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MG MGA - MGA flywheel binding on rear plate

Here's a new one! I did not find this thread in the archive. Correct me if I'm wrong.
installed rear plate with bolts and lock washers as illustrated in Moss and SF catalogs. Installed flywheel and torqued. Flywheel binds on bolt heads from rear plate so will not turn. Removed lock washers and reinstalled flywheel. engine now turns over.
Has this been a problem for anyone else??
Note: original plate and flywheel.
Thanks once again,
John in Lexington, VA, USA
John Bissett

Update,
I see in pictures on the web that some rear plates were countersunk at the sites of bolts, which would avoid the problem. In my case, a 1600 engine in a 1500 body, the plate is plain with no depressions for bolt head clearance. The thickness of the lock washers is enough to bind. Without the washers the problem is solved and I presume that the properly torqued bolts will be secure against loosening.

But I did wonder if this problem is unique to my engine (unlikely!) and I expected to hear either that I have overlooked a terrible but unrecognized problem in my engine assembly, or that others have seen it and worked around it.

Curious!
Thanks!
JB
John Bissett

Hi John
Yep, I've had this issue, If you're running the flat plate with a 1600 engine the easiest way out is no washers and use a dob of locktite on the bolts or use the MGB bolts that have thinner section heads for this reason.

willy


William Revit

Thank you Willy!
I wondered but didn't know there were thinner headed bolts. But relieved to see that I am not imagining the problem, or worse!
I'll look into the bolts but may take the easy way and use locktight.
Happy driving to you,
JB
John Bissett

Well. This should be embarrassing, but "it isn't my fault!"
With the clutch cover and new plate, in a box I had not looked at for well over a year, I found a rear plate with counter sunk holes. This one is mine! The one I had installed twice is an MGB plate. Somehow the machine shop put it in with my flywheel. I need to maybe be a little more careful!
John Bissett

This thread was discussed between 17/09/2023 and 23/09/2023

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