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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Wiring Question

I have a new original type wiring harness from Moss. Does anyone know if that harness is color coded to match the generic TF wiring diagrams? Nothing came with it to indicate one way or another. Of course only the outer casing looks original and the colored modern wiring inside does not. My car is positive earth as original. When I wire it all up, I'm going to put a temporary 20 amp fuse in line at the battery just in case. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Paul - "When I wire it all up, I'm going to put a temporary 20 amp fuse in line at the battery just in case."
Either that our use a trickle charger to energize the electrical system until you have checked everything our and don't have any shorts. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

Paul,
No experience with Moss harness, however, as a standard practice I always energize a new system with a variable dc power supply. The one I use has not only variable dc voltage, but also variable amperage, and a re-settable circuit breaker.
Car battery has way to much amperage to experiment with...you can weld with one!

You don't need anything fancy ...bet a trip to radio shack would find something suitable.
(Radio Shack, You've got questions....we've got batteries!)
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

I have a cloth/cloth harness from Moss on the TF. Color coding was perfect. Have a cloth/pvc harness from Moss in the TD. Color coding was perfect. Put a cloth/cloth harness from British wiring in Bill's TC. It had some issues.
MG LaVerne

What are people's opinion's of the wiring harness color coding from RI Wiring? http://www.riwire.com/

I've heard good things about them and I will be making a purchase soon.
Frank Cronin

My experience with them has been 100% right on. Bud
Bud Krueger

Paul any questions call or E mail me
Len Fanelli
914 420 8699
laf48@aol.com
E mail is better.
Len Fanelli

I think all the wiring harnesses from the respectable vendors are spot on. I have never had a problem with any of them. The only real issue with the harnesses is that in many cases you have to order them in parts, so make sure you pay attention to what you are ordering.

Moss does not supply the white/black coil wire for some reason.
Christopher Couper

Thanks guys, the new harness came in two sections, which I assume is normal. The old harness, basically a conglomeration of junk wires and pieces of the original, is totally useless to get any info from. I have a color coded wiring diagram, but I wanted to make sure it's ok to use with the Moss harness. I have four trickle chargers and will use one of them for checking the circuits, thanks for that tip! I'm going to wire the chassis before the tub goes back on. I want to put a relay next to the brake switch as LaVerne did on his cars, which I have, but will need to know how to hook it up. Any info on that would be appreciated also. I'm sure I'll be asking questions on this later. Thanks again. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I forgot to ask, should I install a relay for the headlights? I plan on using the same lights I have on the MGB. From Moss, this is the bulb, a halogen, I want to install. They work terrific on the B! Or possibly the Hella Vision. PJ




Paul S Jennings

Paul,

I put relays on my headlights, driving lights and horns. Now I can hear what the horn really sounds like and I can run all the lights at once. Smart and easier thing for you to do at this point in your rebuild.

Jim
James Neel

Thanks Jim, I'll use relays on suggested items. Thank you. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Paul, see http://www.ttalk.info/Tech/BrakeLightRelay.htm for some info on the brake light relay. The page has a link to Dave DuBois' excellent work on the topic.
Sometimes there are three sections to the complete harness - Main, rear and dash.
See http://www.ttalk.info/LateTDWiring.htm for a look at Dave Running's Late TD wiring diagram. A lot of it is identical to the TF. Only differences are probably in the wiper motor and instruments. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks Bud, I contacted Dave and he will be sending me a relay with his conversions on it. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Good way to go, Paul. Dave does excellent work. Bud
Bud Krueger

Before you start wiring using and trusting the new harness colors, I make it a practice to lay out the harness similar to the way it would be in the car and then label each wire as to where it goes (on which part). Then when it goes into the car there will be no doubt when you try to connect things in the cramped space.
Lew Palmer

Thanks fellas for all your input! It sure makes life a little easier. I have restored wood framed American cars with no real issues, but this being the first British wood framed car, it's a bear, but with all the knowledge I've picked up here, things seem to flow more in the right direction. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Paul, I'm a solid supporter of Lew's suggestion for laying it out on the floor and putting some labels on it.
The WSM wiring diagram shows a number of 'snap connectors'. These are where the harness pieces go together. You can learn a lot by doing that. Bud
Bud Krueger

The main harness is on the chassis, but the chassis is now exposed to get the tub painted. Yes I agree with labeling everything, just as I did with the MGB. This system appears to be somewhat easier.

Such as;



Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2014 and 04/08/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

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