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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Head rests stuck.

On my current project I'm about to get stuck into restoring the seats, but the headrests are also stuck in.
Is there a knack to getting them out? I can get them out about three inches then they stick. I've never dealt with MG headrests before as my other car is a '65.

Bernie.
b higginson

hi bernie. i think they are the same as the mgbgt i had. on the bottom of the bar on the headrest inside the seat is a spring clip that hold them in.i found this out when replacing seat covers. i think it is easier if you remove seat take clips off of bottom of back cover and get your hand up inside and squeeze the clips in to be able to pull out. very awkward i would think. good luck bob.
bob taylor

Thanks Bob. I'll be taking the covers off anyway, so I can pull them right up to make it easier.

Bernie.
b higginson

Normally the technique is to stand on the seat with the hood down , place your hands either side of the headrest with it fully down, get a good grip under the rest with your fingers and give a sharp upward tug. Mind your face when it comes free!
Chris at Octarine Services

Did anyone ever find a replacement supplier for the spring that stops the headrest dropping straight back down again?
TonyJH

Bob taylor

Is ALMOST correct.... he forgot to mention the 35 years of rust that has them corrode d into place

I had to spray mine down for several days with PB blaster before they would finally relinquish there grip

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Bernie,
as well as the coil spring that stops the headrest stem from dropping back down that needs lubricating also look out for at the bottom of the headrest stem two sprung wings that hold out further than the sides of the headrest stem, you have to compress these wings to fully remove the headrest from the seat frame

these wings will need lubricating and they can be quite sharp if you're trying to compress them with your finger or quite fragile if using something like pliers

it may be that later aftermarket headrests have sharper and fragile 'wings' that original headrests
Nigel Atkins

Those "wings" are spring steel and almost impossible to compress with pliers let alone fingers - there is little point in lubricating them as they are located in quite wide slits in the stem - they are the ends of a flat U shaped piece and will spring back into the stem if you give a sharp enough upward tug.
Chris at Octarine Services

Chris,
Bernie's taking the covers off the seats so can cut a hole to get at the stems and wings in situ, as they can be rust I thought a little lube or releasing spray may help

IIRC the aftermarket ones have the knife sharp wings but the original ones, unless rusted, can be compressed with your fingers - I've got one in a shed somewhere, I'll see if it's the pliers or fingers type (I've soft hands so they can't be too difficult unless I've remembered wrong)
Nigel Atkins

Thanks for all the input chaps. I should now be able to get the headrests out.
My seats are actually a bit rough and one is blue, the other black, so I bought two others with the intention of making two good ones out of the four I now have. The problem is the fresh ones are beige. So my other question is, (sorry for thread drift) has anyone used the vinyl dye that I see advertised on ebay? I know dyeing leather is OK as it is a natural material, but does it work as well on vinyl? I'd like to do them black.

Bernie.
b higginson

bernie, on one of the midgets i had, the vinyl door cards were done with something which i assume was dye or thinking about it it could have been vinyl paint. it used to come off on the tops where you rest your arms and in the footwells. dont like it myself.
bob.
bob taylor

Bernie,
Many years ago there was a product called Vinylcote - sold in aerosol cans. I used that once on door cards on an Austin 1300 and it worked very well going from 1970's beige to to 1980's black. Didn't rub off, but door cards wouldn't be subject to the same creasing etc that seats are. They used to sell it in Halfords but I haven't seen it for years.


Guy W

Just googled and it came up with this. Same name, but no idea if the formulation is the same. Reading the description it seems to claim wonder properties! Expensive though as I guess you would end up buying cans of cleaner and sealer as well. 3 cans = £60 !!

Frost's version works out cheaper:
http://www.frost.co.uk/black-vinyl-and-leather-paint-400ml.html
Guy W

Thanks Guy. I guess the key is to get everything as clean and grease free as possible.
b higginson

This thread was discussed between 28/06/2013 and 30/06/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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