[Bluestuff]

after using 3 center vents to try to make one good one with very little success.
its begs the question that if its such a comon problem with that little “ ladder” part that controls the up and down movement, has any one ever considered some recon service or replacement.
I believe its the same part as other MG models so it may have a popular reception.
Iv purchased 2 from the inter web with both claiming good condition, but on arrival both had the same fault..?

Any ideas folks ……

 

[deepfat]

I presume you mean the part pictured, I cut and filed one out of a piece of scrap plastic but you need to be bored with a lot of time on your hands. I know nothing about 3D printing but this seems to me an ideal candidate, the moral of the story seems to be don't go sticking phone holders, air fresheners etc into the vents.

 

[SpottyCat]

I recall seeing a vid possibly linked from this forum about fixing a broken one of these by using glue and a staple put into some small holes in the back of it to reinforce it. An ideal replacement would be an aluminium version but that's quite an undertaking. That said, this does look similar to some of the metal cable guides you can buy for computer cable management.

 

[deepfat]

I think if you used ali it might wear the mounting ribs unless you could get a very smooth finish on the mounting surfaces, also there needs to be some give in the material to clip over the mounts and stay in place. Plastic is I think the way to go and looked at a mould using melted milk bottles (vids on You Tube) but decided it was beyond my skill set. The base of a milk bottle might be a source of a suitable piece of plastic (the sides are too thin) and would possibly be easier to work than the plastic I used which was a bit thick and hard to work.
I think we need someone who does 3D printing as a hobby who is looking for a project as the volumes involved wont interest a commercial printer, start asking and looking.

 

[Bluestuff]

I was trolling the interweb last night and i thin i found a new vent complete from Rimmers,
at only $156, not a bad price if it constructed better than OE, but then there is postage cost………lets not go there….lol

 

[deepfat]

I had to google it £85 plus prob that again in post/customs JESUS put it towards a 3D printer and make yourself a fortune down there. In my opinion NOS is best and OE a very distant 2nd ie ball joints made of butter, clips that snap and on and on. I'm not even sure OE has a legal definition how do they make it to the original standard when the details of that standard are buried in a landfill site somewhere.
Pill taken, rant over pub time methinks.

 

[Bluestuff]

I just found a pair of these “new” supports on abay for “only” approx GBP33.30
pluss i think was GPB35.00 in postage cost.

I don't know how much to 3D print, but it cant be much more……can it ?

 

[D4KGP]

I think if you used ali it might wear the mounting ribs unless you could get a very smooth finish on the mounting surfaces, also there needs to be some give in the material to clip over the mounts and stay in place. Plastic is I think the way to go and looked at a mould using melted milk bottles (vids on You Tube) but decided it was beyond my skill set. The base of a milk bottle might be a source of a suitable piece of plastic (the sides are too thin) and would possibly be easier to work than the plastic I used which was a bit thick and hard to work.
I think we need someone who does 3D printing as a hobby who is looking for a project as the volumes involved wont interest a commercial printer, start asking and looking.

What about the spine of a cheap plastic coomb, do you think that might be flexible enough?

 

[trevtherevs]

What about the spine of a cheap plastic coomb, do you think that might be flexible enough?

Now that is a good idea, it's been sometime since a comb was on my agenda and now it's opened a whole new area of things it think might be useful for.

 

[deepfat]

Bluestuff why not try contacting Tech colleges, if they are teaching it they may welcome a practical project. Alternatively try contacting other owners in your part of the world to do a bulk buy even if it's only 10 or 20, I think the CAD work pushes the initial price up split that by 10 and it has good legs.

 

[Bluestuff]

FYI,
i just had a reply from Rimmers, the cost of shipping a center vent down would be GPB115.00
thats $224 NZD wich is just silly…..

Who else could possibly have one.?

 

[dert]

Have you checked for Rover 25/200 I think the vents are the same as the F/TF

 

[deepfat]

dert is correct the vents are advertised as fitting the 200/25 MGF/TF/ZR so perhaps you could widen your search locally, I've no idea if the 200/25 is common in NZ.
I also looked at Royal Mail prices to NZ a 750g parcel not exceeding 60cm in any one L/W/H appears to be between £10/£20 so not sure where Rimmers costs come from, this is prob a slow option and the price range covers std, tracked, tracked and signed etc. Insurance would probably be another add on, if you want me to firm this up let me know. Currently two centre vents are on ebay one is plain black £35 the second has the indicators picked out in white £30 (Rover25/200?) not sure if the links will work but:
GENUINE ROVER 200 / 25 / MGZR CENTRE MIDDLE DASH HEATER AIR VENT MG F TF ZR | eBay
MG F TF ZR Rover 25 200 Streetwise Interior Centre Dash Heater Air Vent | eBay
I don't mind acting as a middleman at no cost/profit to me and if your interested email me on [email protected] and we can discuss safeguards and cluttering up on here