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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - BATTERY CLAMP

A bit of help please.
I have a midget mk.3 (Chassis no.GAN5 140306G) and have realised why the previous owner never fitted a clamp to secure the battery.
The parts i have bought just don't seem to fit (J Bolt's AHA 8674 & Clamp 34G 2065).
The bolt'S (to long would run out of thread even if i cut them and threads stop where the angle of the bolts change) are obstructed by the back of the heater so unable to add the nut.
Have any members come across the same problem.
Thanks Stew.
s johnson

Yes, I cut the the hooks off and re-bent to suit, I thought I had ordered the wrong ones first until I reorder and still the wrong part came
Alex Sturgeon

Several lenghts of j bolts are available over the counter at auto parts stores here in Minnesota. I just picked up two for my MGA.
Steve
S E Bryan

Hi Stew, perhaps the battery is shorter than the original? Try putting some packing under it to raise it up a bit as a workaround. Don't raise it too much or the terminals will touch the bonnet!

I think for your year the earth should be on the right (as you look at it from the front), with the battery terminals nearest the bulkhead.
Regards Mark

Mark '74 Midget

Thanks for the replies.
I will check the battery dimensions , the wrong battery could be a possibility.
After that it will be re-bend the bolts.
Thanks Again
Stew
s johnson

Stew,
Is it possible that you are fastening the battery clamp in the wrong position?
The correct clamp rail is "L" shaped, but the "L" doesn't simply hook over the corner of the battery. There should be an extra small lip along one edge of the rail which locates against the top corner of the battery so that the larger "L" shape is held at 45 degrees to the front face of the battery. This in effect means that the "J" bolts don't extend as far through the clamp bar so you shouldn't run out of thread.
Difficult to explain in words and I guess that won't make a lot of sense until you try it!

Guy
Guy Weller

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2009 and 24/06/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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