MG Car Repair: points, moss europe, rotor arm

Question
Hi Barrie

Thanks in advance for you help, have gotten help from you in the past and wanted to thank you for that.

I have a 1976 mg midget, have had a blast with it this summer, has ran great with no problems at at, was driving home yesterday and it cut off, like it ran out of fuel, started back up , was able to get off the road, had to pull it home and upon checking to make sure it had fuel because in the past I had fuel pump problems, was getting fuel but no fire on points, had a very weak looking fire on the coil, I replace the points, coil, and a new coil wire, fired right up , haven't gotten to take it out on the road, but it seem to be idling a little rough,,,, my question is what gap should I set the points at ? I just guessed at them and no one at the parts store could tell me, also for that year mg , I have tried to also get a rotator button and when I order they always send me the wrong one, it seems to be too small and won't fit, parts store tells me it the one listed,,,,,,,,,,, thanks again for you help

Steve


Answer
Hi Steve.  The engine in your 1500cc Midget is basically a Triumph Spitfire engine, not the traditional `A' series engine fitted to earlier Midgets.  It has a totally different distributor and needs a different rotor arm.  

Moss Motors sell the correct rotor arm for your Midget, part number GRA2114.  They also do a high quality version that I recommend, part number GRA2114HQ.  See part #40 in the following parts diagram:

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=1338#7

The points often burn out because of a bad condenser.  I would therefore replace the condenser at the same time.  The points gap should be set at .015" .