have to bin my original hardware?

Cheers

Dave
Bolney Coupe

I agree that the TEX ones are rubbish, but so too are the repro wiper boxes. I improved the fit and stopped losing wipers when I found a set of original wheel boxes and fitted arms with a screw/ wedge clamp to the spindles. I have had them for years and have no idea where they came from, but as long as they have the correct spoon end and are adjustable, they will fit.
Dominic Clancy

Bruns,
I have taken a picture of the "later MG Midget" wiper arms that I have fitted.
(Barney is "spot-on" as usual with his info)
The screw on the top of the arms operates a clamp which grips the splines.

Cheers
Colyn



Colyn Firth

Colyn -- Sorry to be dense, I like your solution. What year(s) Midget are the arms from?

Frank
Bruns

An aside -- I just noticed my name on thread entries only list my surname. I looked at my "details" and I can't figure where the "Bruns, Texas, USA" is sourced. Any suggestions as to how to add my first name?

Frank
Bruns

Here's a picture of the new Moss spindle I bought compared to the original spindle. There are fewer splines on the new Moss Spindle (57) compared to the original spindle (72). Original Rainbow wiper arms will not fit on the Moss spindles.

I bought the rubber blades on eBay but can't remember who the seller was. Finding the rubber with the correct profile is very difficult. I had to buy complete blades and remove the rubber ab
No put them in my Rainbow blades.


JL Cheatham

Frank
I think the wiper arms are the later Midget type, I have had a quick look on the Moss website but it wasnt too clear which year they were fitted.

I would give Moss a call and ask them.
Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Does anyone have the TEX part numbers for the garbage parts?
Barney Gaylord

Can deliver the Tex part number next week as I have a set in the drawer
Dominic Clancy

Relevant to this, what I would like to learn, are any of these various wiper arms equipped with a decent level of spring force to really make the rubber blade wipe the rain away effectively? I have tried all sorts on my car, never a problem fortunately with fitting to the splined spindle, but definitely all useless at spring pressure on to the windscreen. Is there a good make or maybe a mod to the spring pressure system?
Best
Bruce.
B Mayo

Bruce,
unlike the standard MGA push-on wiper arms which have a small leaf-spring, the late Midget arms have a coil spring to apply pressure onto the wiper blades.

I suppose, in theory, it would be possible to fit a stronger spring to the Midget wiper arms.

I re drilled the arms to lengthen them a little (you can see this in the picture that I posted) and this did apply a little more tension onto the wiper blades.

Colyn


Colyn Firth

Bruce
I have re-rubbered my original wiper blades with Trico Rainbow profile rubbers bought off ebay. I bought nos longer blades and cut to size and after bending end up replaced rubbers only. I also use the original arms. These are week and are tensioned by the arm and no spring. They seemed to work ok last week when I got caught in a rain storm on the way home from its MOT and first drive for 30+ years.
Best of luck with your choice. Seems to be rather random
Brian
Brian Paddon

Colyn, do your Midget blades have the "spoon" on the end, or flat?
Gary Lock

Hi Gary
Here's a pic i took today of the arm off the car for you.
It has the spoon shaped end like my original push on arms.

I have also taken a picture showing the inside of the arm with the coil spring and the clever splined spindle clamp.
I will post thi pic next.
Hope that helps.

Cheers
Colyn


Colyn Firth

Inside view of the late Midget wiper arm showing the coil spring and the screw clamp
Colyn


Colyn Firth

Those shown by Colyn are the same ones I have, wrk very well
Dominic Clancy

Colyn/Dominic...any chance of a part number, as the majority of this type of arm on the various suppliers are the straight end type.
Gary Lock

Gary, I will take another look at the wiper arms tomorrow and see if there is a makers name and part number somewhere on them for you.

They were supplied by Bob West a few years ago and so he may be able to source or supply them.

I will post the question on the Midget Forum to see if anyone there has an answer for you.

Cheers

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Gary,
Try a search for BHA4894
I B Morris

I was maybe a bit premature there Garry!!

Some more types here .....

http://www.gregorysautoparts.co.uk/catalogue.php?t=1&c=48
I B Morris

I have just asked about the arms on the Midget forum and already got a couple of replies. (Great people on all of these forums)
Apparently these arms were fitted on the Midget/Sprite up to 1971 and Moss supply them, also Sussex classic cars.
After 1971 they had the flat end at the wiper blade end.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

This thread was discussed between 16/11/2016 and 23/11/2016

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