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MG TD TF 1500 - Starter Pull Switch?

Was under my dash last night (well, my legs were hanging over the door cutout), and noticed a secondary starter switch...an old "Push To Start" black bakolite one the p/o or someone had installed behind the panel. The stock chrome pull switch had no wires attached to the terminals. Noticed in the Moss cat. that it looked like the stock starter switch was a long pull cable to a starter solenoid or whatever in the engine bay... Is it a wired swtich from the dash to the firewall, or a pull cable.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/td5.html
g.b.lawson '53TD

Greg, the stock system is a pull cable just in front of the steering wheel to a spring loaded switch mounted to the firewall just below the fuel pump.
Bud Krueger

Hmmm... i wonder what "pull" chrome start switch was substituted...it is exactly the same chrome pull, just out of a box with terminals on it. Will grab a photo later today.
g.b.lawson '53TD

Greg - In addition to Bud's description of the stock pull switch being attached to the start switch on the scuttle via a pull cable, the stock pull is black bakalite vice chrome. Pictures of what you have would definitely help use determine what you have. It almost sounds like someone replaced the stock pull with a chrome one. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Well, i added 4 photos to my "june" webpage... the first one shows the chrome choke and starter pull from the front; the second is the back of the chrome starter switch without any wires connected...the third is the position of the black "push" type starter switch and the last is a close up of the black switch. Seems it is wired with some heavy wire and goes out through the firewall.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/td5.html

"gordon"
g.b.lawson '53TD

Gordon - Neither of the switches are a starter switch. The chrome one mounted on the facia plate is obviously not connected to anything and does not appear to be heavy enough for a starter switch. The Black push type switch in not a starter switch. The wires coming off the back of it are nowhere near heavy enough to carry the current needed for the starter (the wire going to the starter is the same weight as the battery cables). I would suspect that the black push switch is for some of the extra lights on the front of the car. The original starter switch is mounted on the firewall in the engine compartment with a pull knob mounted where the choke knob is now located, under the steering wheel (I assume that the black knob under the steering wheel is the choke knob) and connected to the switch by a cable similiar to the choke cable. The choke knob is located where the chrome switch is now located. If the choke knob is located under the steering wheel, you will not be able to pull it all the way out if the steering wheel is adjusted close to the dash. I will send you some pictures of how things should be hooked up and of the correct starter switch tomorrow morning. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

The chrome pull furthest from the steering wheel is the choke, it has a pull cable going through the firewall and is knotched to allow different amounts of choke. The black push switch, although i haven't followed the wires, would lead to a solenoid somewhere that would then electrically run the starter (same as the original pull cable would do, except electrically?). Will follow wires tonight.
I believe the three toggles to the left of the wheel operate the driving lights and i think turn signals. When i shone the flashlight under the dash i noticed a foot mounted "dip" switch... thought that was on the horn button somewhere, but mine didn't turn so assumed as a late '53 it must have been foot?
g.b.lawson '53TD

Gordon. You have the bracket that the starter switch should be mounted to. It is that odd shaped 1/2 wide piece of steel just inboard of your flasher switch and just below the petrol pump. The flasher relay should be on the opposite side of the firewall beside the regulator box. It does not appear to have a horn on the RH side.
Sandy Sanders
Hudson Florida
conrad sanders

I have a horn on each side of the firewall... not sure what the starter push switch is connected to, will check tonight and follow those wires... the car was rebuilt from the frame up in '67 by an English Car garage and i assume the parts used were from some sort of British make.
Don't mind the chrome pulls but would like both to work (only the choke works at the moment).
g.b.lawson '53TD

I was right... there is a solenoid mounted on the firewall just below and to the left of the right side horn... it has the starter wires going to the starter (duh) and the wire from that push button starter attached.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gordonblawson/td/td107.jpg
g.b.lawson '53TD

Gordon - That is a solenoid out of a early MGB. The nice thing about it is that you can start the car from under the hood the same way that you could with the original TD/MGA starter switch, just push on the rubber covered on the back of the solenoid. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

The wiring to the solenoid seems pretty stock (as in - its been there since '67 when the car was rebuilt) Certainly doesn't look very "added on". The garage in Hamilton, Ontario where it was built was run by a former racer on the Mosport, Harewood Acres circuit, so i may find a few strange changes as i go... all lots of fun.
g.b.lawson '53TD

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2004 and 06/07/2004

MG TD TF 1500 index

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