But do the bulbs work properly? That is the real test!
Bruce Lowry
Thecarguru@aol.com wrote:
> Hi everyone.
> First a hearty "thankyou" to all who posted answers to the dash bulb question.
> I should have just meandered into RS and taken a look. They didnt have a very
> large selection at all. I purchased two packs, at 1.19$ each. Of course three
> out of four worked right out of the package. Number four didnt light unless
> tapped when powered up. Oh well, the oil/temp gauge already was bright
> enough.I will just use the original bulb.
> ( I should have stopped there. )
> Then I decided to clean the face of the fuel gauge, since the lens was dirty
> inside and the face had a funny gray tinge to it.
> Brought it inside, took it apart. With a dry, clean paper towel I rubbed the
> face. "hmm thats odd. Where did the letters go?"
> Aw $h*t I rubbed the E 1/2 F right off.
> Nuts. Well, I found a (GM) fuel gauge, took the face off, cut the letters
> E,F, and 1/2 out with tin snips, and super glued them in the appropriate
> places after shooting the face with some satin enamel. Looks good. Decided to
> just rub the name plate with some dielectric grease to shine it up and remove
> the gray tinge. Worked nice. "Smiths" didnt rub off that way, and neither did
> "Fuel" and has a decent shine to it.
> As I go to replace the guage, my hand snaps the little trip odometer reset
> cable off. The plastic was brittle. Out comes the speedo, got creative, made a
> little "fork" that holds the cable in using one of the speedometer "guts"
> attatching screws.
> Decided to fix the backup light switch on the trans. One of the wire
> connections had pulled off .Took it out,soldered it back on. Overheated the
> plastic, switch stuck in. Had to file the edge off, open it up, smooth out the
> plastic, cleaned the contacts. greased with dielectric, put it back together,
> crimp the edges back down.
> Got it all back. Went to put the ignition key in for the first time today.
> Wouldnt even BEGIN to go in. Fiddled, not forced. Fiddled some more. Hmm,
> never done that before. Tapped on the lock with the handle of a screwdriver.
> Tried again. Key breaks off without even entering the lock. (!!)
> Great. Whip out the wallet, find the spare key. Goes right in. (!) Turns no
> problem. Nothing bent or fussed with the tip of the broken key. Lock barrel
> must have too much wear , the tapping with the screwdriver handle must have
> gotten things aligned. Tried the spare key a dozen times. Never a problem,
> smooth as silk.
>
> Theres an MG "spirit" out there, laughing his ass off at me.
> But it was all so funny, I forgot to laugh.
> So now that its all over, I can laugh. Rolling on the floor.
> Thanks for reading! ;^)
> Gary
> 75 Midgets
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