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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Instrument lights

1971 Sprite - I understand that the 4 main instruments are lit from behind by push-in bulbs & holders. What are the light sources for the red ignition & blue main beam warning lights in the tacho & speedo? Do they require separate bulbs & power supplies?

Many thanks
Paul Clark

These are clear bulbs too; IIRC they are narrow so they fit into a tube so the light doesn't spread around the instrument. They are powered by the ignition with feed to alternator (or control box) and by headlight cct respectively; both 12v.

A
Anthony Cutler

A,
I'm not sure what exotic bulbs you're thinking about all the bulbs are normally the same for panel instruments lights, mainbeam and ignition warning lights

Paul,
a copy of the owners Handbook will give you the information you require now and a lot more for the future - (Ref: 0057) - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue_Handbooks_5.html

bulbs - 2.2w GLB987 (page 35)

wiring diagram - (pages 39 or 40)

or DVD with factory Parts Catalogue and Workshop Manual too, but not as convenient as paper copies I find - http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-HMCC3009DVD?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=feed
Nigel At

Paul from my memory the mainbeam warning lamp is simply wired into the main beam circuit and as Ant has described it is shielded inside the tacho/speedo

However the ignition lamp is different and is housed in a insulated holder in the rear of the Tacho/speedo (can not remember which) this is because it has power (12volts) to either side when the car is in use and if it was not insulated from earth there would be a big flash! The power comes from the ignition switch on one side and the control box/alternator at the other. Both these bulbs are the same as the rest I believe.

Out of interest when running wqith 12 volts at either side the lamp will not be lit. When you first switch on the ignition the lamp has 12 volts from the ignition switch and zero from the Reg/alt and so the lamp illuminates.
Bob Turbo Midget England

Here's a couple of pics.

This is the Main Beam lamp in holder. The Blue/white wire is 12Volts when the headlamps are on, AND you are on main beam.

Earth is through the case of the Speedo, which is earthed.




Lawrence Slater

Here is the Red ignition lamp in holder.

Fed as described previously, from the ignition and alternator. Note the colours of wires. White on ignition lead, and (on my '66 sprite) brown/yellow from alternator. (Was a dynamo before conversion).

Yours may be a different colour(s) as it's a later car.



Lawrence Slater

Just checked my wiring diagrams, late car same colour.

Brown/yellow on the ignition warning lamp.

B/Y from alternator or dynamo, and white from ignition.
Lawrence Slater

dem is de bulbs, little screw thread things same for instrument lights

well done Lawrence, Bob

I was hoping to come back with more info before now but it just wasn't to be today and Bob and Lawrence have covered it anyway

such dainty hands too :)
Nigel At

Yes, thanks to all for the responses. I have ordered the handbook for future reference.

As ever the photo's say more than most and are really helpful. Cheers Lawrence.

Cross referncing these with the Moss site suggests that the design has moved on a bit. Replacements are now plastic bodied. I'll check again when the handbook arrives.
Paul Clark

Ther main beam holder would have to be metal bodied, or include a seperate earth tag.

Yup my dainty hands that have taken much hammering over the years and are still soft thanks to Fairy washing up liquid lol. (For hands that do dishes etc etc ). Who remembers that then?
Lawrence Slater

Who remembers that?

Just like yesterday

Now this is the one to remember

http://is.gd/tfsA72

LOL
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

You have got me started now.
This is the one that made me lmso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hro4AdTYiTA
Rob Newt

You got me all nostalgic now rob.

I didn't mind the ads so much back then, they were actually good to watch. I used to sing that R whites one all the time. lol.

And don't you wish that all ads were still narated in the same crisp BBC english/war office/home office way, that the Gibbs SR ad was?

Cool as a mountain stream. Remember that one?
Lawrence Slater

And how about this, can you guess?

Happiness is a cigar called ????????,
[Background music: Bach’s “Air on a G-string”]

Lawrence Slater

Hi mate that is easy and there are a number of hamlet adverts
This possibly being my favourite

http://is.gd/s1fYmQ
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

or another favourite but crisps this time

http://is.gd/jgVMYx
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Sorry about this Paul, hope you don't mind a detour down memory lane :).

Yup even if you didn't smoke, the hamlet ads were fantastic. And there have been some great crisp ones too.

Potato related, do you remember the aliens from space laughing at us earthlings making mash pots' and calling is smash?

For mash get smash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SAbJjktk7E

Lawrence Slater

appologies for dragging you back from meory lane but I've got a question related to the original posting (sorry :o) )!

The blue filter seems to have dislodged itself from my Speedo/Tach and so now the tell atale is white instead of blue. I can fix it easily enough with a lighting filter gel but wondered if anyone else had any ideas or experience in fixing this.

Cheers,
-Craig
C Robertson

Paul,
when you get that owners Handbook a goodread through of it will probably remind of things you'd forgotten and is a mine of information

I've not noticed any errors in it, yes you may want to add a couple of psi to modern tyres ans some bulbs you might need to substitute if buying from somewhere like Halfords (I can list these if needed) but if you could only have one book about the car that would be the one
Nigel At

Craig,

you're in luck !

I've got one you can have

email me your name, address, post code and I'll post it to you

nigel atkins (one word) at bt internet (one word) dot com
Nigel At

Craig, Don't you like smash then? :)

Seriously though, do you have a combined speedo and tacho? The blue (main beam) is usually only on the speedo, and the red is on the tacho for the ignition.

You should be able to remove the chrome ring simply enough (first remove the speedo from the dash), and then use a bit of super glue or the like, to stick the blue plastic back in place.

Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 04/10/2011 and 05/10/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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