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MG Midget and Sprite General - Trip meter

Where does the dial end of the cable attach to? It must have a place rather than just hanging but I can't find it.
BH Harvey

?
What cable do you mean? Do you mean the twirly thing that zeros the odometer and hangs down below the speedo?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Thats the one.
BH Harvey

I suppose it depends on your dash (year, model, market)

on the MKIII there's just a notch out of the bottom of the dash

the winder just hangs down from the dial

as you fit the dail into the dash be careful not to bend or bust the hanging winder

. . . or am I well off track here ?
Nigel Atkins

Its a 1978-9 car, is this a MK3?
the end is threded so looks as though it screws in somewhere.
BH Harvey

'78-'79 is a 1500 (still known as a Mk3 by the makers) but sometimes refered to as a Mk4

sorry I don't know with a 1500 as that does have a flexi type cable whereas the 1275 has just a fixed spindle

If you don't get a 1500 owner or someone else that knows you could try putting up up another thread titled something like 1500 tripometer cable fitting?

If you were able to get your vehicle's profile visable (there might be a website problem with that at the moment) then it could speed up better answers

Nigel Atkins

Hiya. If my memory serves me correctly there is a flat plate that fastens to the lower lip of the dash panel with a self tapping screw with a bigger hole the other end that the cable pokes thro and is fixed with a nylon knurled nut thingy. Think mines fastened to the steering column clamp bolt atm.

Hope this helps, regards Steve
SR Smith 1

That is the way my RWA Midgets are (knob on the bottom of the speedometer for my Bugeye). Must be another thing that was adopted sooner for the US market than for the home market.
David "twirly cable thing" Lieb
David Lieb

Is it called a tripometer?
SR Smiths description would match the cable but I can't find the hole (the dash has many unexplainable holes but none work in this case). Could somebody please post a picture of this.
I cannot be sure that the dash is original and thus from a MK3-4.
BH Harvey

The end does not screw in; there is supposed to be a nut that screws onto those threads after you have inserted it through the hole in the little metal strap described by SR. I will try to photograph the one in my RWA when I get home.
David "wait a minute, I will have to photograph a different one cuz I drilled an extra hole in that strap for the control for my delay wipers" Lieb
David Lieb

I think I may have a 1500 dash somewhere. I will try to have a look tomorrow.
Dave O'Neill 2

Here is a picture of the twirly thing in my 73. Bear in mind that it is LHD. It is near the driver's right knee on a metal strap attached to a stud on the inner lip of the dash.
David "vaguely helpful?" Lieb

David Lieb

Mine just hangs under the right hand side behind the keys.
rachmacb

'78-79 car will have the Triumph speedo, which does have a cable, similar to David's US model, rather than the knurled knob sticking out of the bottom of the speedo.

Check out item no 7 here, for the cable. It doesn't show a bracket, unfortunately...

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=1343
Dave O'Neill 2

Sometimes the differences between US-spec and UK-spec simply puzzle me. Why not make this change at the same time for both? Or the change to alternator, for that matter?
David "conundrums" Lieb
David Lieb

I can't find it on the dash diagram either.http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=1465 .
Surely it doesn't just dangle? Or is this another BL oddity/afterthought like the heater valve cunningly hidden in engine bay?
BH Harvey

It just dangles

The heater valve is actually quite handy in the engine bay - as it stops people whinging they are too hot or too cold and I can set the temperature to what I want - not what they want ....
rachmacb

I guess it only dangles on the UK models ;-) None of mine have ever dangled. It is an easy fix, too. Simple black metal strap with a hole in it...
David "Then you can try to convince people that yours is an ex-California car" Lieb
David Lieb

I've had two late 1500s and I don't remember it dangling!

Another difference between UK and US models is that when the padded dash was introduced, the speedo and tacho were reduced in diameter to 3.5" whereas UK instruments remained 4" until the end of production.
Dave O'Neill 2

Lol cool mr Leib better send me piccies and I'll get on it tomorrow - anything is better than a wedding ...!!!!!
rachmacb

I might try drilling a hole in the dash. And yes it will be better than the wedding.
BH Harvey

BH,
I don't think the cable will fit to a hole in the dash without compromising functionality. Check carefully before drilling.

Rach,
Don't they teach "I before E, except after C" over there? and Mr Lieb is still my father, I have not yet succeeded to the title... Hmm, come to think of it, it would go to my older brother, so I will never be Mr Lieb (YAY!).
What do you need beyond the pic I posted above? It isn't an easy area to photograph, especially with an iPhone (no flash, so holding a torch with one hand, aiming the iPhone with tother and trying to set off the trigger somehow), so be specific in your request.
David "digital contortionist" Lieb
David Lieb

This thread was discussed between 26/04/2011 and 29/04/2011

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