MG-104

 STAINLESS STEEL

STALK BUTTONS

            OK, you have replaced the carpets and the seat covers. You have even recovered your dash. Everything looks and works like it should after a restoration-everything except those rusty old wiper and turn signal stalk ends. They are an ugly rusty brown instead of the shiny chrome that they used to be. Here's how to bring their looks up to the level of the rest of your interior.
            The first thing that you have to do is to remove the old stalk buttons. The round ends are mounted onto a base that screws into the stalk end. If you carefully grip the edge of the round button with a pair of slip-joint pliers you should be able to simply unscrew (counterclockwise) the button and it's base. When I do this, I remove the switch from the steering column, but if you are careful you can get by without this extra work. Be sure that you grip just the button and not the square part of the lever.
            Once you have unscrewed the button, notice how it is made. The threaded part of the base is made of plastic. The once chrome plated button on the end is simply pressed onto a shaft. You can insert a dull knife or screwdriver between the button and the base and carefully pry the two apart. Take it slow and easy so you do not mess up the base.
            Next you need to press the new stainless buttons on the old bases and you are done. To do this, I screw the old base into a 9/16"x 18 TPI nut. This will give you a better way of holding onto it and protect those plastic threads as well. Set the base/nut combo down on your workbench or vise, place your new dome in position on top, then use a 9/16" socket placed on top of the dome to carefully press the new dome into place. The 9/16" socket is important because it will catch just the edge of the dome rather than the unsupported center. If you try to push anywhere else, you will bend the dome in and then you will have to start over from scratch. Slow and careful are the keywords here! After the dome is in place, you simple have to re-screw the whole works back into the stalk and then sit back and admire your work.

            The stainless steel buttons are slightly matted, but can be polished to a bright shine if you desire.

Please note that some late MGBs use solid plastic  stalk ends. These buttons will not fit these cars. Check your old stalk ends with a magnet to avoid a dissappointment