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MG TD TF 1500 - 53 TD Instrument panel layout

I am restoring an MGTD serial # 22264. I have a horn button on the steering wheel and a floor mounted dip switch. What are the correct gauges for the panel I have a combo oil pressure / water temperature gauge and an Amp gauge. However this leave an extra hole for another gauge, In my research I have yet to see another, Can someone please give me some information.
Dale
DD Harshbarger

Dale, I'd start by checking the photo gallery of the original TD's on Mr Coupers site.
Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Dale,

I believe you have an extra hole because the horn button belongs on the dash not the steering wheel. A DPO must have rigged the horn to the steering wheel.

Jim
Jim Neel 53TD28423

This is what mine looked like before I took it apart. The open large hole is for the Oil pressure gauge. The two smaller hole are the choke and pull start cable.


RER Rosa

Thank you for the information. All the pictures I see have just the horn button on the panel. The steering wheel horn button sure looks original with the emblem and all. It was hooked up and working before I dismantled the car. I would like to go back to the horn on the panel but I cannot locate a button as they are no longer available. Does anyone know where I might find one? Thanks Dale
DD Harshbarger

Dale,

I'ld like to see the horn button on the steering wheel. Wonder how the PO managed that. Just curious, I don't want such a set-up. Could you post a picture?

Jasper
JL Nederhoed

Oops, for a split second I thought the original horn button is mounted on the steering wheel. Haha...
JL Nederhoed

...this is a later '53 ... has the turn signal light dead center... (Ive changed the bulbs around in the warning lights, but the locations are original...
The starter and choke should be bakealight instead of chrome....


gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Dale, I too would like to see the wiring set up for the horn button on the steering wheel. Was there some sort of stator and brush arrangement on the steering shaft somewhere?
Jim Merz

Moss had a kit for steering wheel horn push many years ago (late 70s?). We installed it, and it was just really flimsy and never worked right. It did use the original emblem- the rubber spacer was removed and there was some sort of spring/contact, and a wire was soldered to the threaded lug that the centerpiece mounting screw goes through. I think a wire ran down through the column, out at the coupling, was wrapped around the column up to the commutator and brushes mounted at the firewall, one brush running on the commutator and the other on a bare part of the column. George
George Butz

The original type combination switch and horn button are listed from Moss for $53.95. You would probably need the chrome bezel as well. These parts do occasionally appear on Ebay.
Max Irvine

Thanks George. That is exactly what I have on my wheel. Mine however seems to work vey well and was a nice installation. However I will go back to the original so I can fill the panel correctly. Thank for the info. Dale TD22264
DD Harshbarger

Dale, where are you in Florida? George
George Butz

Dale, could you please post some pictures of the commutator or rotor/brush end? I may profit by it with my project.
Thanks
Jim Merz

I suspect that one of the early non-T cars had a horn button in the steering wheel hub. The steering wheel that I bought off of eBay for 'the53' had a pointed piece of metal inside of the hub that looked as if it could provide ground to a spring loaded center piece. Now I wish I had taken a photo of it. Bud
Bud Krueger

Hello George. I am in Sarasota, Florida. I will try and take some pictures of the installation and post them for any ones use. Thanks again to all for the response and information. Dale TD22264
DD Harshbarger

For what it's worth, early Morris Minors (pre 1957 I believe) used the same steering wheel as a TD and had a horn button in the center of the wheel.
John Quilter (TD8986)

I've asked the present owner of 'the53' to get an image of the center hub of the wheel. He has replaced it with a new steering wheel. Bud
Bud Krueger

John, I am looking for information/photos about how the horn circuit was mechanized where the steering shaft rotates as the wheel is turned. The top end is easy with a contact under the horn button and a wire through the hollow shaft. The parts after that at the bottom end of the shaft is what I would like to view.
Jim Merz

Great info! Thanks ......lots to think about
Bill Reid

To the start of thread when looking for arrangments, I've found the Moss listing to be one of th quickest reference in fact for the dash there is the diagram with all the specific labels
Jon Levine

This thread was discussed between 16/01/2014 and 18/01/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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