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MG MGA - Why is it that...
Why is it that my MGA always bites back? Even when doing a simple job like topping up the front shockabsorbers, I get all these scratches on my arm :-( |
| Rutger Booy |
| Rutger Take solace in the fact that the MGTC bites back even harder - and that is just polishing it around the bonnet openers and around the badge bar. I bought my MGA for 2 reasons: 1. smoother lines (less scratching). 2. heater for the wife. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| MGs require blood sacrifice to run well! |
| David Werblow |
| My MGA seems to draw blood (mostly mine) whenever I touch it. Usually when I am working on it but surprisingly often when I am just preparing to drive it. One of its favourite ways to attack me is when I am trying to clip or un-clip the boot lid or bonnet (hood)props. I think the clips have been especially sharpened for this purpose. They must be scalpel sharp because I tend not to realise it has happened until I notice numerous red blotches on my clothes and on the cars interior trim! The other sneaky thing it does is use the underside of the heater controls to take a chunk out of my left knuckle when I am changing gear. I think that the gear lever is a little longer than standard on my car, possibly because it has a 5 speed gearbox fitted. I have beaten it at its own game here by applying elastoplasts to the sharp edges on the underside of the heater controls before it attacks me instead of onto my knuckles afterwards. It no doubt is thinking of other ways to get me now that I am starting to wise up to its vampyiric tendencies! No wonder so many MGA owners paint their cars red! Colyn PS I am just about to go into my garage to adjust the tappets so I have pre-dialled 999 and 911 into my phone to be able to tell the paramedics to have the correct blood type ready! |
| Colyn Firth |
| Colyn Most amusing. Best though to attack the causes than the consequences. How long have you had the 5-speed box? You may have the long throw gear stick. It is a very easy changeover to the latest short throw stick which also has a slightly shorter stick length. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Steve,your 11/5 ,number 2.Fair swap that. |
| M Blencowe |
| Be glad you aren't dealing with a Twin Cam, where access to just about everything is problematic. I haven't managed to talk pit crew into adjusting timing with the engine running more than once (you need to do it by feel, reaching under hot cooling system components, and twist the distributor which usually shocks you). I've about run out of pit crew! |
| Bill Spohn |
| Steve, the gearbox was already fitted to the car when I bought it 5 years ago, the top of the gear lever is approx 2 inches from the sharp edges on the bottom of the heater controls and the gear change has a very short and positive movement. Is the newest gearshift even shorter? M Blencowe, "what is 11/5 number 2" ? Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Colin, 911 won't work in the UK. 112 does though. dan |
| Dan Smithers |
| Dan, I mentioned the 911 number just in case any of our American paramedic friends were on line. Tappets adjusted last night, not a lot quieter though so maybe the "tappet noise" I have is just general valve mechanism and camshaft noise. What is the correct size spanner for the tappet lock-nuts? I had to search through all my 1/2 inch AF sockets and ring spanners to find one that wouldnt slip off under load. Amazingly, no blood this time! But the car got me indirectly, I later found a long wooden splinter in my finger from the blocks I was using to chock the wheels. The car is getting sneaky and is beginning to use a 3rd party to draw blood! Is this how paranoia starts? Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Conversation with my dad, circa 1999: Me: Something just occurred to me about the guy who designed this car.... Dad: What's that? Me: I don't think his parents were married. Dad: I've been convinced of that for years. |
| Del Rawlins |
| Colyn, your nose for a "funny" must be failing! Re. "M Blencowe, "what is 11/5 number 2" ?" is posting for 11th of May item #2, you'll love it! A worn rocker shaft and/or rocker bushes can give excessive "tappet" noise. |
| Lindsay Sampford |
| Although, I will say that after cutting my teeth on MGAs, nothing that Boeing has thrown at me has been too much of a challenge. And on my shift I've been kind of the go-to guy when it comes to drilling out broken fasteners... |
| Del Rawlins |
| I used to be on the Unlimited Air Race team "Critical Mass" aircraft (1950 Hawker Sea Fury T.Mk.20S) now retired and being restored. We used to warn visitors to the hanger that "Careful, She bites!" My MGA taught me early on, late 1950s, to be careful where and how you put your hands! Came in handy working on that Sea Fury. http://seafury10.com/ Russ |
| Russ Carnes |
| Russ Nice restoration. I agree with your sentiments. In the Air Force we used to say: "All airplanes bite fools". This was often followed by that well known saying: "There are old pilots and bold pilots but very few old bold pilots". Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Steve, does your old RAF saying "All airplanes bite fools" apply to MGAs owners too? If so, it paints me in a very bad light! Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| You are still here Colyn, so you are doing okay. Just sharpen up a bit! Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Colyn,your 15/5.It's R.A.F.speak(ish) for 11th May---as in his message of the 1th May. Just back from Planet Tharg,so first time for a few days on the BBS. |
| M Blencowe |
| Steve, roger that! Another saying, as I am a retired high voltage engineering technician: there are old high voltage technicians and there are careless high voltage technicians but there are no old careless high voltage technicians! Russ |
| Russ Carnes |
| One has to learn to be patient when working with, how shall I say this, primitive relative to today equipment be it aircraft MGAs or EWS boxes. Watch where you put your hands and use good tools when and as best you can! (The sucker is still going to get you, just try to minimize the results!) Russ |
| Russ Carnes |
| Steve, I think I have gotten well past the stage of trying to sharpen myself up a bit! I think that I may end up with a much safer outcome if I just keep on trying to blunt-down the MGAs sharper edges as much as possible :-) Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
This thread was discussed between 11/05/2012 and 03/06/2012
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