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MG TD TF 1500 - TD back seat springs

I am preparing for the interior job. The PO had the backseat re-covered however without the springs, it is just foam inside. The well known MG part suppliers offer complete backseats"interiors": wood, spings, springcage and covers. However I am looking for the springset only (springs plus their cage). I found a lot of info in the archives. A guy: "Bob from Australia" (no e-mail) had bought a Wade Springs springset. Question: any experience (quality, pricing) buying from them and do they deliver to private persons?
Appreciate your comments, greetings, Huib
Huib Bruijstens

Huib,

Moss USA sells the spring back:
640-395 $587.95 SPRING CASE, seat back

Then you'll need the covering:
640-360 $49.95 HORSEHAIR BACK PAD

The wood they sell is only $55. I wonder how this compares to the pricing you're finding for the entire set?

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

If you buy used, I found my 56 year old springs did not give much support and I ended up adding foam pieces to give my 'old' back some support... it seems to be ok even on 800 mile trips!

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/seat/seat.html
gblawson(gordon)


Hey Gordon,

I just wanted to say thanks for your web site and all the pictures/documentation you have on there. It has been very useful over the years...

Scott, a lurking user.
Scott

I purchased just the back spring from Moss and I'm very happy with it.

Good luck!
Jim
James Budrow

Thanks all for the answers.

Dave: Overhere Angloparts offers (only) a complete set for chairs and back, wood, springs, foam for 660 euro (about 880 USD). Moss UK offers the "squab and cushion set" for 378 Euro (about 505 USD).
From their graphics I learn that there are about 30 coilsprings inthere. On a website (dutch) that sells parts for chair-repair, I see that a typical coilspring goes for 2 euro. Given my estimations that the hole spingscage weighs about 8 - 12 kilogrammes, I can absolutely not understand why this thing is soooo expensive.

Gordon, thanks for the warning on used springs. And your picture set is very practical.

James, I wonder if you could send me some pictures of the hole and details? Would appreciate it very much because I consider to make a springcage myself.

Attached picture is part of Angloparts cataloge. The red arrow points at "an ear" at the side of the seat back. Question: why is this "ear" there?
The lower part is a piece of Dave Brauns wonderful collection: it shows the chamfered edge of the wooden seatbackplate. Two questions: is this camfered edge on the backside or frontside? Second: why is this.

Greetings from Helmond, Huib

Huib Bruijstens

Huib,

I can only guess as to the reasons for the two details you have pointed out.

The chamfered edge goes to the backside of the seat back. I believe it is to clear the angle of the metal tie bracket at the rear of the tub (the metal face the carpet travels up below the rear wheel arches) With the seat all the way back, without the chamfers the seat back may rest prematurely against the tie bracket.

The 'ear' makes a neater installation with the side panel, and makes the seat appear wider than it is.

Others may have different guesses.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Think the 'ear' covers the top bows when the top is down?
gblawson(gordon)

Huib,

I received your email. I will post here so the pictures are in the BBS. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the spring cage, but I can tell you it is much more than 30 coil springs.

Here is a picture of the ear. It is from the right side of the seat back....

Evan Ford

Here's another of the back with the chamfered edges visible.

Also, to clarify my comment above. When I said "more than 30 coil springs," I meant to say there is more to the cage than just the coil springs. If is a steel cage that defines the correct shape of the seat back.

I would try and find a decent used part. If unavailable, I would consider new.

I hope these pictures help

Good luck,
Evan

Evan Ford

Gentlemen; Does anyone have good photo of a TD spring case? Have not been able to find a pic of the naked seat back spring case. Have one I acquired in a bulk parts buy that may help Huib's problem if we can positively ID it. Hate to ship the wrong thing clear to the Netherlands.Thanks for the help Dan Craig
Dan Craig

Dan, there are a series of photos of the back spring case in the mg td15470 Restoration » Interior & Upholstery » Old Upholstery section of my website. I omitted one picture which wasn't very helpful, but from the four views or so you may be able to determine the approximate width and layout of the back spring.

It's amazing the pictures I WISH I had taken now...

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Thanks Dave-just didn't look far enough in your pics. The one I have is certainly different than yours-Huib is still in need. Later Dan
Dan Craig

A fellow TD restorer today made his backside available for de-assembling and examination. I took all covers off (carefully) and ended up with a nacked springcage. I now can measure all dimensions and shapes and will start looking for suitable basic materials to make one myself. Coils seem to be available on the market. Yes Dan, in addition to the clearity from Dave pictures, I now defenitely see your spingcage is a different one, may be an earlier model.Thanks to all and greetings, Huib

Huib Bruijstens

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2008 and 17/12/2008

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