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MG TD TF 1500 - TF clock and wiper motor

TF owners perhaps you can assist with some questions. The clock on my speedometer is inoperative. While removing the instrument panel I noticed a small spade connector on the back of the clock housing with no wire attached.Is there a single wire which draws current off the negatve pole on battery ( is the clock grounded internally )? Everything else on the dash functions fine but its been 3:15 in the cockpit since I bought the car! Also... the car had no wiper motor under the bonnet but the seller had a reconditioned one which he included. I assume it mounts to the firewall through the two holes above the starter switch but how is it wired? There was a hodge podge toggle switch mounted beneath the passenger side glove box with wires to no decernable destination. The switch on the drivers side manual wiper knob is there but has no wiring attached so I have no idea if it is functional. The reconditioned wiper motor looks smashing but fails to operate under load. As these buggers seem to be rarer than hens teeth does anyone out there know the whereabouts of a shop which can checkout mine or rebuild it? While I m at it, does anyone know if the TF came with some sort of support rods to hold the bonnet up when checking the engine? Mine has none and the bonnet cannot be fully swung over so that it rests on the other half. Any help with the above greatly appreciated Jeff Payne
Jeff Payne

Hello. The clock is grounded through the case/instrument cluster. They have a spring-loaded wheel which turns back and forth, with a tiny brush touching a fine pin on the wheel. This momentarily connects, energizing the motor, winding the wheel. Every time the brush touches the pin, it sparks, and eventually burns the pin off. My clock has been rebuilt/repaired twice, and the last time it died I set it at 3:41, the time my first boy was born! Try West Valley Instruments (listed in the Moss Catalog). Also, a Hal Kramer used to advertise in the New England T-register mag for clocks and wiper motors. Go to the next GOF and check out all types and manners of hood props. There are metal, mahogany, and whatever. Belive it or not, we made a pair out of a broom handle! Cut to lenght by experimentation, sand, paint or stain however you want. We then drilled holes near each end, and used white nylon rope to tie (using a bow) the hood catch bracket and lower latch to the prop. This prevents wind from blowing the hood side on over! (The first time we showed the car, it was a really windy day, and the hood really kept blowing over!) I recall there is no wiring diagram for the wiper motor. The driver's side wheel box has the switch, and should have two terminals for the small diameter wire running to the motor. As it has been 10 years since I did that car, I cannot remember the exact hook-up at the motor, other than the fact it is really screwy! Hope this helps.
George Butz

George Thanks for the information, hopefully it will cut down on head scratching. I will assume the clock has burnt out the pin you mentioned. We can live with constant time but the wipers will need some researching perhaps some old issues os TSO will lead to source of repairs. My wife refuses to man the manual wiper system must pray for sunny days!!! Thanks again Jeff
Jeff Payne

Our TF has a clock which like most of them does not work and is not worth the trouble to fix. Set and Forget.
Re: Wipers, I will check and see if I have pictures of the wiper motor installation and the wiring diag. I will be glad to email them to direct.
Our wiper motor and all the wiring work just fine, however we find the best wiper 'motor" for a TF is "Rain-Ex". Just don't get it on you paint. TF wipers are totally useless in anything above a light Scotch Mist.
colin stafford

Jeff - For the clock, try Nisonger Instrument Sales & Service in Mamaroneck, NY (http://www.nisonger.com), they are closer to you than West Valley Auto Electronics in California (their e-mail is mmintz@pacificnet.net just in case). Keep in mind, if you never get the clock fixed that it is absolutely accurate twice a day as it is. I would suggest sending your wiper motor to Lew Palmer in St. Mary's Point, MN for overhaul. His e-mail is lpalmer@vanstar.com. I agree with Collin on the use of Rain-X, it is great stuff - this from someone who drives his TD in the rainy Pacific Northwest.
David DuBois

Colin If you could find photos of wiper instalation and wiring diagram and forward them it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jeff
JEFF Payne

Jeff,
When I restored my TF the wiper motor was unservicable, the gears in the transfer case were completely
stripped. The Morris Minor of the 50's used the same wiper motor although the gearing was slightly different I managed to obtain one and it works quite OK in the TF, albiet a little slow.
If you look at the wiring diagram, which doesn't show a switch in the wiper circuit but you can get an idea on where one will go and then you can connect to the switch on the wiper control box.
Wayne
Wayne

I'm no genius at reading the mg electrical diagrams, but if I read the TF diagram right they show two terminals on the wiper. The one closest to the end goes to ground. The other one should be a green wire that connects to the odd terminal of the five terminals on the fuse block. In other words, there are 4 arranged in a square and one other, the one you want. This terminal is at the top in the picture in Schach's restoration manual. However, ity should be at the bottom. I don't know how the motor is mounted as I have a TD which is completely different. No guarantee, but I hope this helps. You really should acquire the workshop manual which has the diagram and much other information. It is readily available. Dave G.
Dave Geissinger

This thread was discussed between 02/02/2000 and 10/02/2000

MG TD TF 1500 index

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