MG Car Repair: flasher switch removal on mgb, directional signals, emergency flasher

Question
Hi- My directional signals do not work. I read where the emergency flasher switch on the dash and the turn signals are on the same circuit. When I tried the emergency flasher switch, it just came apart. I bought a new one and am in the process of connecting it but the housing of the old one is difficult to get out. I don't want to force the issue and break the housing since I don't know if it is needed for the new switch. Is there a special tool that releases the inside of the old switch from the housing ?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Terry,

The switches in a lot of the MGB's that have that em switch held them to the dash or console with a plastic piece that went around the whole switch and clipped in on both sides in the middle. As I remember you insert a small screwdriver in from the back in between the plastic piece and the switch itself and pry it away from the switch. At the same time pushing the switch outwards and while holding pressure that way use the screwdriver on the other side to release that side too.

Other designs were just 4 ears on the switch and or bezel. They did have a BLM tool and my book says the part number is 18G 1145, but I have never seen one. If you have the switch and bezel with just the 4 ears on the sides you may be able to wiggle it side to side as you force to outwards. That is how we removed those not having any tool.

It is difficult to get behind the dash on every MG since 68 models. Sometimes on the later ones that the speedo and tach could be push in and turn to remove them, that gave a little access to other instruments and switches through the large hole of the speedo and tach.
BLM may have had a tool but working in the dealerships I never seen one. We all hated BLM for the plastic dashes with little to no access to the back.

Howard