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MG TD TF 1500 - Reverse Light Switch

I'm not sure after an archive search that I can pinpoint the location that the reverse lamp switch inserts on the transmission. Is it already in place, or must it be added to a late (53) TD? Can anyone give me a description so I may locate it or the hole it fits in? A picture of a transmission out of the car with it's location indicated would be great (Don't want too much do I :-))

If it will help, I made my blood offering this morning to the MG gods loosening a spark plug that the DPO had torqued way too much, so I come with hat in hand to their disciples for assistance yet again.

Thanks

Larry
L Karpman

Hmmm. Even if there was a spot to put a switch what good would it do as I have never seen a TD with back up lamps. I may be wrong , it wont be the first time.
Dose your TD have back up lamps?
It may be simpler to just carry a flashlight .
Alan

Alan, there is a place for the switch, and yes, my TD has a Lucas Reversing Lamp. here's a pic:

http://home.comcast.net/~lkarpman/reverse1.JPG

Larry
L Karpman

If you lay on your back and look up at the master cylinder, then look further up the transmission you will see the switch...mine had one and is late '53, but don't know if it was added after (switch as well)... My power was taken from the hot side of the brake light switch. It shows up on the Moss transmission list.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/td184.jpg

And by the way...even though its a little 12 volt bulb, it lights up beautifully and is really helpful.
gblawson - TD#27667

Thanks as always Gordon. I will check tomorrow for the switch. It appears from the catalog it's a two connector type (if there). One from swicthed power, one to the lamp?

Larry
L Karpman

OK, found the switch hole on the transmission. Directly above the rear mount, and way up there. Alas, it had the slotted blanking plug <sigh>. Now the decision: do I buy a switch and attempt to install up there (seems like a trick), or do I just wire a seperate switch? <sigh> I think having the car on a lift is the only way I'd try to install a tranny switch.

Larry
L Karpman

There is a special plug on the rear transmission casing on the left side, up near the remote cover. The OEM nbr. is AEC385.

Remove this plug and install a Lucas 31542 switch. There is an indent button on the end of the switch that will depress and close the contacts, when the reverse dog strikes it.

Very easy to install.

I've had one for years and it works well. I was told recently that they're getting scarce. Abingdon had some recently, but I can't say if they're sill on hand. Moss still list it as 141-100 at $30.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Gordon. We are talking about the same hole that is curently blanked off. This is for the Moss 141-100 switch. How in heck did you get your hand up there to remove the blanking plug and install the switch? That's a tight spot.

Larry
L Karpman

... I must confess. It was done while I had the engine (and transmission) out for a rebuild, at which time it was " ... easy to install".

Sorry abt. that.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A. Clark

Thats OK Gordon, I kind of figured that :-) Right now I'm kind of stressing over this bolt sticking out of the transmission. Looks like the "Locating screw - shaft" according to the manual. Pretty sure it's just worked loose and needs to be re-tightened, but I won't budge til I hear from someone knowledgeable on the forum.

Larry
L Karpman

Mr Karpman - Do you recommend a parallel switch on or near the dash to turn on the reverse light for use during heavy fog? Many new cars, especially european, have this for safety. Lou
Lou Van Koningsveld

Normally a rear fog lamp is red, so I don't think in my humble opinion a reverse light is a good thing for that. A white light could be a rather disquieting thing for a driver behind you in the fog. I was unaware that modern european cars have this.

I have mounted a Lucas 494 reversing lamp, and I also have a matching Lucas 494 red rear fog lamp for the opposite side. I'd like to wire the reversing lamp to the reverse switch (when I can put one in) on the transmission, and the red rear fog lamp to the normal fog lamp switch.

Of course that's just my take on it :-)

Cheers

Larry
L Karpman

Larry, if that protruding bolt is at the rear of the main gearbox (item 51 in the components diagram of the gearbox) it is not uncommon for its head not to be snug against the bottom of the gearbox casting (item 7) as the depth of the flat in the layshaft determins how deeply the screw goes in.

dave
Dave Braun

oh, and items 89 (locating screw-shaft)and 63 (screw-reverse shaft)on my gearbox both have lock washers, and both snug to the case. If you tighten them, and lose reverse, then you have will probably have to open the gear box and investigate.

dave
Dave Braun

Dave, it is sticking out about 3/8" (#89). I shall tighten it and see what happens.

Larry
L Karpman

Larry,

Take off the transmission cover to install the reversing switch. You have to remove 9 or 10 flat head slotted screws into the floor and firewell.
This will give you easy acess to the side of the transmission.

The transmission was used in other cars, Y, Wolsey, etc where a reverse light was factory installed, threrfore blaked off for TD/TF. But an instllable option on the T-cars.
Don Harmer

I see you have another (better) thread going on the protruding bolt. Excellent advice is already in that thread.

dave
Dave Braun

Yes Don, I'm afraid I was stressing after finding the protruding bolt in the hunt for the reverse light switch hole, that I mentioned it here too. Sorry 'bout that folks.

Larry
L Karpman

I told you I have been wrong before .
They look good on there .
The original owner must have had some extra money to spend .
Is there a heater in yours ?
Alan

Alan: If your comments were for me, I was the one that installed the reverse light, not the PO. Not actually expensive. The Lucas 494s, usually from the UK, are on ebay all the time. A really nice used one will go for $40-75. I added the Lucas light mounts to raise the height of the unit above the bumper overrider.

Larry
L Karpman

This thread was discussed between 28/10/2006 and 30/10/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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