I purchased the  MCL2A  on ebay thinking this would work on my beosystem 5000, and if so how would the mcl cable connect to my receiver. Any help out there would be appreciated

You need MCL82.  All systems attach to the system via 3 pin DIN plugs to Speaker 2. MCL2A will not work properly though unless modified and I am afraid I do not know the modification procedure.

My 1986 Master Control Link System 2 System Manual states:

As far as the operating principples are concerned, the MCL2A is identical with the previous MCL82, but in terms of technology the MCL2A has been adapted to B&Os A/V system.  This also means that the MCL2A cannot be used with old Bang and Olufsen products.

The "old" products listed are the BM300, 5000, 6000, 800 BC 7000 7002 7007 and 7700 of which most will work with MCL82  - save the BM 3000 and 6000 (MCL30).

The manual is based on the use of BM3300 5500 and BC9000.

Brian

True - though an old B&O technician said that there was an adaptation to make it work! Involves some hardware modification though.

I went into long correspondence back in 1986 with B&O about this!  Having just bought a 5000 system I was mightly aggrieved to discover that it was not truly compatible with the LX2800, VHS91 and new Beolink remote. They sent me all the manuals and literature and at no stage did anyone mention a possible work around!  Perhaps they were jsut hoping I would buy a new 5500 !!!!  They failed as I waited until the end of the line with 7000!

Brian 

It was the engineer from Windows who told me this - they fixed all sorts of things for me over the years and if he said it was possible, it will be because he had done it. However it is probably easier just to get the right boxes!!