MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 MGB Technical - Removing the clip from behind the rocker swtiches

Is there a way to remove these clips/bulb holders without breaking them? I try to be careful and not force them, bach time I try to remove them, they seem to crack right through the middle of the bulb holder. Am I doing something wrong or should these be considered disposable items?
Dan Hiltz

There are two U-shaped tools (for different switches) that should be used to remove the locking springs/clips on the back of North American padded dashes.
Paul Hunt 2

Proper tools are not available on this side of the pond. I often wondered if they would sell if someone made a small run, say 50 or so, and tried to sell them a bit above costs. It would be a good project for some one with a CNC mill
gerry masterman

Paul, do you have a photo or drawing of the tool and the official name? Perhaps we here in the US could find one on E-bay or from one of the British suppliers.
Bill Young

The two clips Paul describes are shown in the Bentley manual, and they look like they would depress the tabs on the switch itself, if slid along the switch from the top or bottom.

I have trouble with the plastic surround that hooks into the switch behind the dash. It has the holder for the lightbulb at the top. It's Moss number is 141-440, called a Clip, Illuminated Switches.

A tool to remove it would need to come from directly behind the switch and spread the sides to disengage the tabs on the clip from the body of the switch.
Dan Hiltz

Bill - as Dan says it is shown in the Leyland and Bentley workshop manuals. Tool 18G 1145 consists of two 'U's - one to remove the switch leaving the bezel in place, and the other to remove both switch and bezel from the dash. There is also a very similar tool 18G 1201 (one 'U') which is described as 'Rocker Type Switch (Slim Type) Remover'.

Google throws up a link for the former to http://www.britishtool.com/index.htm but I can't find any reference on it to the item. Nothing for the 2nd item. I'm at an mg spares fair this Sunday, I'll keep an eye open even though it is the wrong side of the pond.

But surely *someone* has a switch and or bezel out of the dash to measure? Or the dash out of the car? All you need is the width between the arms of the 'U', from the drawings the thickness is relatively unimportant. I've scanned and emailed some images direct.

Paul Hunt 2

The bezel measures 1.085 inches wide, and the locking tabs extend to an overall width of 1.155 inches.

The switch measures 1.245 inches, and the locking tabs extend out to 1.347 inches.

Mind you, these are measurements taken from an old switch, but it is in decent condition.
Jeff Schlemmer

This thread was discussed between 13/02/2006 and 15/02/2006

MG MGB Technical index

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