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 MGA - Bendix Spring Dust Cover

I am currently restoring a 1959 FHC with a 1500GD Series engine (high set starter motor). Where the Bendix spring of the starter fits through the gear-box housing & into the toe-board hump of the gear-box cover, there are three threaded holes that appear may have been used to fix a "dust" cover over the spring. Experts tell me that no such item was ever fitted to the MGA & indeed I cannot find any reference to it in any of the spare parts manual or catalogues I have.
A colleague owns both a 1600 Roadster which has the cover & a 1600 Coupe which does not & in fact I couldn't feel any of the holes during a recent inspection of the car.
Is any-one able to enlighten me on this subject?
R Fisher

The starter bendix dust covers were fitted to early 1500 cars. I have encountered a number of them. They came in two styles (at least two), one with a flat end and one with domed end. They were easily damaged during R&R of engine and gearbox, so many of them were tossed in the trash early on. I have run the last 200,000+ miles on my 1500 with no cover and no problem.

I believe the dust cover was deleted sometime before end of 1500 production, and no MGA with high starter position would have had it (origianlly). But I'm open to debate and further suggestion, as I do not personally have access to original production records. Best as I can recall, the several 1600 type gearboxes which have passed through my hands always had ths three holes drilled and tapped, but there were never any marks or any indication that a cover had ever been installed.
Barney Gaylord

RF, Someone from this site, whose name I've forgotten, very kindly sent me some pictures of the domed dust cover which I'll send across to you when I find them. I made one up with a flat top from 16 g mild steel using a length of 2" diameter tube left over from repairing the front cross member. Let me know if you want dimensions. Mike
m.j. moore

This thread was discussed on 09/11/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.