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MG MGA - Starter Bendix Spring.

A friend of mine has an MGA which he has not used for some years, and when he came to fire it up recently he discovered that the starter bendix spring is rattling. He has new spring but we need some some tips as to how to tackle the replacement.

I seem to remember reading a post on this some time ago and I have checked the archives but cannot find anything, so any hint or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Maurice.
M. Standish

If your question is how to dismantle, it's all very simple. Remove the split pin and everything will come off. Clean it all up and reassemble. Then test it out of the car.
Art Pearse

Art,

Thanks for your comment, does the spring have to be compressed to remove the split pin and if so how do you do that?

Many thanks,

Maurice.
M. Standish

Maurice, no. You pull the pin. The spring is retained by the next component which is threaded, so you can unscrew it slowly. No risk to life or limb1
Art Pearse

Maurice

You may or may not have a starter motor with a split pin. I have a selection and they all have a collet retention like the engine valves. This type of bendix requires the spring to be compressed. I have a picture of the compression tool on my website, just scroll down the page: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/odds_and_sods.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, interesting and important! I wonder which came later. The split pin sounds safer. It is on my 1961 MGA (but of course could be a later or earlier one if it was changed.
Art Pearse

Art

I suspect your split pin version is the original. I bought a brand new starter about 3 years ago and it was the collet version. My local supplier gave me the compression tool as he had several. He stocked several dozen replacement benixes (bendices?) and they were all collet versions. He has since retired. I wish I had bought some of his stock. Rattling springs and washers are quite common.

To be honest, other than in the workshop manual, I have yet to see a starter with the split spin. There again, it's not top of my viewing list.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Art & Steve,

Many thanks for the information - I haven't seen the starter motor in question yet, so I don't know which type it is, however, the spare I have in my garage taken from a 1600 Mark 1 and dated 5.63 has the split pin that Art mentions.

I'll report back when I see the offending item.

Cheers,

Maurice.
M. Standish

Further to my last, the starter that came with my car is the later type as I have described. However, it is dated 2 60 in the standard Lucas dating fashion, so was around during MGA production. Whether this type was ever fitted as original is another matter. My car is 1958, so it is a replacement on mine.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Collet-type starter motor exposed. See image.

Steve


Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2009 and 01/07/2009

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