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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Heater control

I am new to this bbs and this will be my first entry. Just a little history, in my youth I owned a 69 Sprite and now being an old f—t and wanting to revert to my youth I have recently purchased a 69 Midget. Generally it is in very good shape having been rebuilt a few years ago on a heritage body shell. (I asked my doctor if he could get me a new heritage body but there was no bones about it his answer).
However I have one question that perhaps you guys can help with, which is the heater control. The heater box is the rectangular type with separate fan, the heater fan works as it should when the knob is rotated clockwise but with the pull cable in that position the flap valve near the fan is in the closed position and so no air can be drawn through. If I pull the knob out it will open the valve but in that position I can’t turn the knob clockwise to switch the fan on. From exploded diagrams I have been able to see the inner and outer cables appear to be connected up as they should be. Any advice would be gratefully received.
G.E Verney

Hi and welcome to the BBS. It seems that your heater cable is connected incorrectly.(a common occurence).
Disconnect the inner cable at the nipple, then push the control knob fully in. Look inside the tube where the flap is and position the flap in a central position, ie allowing air to pass either side of it. Reclamp the nipple onto the inner cable in this position. When you pull the knob it will now close the flap which actaually only moves about 45 degrees between open and closed. This should solve your problem. I made the same mistake when rebuilding mine.

Bernie.
b higginson

welcome GE,
it's as Bernie has put

(any chance of your car being green and ' F.. ...H' reg?)

(or perhaps you got it from a local Midget specialist)

if you've not already got a copy I strongly recommend you get a copy of the Driver's Handbook to refresh your memory and give you full details of the car and its servicing requirements, schedule and how to do the work

Ref: 0057 - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue_Handbooks_5.html

as the car is new to you I'd also recommend doing a 36k-mile service/check-up staggered between using the car and getting used to it again and ironing out any wrinkles in it

best things to get and keep the car sorted and running and performing as a sportscar should is to drive it regularly all year round and to keep it fully serviced, maintained and repaired

good luck, let us know how you get on

Nigel Atkins

Just to expand on what Bernie said, the motor should only operate with the flap open, so the flap should be open with the knob pushed all the way in.
Dave O'Neill2

Good point Dave. Yes, the knob will only turn to the right when it is fully in. When it is turned, it switches the blower motor on and locks the control, preventing the knob from being pulled out while the motor is running to stop it burning out. So just make sure that the flap is dead centre and the knob is fully pushed in when you clamp the inner cable. BTW, it can be a bit fiddly because of its position under the tube and sometimes the cable is a little frayed, but as you've had aSpridget before, you know it's all part of the fun.

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie,
the inner wire shouldn't be frayed as it's a solid wire
Nigel Atkins

Thanks all for the advice, I have sorted it now but it was a little more complicated as the butterfly valve had been assembled incorrectly, there is a metal stop protruding down and the rotating flap was the wrong side of that.

I have an original workshop manual but it is very scant on this part only giving a description of how it should work.

I have changed the engine oil, filter and Gearbox oil, the next is the diff.

I was told the colour is British Racing Green but it is quite a light shade. It's G reg and I purchased it privately from a guy only a mile from my home, Thame Oxon.

Thanks again
G.E Verney

flap was probably pulled the wrong side, should easily push passed(?) the rubber seal

Driver's Handbook is different to Workshop Manual and will cover some other stuff

yeap I'm all for fluid changes, don't forget to check brake fluid, hoses, ect.

tyres are usually an area to check, often loads of tread but too old and hard for spirited use - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

suspension bushes

coolant and system clean

be careful before changing or buying new modern made CB points and condensers or many parts that have rubber content

you can always check here first, either a post or check of the Archives

sorry for some reason I read Sprite when you'd clearly put Midget

have fun with it :)
Nigel Atkins

Well done Atkins. I wondered who'd be first to spot the frayed cable red herring.

Bernie (Capt. Mainwaring)
b higginson

funny you should put that I've just finished listening to an episode on Radio 4Xtra, where Captain Square gets "Main-wearing" drunk
Nigel Atkins

He... now, watch that thread drift, getting a little to close to falling off message....

Hahaha

Welcome aboard GE

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Prop,
that's OK the problem was confirmed sorted six posts back

I doubt you've had the benefit of seeing (or hearing) the fabulous warm British comedy featuring Captain Mainwaring and the various catchphrases

here's a famous scene for you, the British are not soldiers as such but Land Defence Volunteers defending the land after a full day's work already, later called the Home Guard known here as Dad's Army - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V3SqxUomwk
Nigel Atkins

Hahaha

Sorry nigel,...I was just peeking up an old womans skirt

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

did ya check out that clip you'll like it

ETA: whoops, I forgot this is on Technical, no more thread drift
Nigel Atkins

Hahaha....thats good, brit humor for sure

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Nigel. The Americans did actually take Dad's Army, but called it another name. I saw a clip on tv of that same scene and the CO says "Don't tell him Kowallski". I don't know whether it caught on though, because as you and Prop point out, it is very British. Right, no more thread drift from me.

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie,
I didn't know that

I don't really count the adaptations as they're rarely anything like the British originals (or to my tastes anywhere near as good)

be interesting to see the American version of the episode where the Yanks come over to sort everything and take the women
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 09/01/2014 and 10/01/2014

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