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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Horn push button and pencil

I have a frogeye and the horn has become a bit intermittent. I took the horn push off (? - sorry if my terminology is wrong), and pulled out the pencil (?) which had quite a bit of tape around it so obviously had some first aid by the PO.
I have bought a new pencil, which is longer than my existing pencil. So not sure if the replacement is right or not. The replacement is about 65 mm whereas the existing is only about 48 mm.
However the new one has a spring inside and will squash down to about the size of the old one, but needs quite a lot of force to do so.
The problem is that when I put the new pencil in place , the force of the compressed spring works against the horn push button, preventing it staying in place.
I can't tell if the problem is the pencil, or whether there should be some form of catch on the horn push, to hold it in place. It does have a small springy thingy that sticks out of the side of the horn push button to wedge it in place, but that only seems to work by friction and so nowhere near strong enough to fight the force of the spring that needs quite a lot of force to compress it to fit.

Appreciate your help! Thanks.
Graham V

Is your pencil shortenable, Graham? I remember this problem so well - tape around the hornpush body to produce more friction, even - in the end - making big mods to the pencil. I had got so fed up with the hornpush leaping into my lap at crucial moments.
Call the suppliers. Get them to measure things. They will.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

Thanks Nick. You've put me on the right track. Further research confirms that the one I have bought is the "official" length, but too long! Some say it is because the spring is too strong. I will need to cut it down a bit. But apparently there should also be clips. I found this really helpful video from frogeye guy across the pond that explains all. I wonder where I can get similar clips?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCamH0HY-Xc
Graham V

There are two different brushes. The shorter one is for MkI and MkII Sprites, 2A 6168. The longer one is for later horns with larger diameter horn pushes. I don't have the part number for that one.
J Bubela

I shortened mine by unsoldering the end ans reducing the length of the plastic case to the correct length. I had to shorten the sring slightly too. I resildered it back together and all was well.
Bob Beaumont

Bob
That sounds a bit tricky. My intention is to just cut the end down a bit. I am waiting for the clips to arrive first
Graham V

I had to lengthen one of mine, by drilling and tapping into the end and screwing a tiny bolt in, to the correct length, then re-insulating.

I keep my horn switch on the dash now, just under my left hand.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2018 and 15/08/2018

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