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MG MGB Technical - Ignition Key spins!

I’ve been installing a Weber this weekend and finally got everything in place and ready for a test drive. Having stalled the car several times in the driveway, I had to keep starting the car over and over (it’s not set up right yet).
The last time I tried a re-start, the ignition key turned and keep going. I don’t feel any partitions when I turn the key and it feels like it is turning without doing anything on the inside. I don’t get to the starter position, but the ignition and fuel pump are on. In fact, I can’t turn it off.
Any locksmiths out there?
Cleve

Locksmith not needed - the problem is in the electrical switch on the back of the lock - it would help if you said what year the car is!
Chris at Octarine Services

Sorry Chris, I always leave off some important detail!
It is a 71-72 B roadster. I talked to a friend that knows a lot about B's and he said to take the cover off and have a look and see if something came undone.
Cleve

There will be a small cross headed screw that holds the rear ally & plastic switch section onto the cast key barrel - it is located on the side of the cast barrel and when removed allows the switch to come out the back.

My guess is that the plastic back part of the switch has come out of the ally casing and has allowed the switch innards to become displaced - a fiddly job to put right even if you still have all the bits! A new switch unit will see you right.
Chris at Octarine Services

Chris,
Thank You!
It was just like you described. The screw was gone and the black plastic part was pushed out the back. A new screw and it's working again.

As a side note, the hardest part of the job was getting the screws out of the plastic cover that goes over the switches. At first I thought I had the wrong type of screw driver, and then I looked in the opposite hole and saw everything rotating with the screw. Thought I would never get them out. On re-assembly, I used epoxy to hold the brass bits in the plastic so they won't rotate. I also used some screws with better heads for future removal.
Chris

This thread was discussed between 14/06/2009 and 16/06/2009

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