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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Question on Wiper Arms

This Tex branded wiper arm is offered through MGOC as a replacement for the MGA unit (it looks like the later midget style). I like the idea that the arm can be locked down via the screw & cam onto the wiper shaft, as regular MGA push-down arms tend to fly off at times. Has anyone used this style? Any thoughts of how well it holds the blade to the windscreen?


Nick Kopernik

I have been using these wiper arms for several years, after losing the standard push on ones a few times! They appear to work OK.
Gary Lock

Nick, although I try to avoid rain it has been known to happen so I carry a couple of spare wiper arms. The ones sold by to usual suspects aren't deep enough and so they fly off at very inconvenient times. I've never ordered from MGOC. Do they have a US presence? Is shipping reasonable?

Thanks.

Jud

'62 MGA Mk.II
J K Chapin

Gary, thank you for the vote of confidence regarding these wipers. The ones I have are quite useless so I'm hoping that this style will be an improvement.

Jud, MGOC does not have a U.S. presence so shipping costs can be an impediment for some items. MGOC does carry items not available here in the U.S., like the wipers in question and a new solid state condenser and other parts made by local UK manufacturers. I do check total delivered cost from both domestic and international providers and in some cases do buy international, even if the cost is higher. As for the wipers, a set of 2 blades and 2 arms will cost approx $13-15 to ship to the U.S. From what I've experienced with domestic shipping costs, this is not an exorbitant amount.
Nick Kopernik

Nick..I should have added...Tex sell direct to the public, so you could try them.
Gary Lock

Thanks Nick. After posting that I was moving around some dusty boxes on my work bench and found two sets of arms and blades. They're no better than what's on the MGA now but they will work when the current ones get tossed into the ditch on a rainy day.

Jud
J K Chapin

The problem with the TEX wiper arms is that they are incorrectly dimensioned at the hubs, (too large) and the splines are an attempted friction fit design rather than a finely formed spline to match the the spline on the drive side.

I had become frustrated by several new "Genuine TEX" arms flying off into space when in use. I had the same problem with both TEX MGB arms and TEX MGA arms.
The predictable response from the retailer was that my drive splines must be worn.
But I'd never had a problem before fitting new arms. (I was silly enough to throw away my original arms when I replaced them. Moral = Never throw any original part away)..

So I obtained a pair of used but genuine original MGB Mk II arms. The difference was immediately obvious, viz correctly formed splines, and a hub size immediately obviously smaller than those in the TEX arms.
They instantly fitted securely. I've never had a problem since. (This all took place in 2014).
I have now sourced a pair of genuine early MGB Mk I arms (their blades are narrower, and shiny rather than matte finished). The used Mk I MGB arms fit securely also.

I took the trouble to send TEX the same photos I have loaded here showing the difference in their splines compared to the originals, and showing the larger dimensions. Their response was "If you don't like our arms, we suggest you go and buy instead from our Chinese opposition." Clearly a company intent on quality control and maintaining good customer relations!!

Left to right in the first photo are:
TEX MGB wiper arm.
Genuine MGB Mk II wiper arm
TEX wiper arm.

Left to right in the second photo are:
Genuine MGB Mk II wiper arm
Tex wiper arm
Tex wiper arm.








T Aczel

I do find it amazing that anyone in business wold not want to improve the quality of their products from customer feedback. TEX is not alone in this viewpoint as there have been complaints for years about other items that are far inferior to the OEM products that have since been discontinued. Brake & starter switches, master cylinders, rocker panels, to name a few, all seem to suffer from poor design and/or manufacturing processes. I guess there's this feeling out there that either buy from us or buy something that may be even more inferior. It is maddening......
Nick Kopernik

This thread was discussed between 14/08/2023 and 29/08/2023

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.