MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - starter motor

Hi,
Is it possible to replace a starter motor from a positive earth midget on a negative earth converted midget?
Is it something special to do?
laurent
ld derancourt

Just instal the starter and it will be ok. Starters are not polarity sensitive.
Sandy
conrad sanders

Laurent,

They are the same starter motors for positive and negative earth.

Richard
Richard Wale

thanks a lot
ld derancourt

another question:
the interior of the starter motor is full of oil on each component.
Do I have to clean the oil first, or is it normal?
As the crank leaks, I supose the oil comes from the rear of the engine and enters the starter motor at the jonction with the flywheel.
laurent
ld derancourt

If you wash it out with a substance such as brake component cleaner, or carburettor cleaner and let it dry before you use it you mght stop it from jamming up at a later date Laurent.

It is very bad if there is oil within the starter gear, when that gts full of dirt, which sticks to the gear the starter fails

and when it is cleaned out, just allow it to dry and do not add any lubricant afterwards

Oil inside the motor end is OK but it would be better if that was cleaned and dried too

They are not oiled before use from the factory, they have phosphor bronze pre-oiled bushes as bearing surfaces

Oil could also damage the insulation on the internal coils, perhaps

hope this helps you Laurent
Bill

in fact, there is a brown mixture of oil and dirt into the starter motor, but no dirt or oil on the gear or end part of the shaft.
ld derancourt

Hey ID,

Belive it or not these things like to be super clean, with NO oily residue of any kind anywhere, I agree with bill to use brake or carb cleaner to clean it, some people will recommened petrol/gasoline....but thats way scarier then I like to live, to much risk of a flash fire IMHO.

Dont use parrafin (kerosene) as it has an oilly residue....and when finished cleaning do not lubricate, (except for maybe with graphit...but that questionable)...cleaner the better...I know that sounds wierd, but there you have it.

prop
Prop

Hope your clutch is OK if that much oil is flying around.
Brad
B Richards

Laurent,
If the oil is inside the starter motor casing itself, and there is no oil on the gear or the end part of the shaft, perhaps it has not come from the rear of the engine.
It may be that oil has at some stage leaked from the oil feed pipe or from the oil gauge feed directly above the starter motor and flooded onto the motor. It may be worth checking that you don't still have a loose oil pipe connection there.

Guy
Guy Weller

Hi,
Starter motor is now cleaned and repared.
The car stars first time.

for the clutch: I have currently a big clutch sliping. Before the starter failled, the sliping was less than this morning. When it slips, the rev counter raises.
I always had rear crank oil leak. The car does not leak more than before. But perhaps the clutch is damage with oil.

Second problem: The wiper motor, the braking central and the indicators light failed.
I thought it was the 35 A fuse, but not (green wires).
Any idea is welcome.

I also noticed that, when I have electric problem, the clutch slipping increases. Does exist fault wich seems to be a cluth problem, but is in real an elecric problem?

laurent
ld derancourt

Guy,
I have put an oil cooler in the past and lost oil directly on the the starter but the oil is also going out from the engine anywhere it can do.
The good point, is the chassis has so much oil, it will never rust from the outside.

laurent
(photo of the white midget at Gaydon- in the french park)



ld derancourt

Sounds to me like you need a new clutch & a rear oil seal modification from Peter May.
Maybe a leak down test would be a good idea as well.
cheers
Brad
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

what is a leak down test?
ld derancourt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leak-down_tester
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Hey ID,

A good easy fix if the clutch is getting oil soaked and causing slippage....is to get several cans of brake cleaner in a spray can form, remove starter, and inspection covers of the tranny housing and spray the dickens out of the on both sides of clutch/flywheel assembly where ever you can get the spray onto....it wont cure the problem, just the sympton, but that will get you a few more miles on the clutch with out having to tear the car apart, and having to fix everything.


prop
Prop

This thread was discussed between 27/10/2008 and 01/11/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.