MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

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 Midget and Sprite Technical - Frogeye door catchs

I have an issue with the door catch/keeper on my 58 sprite, where at times the door will release and move out to the second notch on the keeper. Shell is strong (recent full rebuild) and as straight as can be determined, and flex reduced by full cage. Lock and keeper appear good. Can happen on smooth roads or rough tracks but intermittently. Any one have any similar problems or more usefully solutions. Thinking of deepening the notch on the conical keeper. Thanks. Richard
Slowly

Richard,

Before you start cutting, see if the keeper is properly aligned. It may be slightly rotated which would cause the latch to not grip properly. May have gotten turned during the rebuild. Just an idea.
Martin

Rchard,

With new rubber door seals I had to alter the packing for the striker adjustment on the B post

Flip
Flip Brühl

I had this problem and it was down to wear in the latch mechanism. Despite my best efforts in reprofiling the worn parts I eventually replaced the latch mechanisms and keepers (they weren't expensive). Doors are now a joy to close!!

Simon
Simon Wood

AFAIK the AFH1684 keeper is the same for an early B or an MGA. The problem is that the repro keepers are not the right dimensions and are unsafe to use with original catches

See here

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/faulty/ft076.htm

If my memory is correct then the right profile for the keepers was available from Scarboro Faire but the material was too soft. All others need to be replaced as a set of catch and keeper from the same supplier and tested on the bench before shipping / installation.

Product from Leacy and Moss is not to spec. They both know of the problem.
Dominic Clancy

Thank you all.I will try the time honored route of cheapest first, principally as I really want to retain the early leavers, but now I know that if that does not work it is straight to a new latch and keeper.
Slowly

At least they're not too expensive. I see from the 1958 build sheet that the Wilmott Breeden latch set was 4s 1d.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Hi

Have you checked that your door hinges do not have lots of play in them (worn around the hinge pin, so cannot respect the pin)? I found this was the problem with my Frogeye/MkII Sprite doors, not the latch as I had first thought.

If you find you need a new hinge (if you do, probably the lower one) then if you do not want to buy a new expensive repo one, can modify a good (no play in hinge) later model second hand one to fit. If you have a pillar drill and suitable drill tap. Secondhand later hinges are approx £10 a pair.

The Mki and MkII Sprite door hinges have different position of tapped threads for bolting to the door and shorter arm than the later hinges. The later hinges do have the same attachment casting that bolts on to the A post.

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2016 and 25/11/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now