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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 MGA - Battery cutoff switch

Hi folks. Victoria British offers a Battery cut off switch for less than $20.00 US. The switch allows the battery to essentially "turned off" (disconnected) as an anti theft move. This switch has both on and off positions. The switch can be turned off, and then the key can be removed, so power cannot be restored until the key is refitted to the switch. Can anyone tell me if the switch in question is of decent quality, or who it is manufactured by? Thanks! Glenn
Glenn

Glenn,
I don't have a Victoria British catalog, but I suspect it is similar to this switch. http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/21064.htm I bought one just like this at a local tractor supply shop for $10. It has worked out fine so far. If this is the type of switch they are selling, you can probably get one cheaper locally at an auto or tractor parts store.

Jeff


Jeff Schultz

Glenn, I installed one exactly like the one referenced by Jeff from the website he gave. The quality was excellent. I actually bought it from the Ancaster Flea Market last year but unfortunately cannot tell you who the vendor was. It should be available in your area though. Also the other type with the "green knob" is presently on sale for $2.00 at Princess Auto in their surplus area.
Michael Hosier

I have the same type of switch but had a problem of the key breaking apart. The little metal tab at the front would break apart and then you could not start the car. I did not mishandle the key as to cause it to break. I went to my machine shop and had two keys made out of bullit stock. These should last a lifetime.
JEFF BECKER

Glen - I am using the switch also (in an MGB) and have found it to work just fine. I mounted it in to protrude through into the passenger's footwell area, high up where it can't be seen readily and use it primarily to shut off battery power when workin on the car. So far I have not had the problem Jeff details, but can see where this could be a problem. All one would need is some drill rod of the proper size and a spring pin to put in one end and make some kind of a handle for the whole thing. You might want to check out the availability from LBC at http://www.lbcarco.com/ in that their shipping is much more reasonable fhan V/B. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

The $20 switch bought from VB was made by the German electrical manufacturer Helle. I, too, had a a local machine shop duplicate the plastic key...in stainless steel. Mine is mounted on the bulkhead behind the passenger seat, centered on the vertical height and about 4 inches in from the tranny tunnel. It is close enough to the tranny tunnel so that the curve of the seat keeps the key from touching the upholstery. More importantly, when the key is removed it is darn hard to see the key hole in the black carpet that covers the bulkhead. Good for keeping the bad guys confused. Bad for trying to place the key into the keyhole on a dark night. I have not done this yet, but a local MG club member suggested a great idea to deter theft: if you are not using your F switch (fog light switch) run the fuel pump wire through it. Yes, it is one more switch to pull on when you start the car BUT it is a great deterent. The furthest a hot wired MGA could get would be a block or two on the gas left in the carbs.
Frank Nocera

Frank - I too, am using the fog light switch wired the fuel pump in our TD, have had it that way for almost 20 years. Like on the MGA, the fog light switch is an innocuous looking switch on the dash that doesn't even look like a switch. That said, the last time I used it was shortly after finishing the restoration and our son was going to take the TD to the prom. He made it almost out of the drive way, stopped , got out of the car and with the most crestfallen look came back in the house and said the car had quit on him. It was then that I remembered that I had turned the switch off. I haven't used it since. Besides, the MGA, like the TD has the ultimate anti theft device that you use every time you park the car. How many non MG people do you know who can release the fly-off hand brake on our cars? When I had a TD in high school, friends used to ask if they could drive it, to which I would reply, "sure, if you can release the hand brake". Needless to say, nobody else ever drove the car. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Hey, Dave...
My first car in high school was also a TD. It was more fun than the law allows. Girls loved it. It took me 36 years to get my second MG(A). What was I thinking all those years?
Frank
Frank Nocera

Frank - I can't imagine what any of us were thinking when we let go of those cars back then. As you said, more fun than the law allows... I have vivid memories of picking up two girls to transport them to a party, both with the full skirts and multiple petticoats (seemed like at least a hundred) of the late 50s and getting in the driver's side of the car and all I could see was skirts. When I finally got hold of what I thought was the gear shift, the girl closest said, "that's my knee". Woo hoo :))). We must have been out of our minds to let go of the cars. I was fortunate to only have to wait less than 20 years to get another one and now the only girl in teh car with me is the one of my choice 40 years ago - it doesn't get any better. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

This thread was discussed between 03/12/2004 and 06/12/2004

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