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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Gearbox cable

I have a 75 that I am removing the engine and transmition and the manual says to remove the restraining cable. There is a short cable (3 or 4 in long) with a 2 nuts and the main cablewith a long nut. What does the cable do? How do I disconnect it?
RC Bishop

That short cable is probably the engine to chassis ground cable. It's held on with a couple of nuts/bolts. The engine restraining cable is a long one located underneath the engine. Been a while since I looked underneath my car but roughly is attached near the back and goes toward the transmission cross member somewhere. It's about 1/4 inch thick. Undoing the attaching bolts should do the job but I'm sure othes will be along who have actually done the job.
Clive Reddin

What on earth is an "engine restraining cable"???
Ant Allen

In the event of a very sudden stop, the cable stops the engine from possibly coming off the mounts and through the radiator.
Clive Reddin

wow. If I had come to such a sudden stop that the engine parted company with the mountings I don't think that damage to the radiator would be too high on my worries list!
David Cox

This cable just sticks out from the cross member where the gearbox rear mounts are bolted in. The cable does not go any where. Just sticks out about 3 inches and does not connect to the engine. It my have been cut at one time???
RC Bishop

The restraining cable should run from the crossmember under the gearbox to one of the clutch housing bolts.

And yeah, the idea is to prevent the engine coming adrift in a collision. I have a '78, and was hit lightly from behind a couple of years ago. The impact broke both studs on the LH engine mount, allowing the engine to sag onto the steering column. And while the blow was sufficient to do some panel damage across the rear of the car and jolt the radio out of its slot, it still wasn't that severe.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

It looks like this cable has been cut from a privous engine lift. I don't think this part can be ordered.
Thanks for the help of a great forum.

Now to get out and lift out the engine and have fun rebuilding the gearbox.
RC Bishop

If I came to a sudden stop in a midget, I'd be very happy for the engine to exit via the front instead of through my left leg!
Rich Amos (1 Sprite 1 Midget!)

This thread was discussed between 12/03/2009 and 13/03/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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