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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Interior Buzzes / Vibrations - 1275 GAN5

Evening all, had a great hour long drive this afternoon, but a couple of buzzes were somewhat irritating. I've had them both since I bought the car couple of months back, but after trying various things I could do with some advice hopefully from some of you who have had similar issues, and resolved them.

First is coming from the gear lever knob (rev dependent). I drove for some miles with the knob removed and noise went. Put knob back on, buzzing noise again. Took 'MG' badge cap off top, noise still there. It's one of those MGOC/MOSS plastic ones with thin leather covering, with MG logo resin cap. I think it's something to do with the metal / nylon construction causing vibration at certain revs. I've got to be a little careful in my description here... but when you grasp the... er... knob tightly round its circumference, the noise goes, whereas if you only press down from above, the noise remains.

I've read somewhere about filling the upper void below the cap with silicone sealant, but not sure if that's only relevant to wooden knobs? Any ideas before I have to pony up for a new one?

The other rattle / buzz is coming from the indicator / main beam stalk. I've not tried anything here yet as for the life of me I can't see how it comes apart, or even if it can be dismantled without first removing the column cowl? Can you use a blade to prise the very end off? It seems quite fragile, and I don't want to bust anything. Ideas?

Thanks
M Weller

For the gearbox have you tried a new anti zizzle kit ?

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/anti-rattle-kit-gearbox-sgb0002.html?assoc=406069

However the I was not overly impressed with the fit of some of the parts of the last one I bought - including the 'o' ring which was too big to allow the gearstick to be refitted in my gearbox extension.
richard boobier

Hi Richard, would that work with a Ford Type 9? Not sure if the gear lever itself is any different? Thanks
M Weller

Ahh No - didn't know you had a type 9.

Always useful if you note such things in the question.

R.
richard boobier

Probably the anti rattle spring needs replaced and maby the nylon bushings

probably a loose screw in the cowljng try along zip ty aroiud the steering cowling and see if that cures it therww agroveat rhe front next to the steering wheel it will fit into

i did a way wirh the 2 screws a d just use black zip ties... nust super easy andsont have to pull the steering wheel to get access

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

My type 9 has a rubber section in it. Indicator stalk (if it's like mine) will need the cowl taking off. The cowl will/might explode in a shower of 1970s plastic shards
Rob Armstrong

Opps ... i was thinking ribby 4 speed

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

My last midget had a buzzing gearknob. It was the original, plastic '70s one with the clear top.
Dave O'Neill 2

Remove knob, wind thread tape on thread of lever, replace.

Indicator - A pig to get at and you risk shattering the cowl. Perhaps get some WD40 or similar down there

Oggers

Thanks for all the tips guys, I'll try the PTFE tape on the threads. It's definately coming from the gearknob, so hopefully this will do the trick.

Re the indicator stalk, does the very end of the black plastic stalk come off, to expose a screw? Or does the whole 2" gloss black plastic moulding wind on/off the stalk?
M Weller

Easy enough to remove the whole indicator unit and then you can fiddle with it in the daylight! Remove the cowl by undoing 4 cheese headed BA screws from the underside of the lower half. Indicator itself is then held by 2 screws and a metal strap around the column. Wiring should be via a multiplug.

Indicator stalk is screwed into the plastic bit in the main unit, but depending in version it may have a horn wire up the middle to the bulbous contact switch on the end, which also just unscrews.

May be irrelevant but at one time l had a loud and very annoying rattle that l was utterly convinced came from the cowl/steering wheel/horn push/ indicator unit. It took months of attempts to sort out but eventually it stopped when l did what l thought was a completely unrelated job of replacing a TRE !
GuyW

Haha... good one guy... i laughed TRE and not the steering cowl

i ha a rattle early this year and aloud one... spenf several days looking under thhe dash...culpret sun glasses sitting on top of the dash metal section


M.

If your going to take the stalk apart lay down a large piece of white paper.. sprayed with some kind of lite weight spray on contact glue ... plus a good pair of powerful reader eye glasses and a good light source

there are about a 1000 little pieces in side ...springs and balls and other odds and bits

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

for reference

photo of rubber section of Ford gear lever

note this is a shortened (so also straightened) Sierra gear lever and also in photo is the better quality and heavy duty saddle that gives more precise changes - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-FORD-TYPE-9-GEARBOX-GEARSTICK-SADDLE-Sierra-kitcar-quaife-tran-x-MKF-/162208433625?hash=item25c46045d9:g:~XwAAOSwG-1Wxttl




Nigel Atkins

Rob,
if your gear lever isn't quick shifting do you want it to be quick shifting?
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2016 and 13/10/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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