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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - While we are on the subject of knobs...

I assume the knobs for the starter and choke assemblies should be the same on a TD. I have a Moss reproduction starter cable, whose knob is slightly different than the choke assembly knob. The choke knob appears to be Bakelite, so could be original to my TD. I have seen enough different knobs on T series cars to be uncertain what size were the original knobs. I know they are supposed to be round, mushroom shaped, and not to have any lettering.

My Moss starter cable plastic knob has a large diameter of 0.845" that narrows to diameter of 0.475" closest to the chrome bezel.

The Bakelite choke knob has a large diameter of 0.740" and a diameter of 0.370" closest to the chrome bezel.

Aside from size, the plastic knobs and chrome bezels are very slightly different in appearance.

What's correct for a TD (late 1952 manufacture)?

Thanks.

Larry
Larry Shoer

Larry,

The Moss knobs that I used to have on my TD were both the same. I have since gone back to the originals due to the moss units being junk. The knobs pulled off in my hand after only a couple of uses.

If you still have the originals, they are worth restoring. I bought new teflon coated cables at a bicycle shop and installed them on the original knob assemblies. After some polishing of the old bakelite, the knobs look good. Also, the lock mechanism on the original choke is much better than the reproductions from Moss.

Good Luck,
Evan



Evan Ford (New and Improved)

I dont mean to be a pill, but at what point are we going to come up with a means of communicating to Moss and others that we are tired of paying increasingly expensive prices for junk parts.

Can we just set up a BBS topic that reads Parts Feedback and use that to post all problems with the parts that we pay for. I am afraid that the poor parts quality is beginning to erode my enjoyment of the hobby and the cars - simple parts continue to be of such poor quality that it makes pulling the choke or starter a source of increasing frustration.

Evan's advice is spot on - try to salvage old ones if you can locate.

Jeff
J. W. Delk

Evan,

My strategy is much like yours: if at all possible repair, recondition, and reuse original parts.

I'm working with the two cable assemblies that are available to me. The choke assembly (and knob) may be original, but I would like confirmation of this if someone could provide dimensions and, perhaps, a picture.

I've been on the lookout for an original starter cable for several years, so far without luck (although I have come close on eBay a couple of times). At least the Moss part I have works, although I believe the dimensions are not quite correct.

I'll post some pictures of the two knobs as soon as I get a chance.

Larry
Larry Shoer

Larry, Did you try Mick Conde? mmmtcars@yahoo.com
I got restored originals from him a couple years ago, very reasonable. The orignal choke knob/assembly has a longer barrel, and the metal shaft has steps or notched in it. When you pulled it out, you twisted it a bit to lock it out. At some point in the past I had a Moss knob come off, and they immeditatley replaced it for free. Frustrating yes, but Moss knows it costs them $ every time there is a callback. George
George Butz

George,

I did get a starter cable from Mick a year ago. It was rather the worse for wear and the knob was "textured", perhaps from age. The size was closer to the Moss knob than to the knob on my choke cable. All this did was confuse me more! That's what led me at last to post the knob dimensions and see what others report.

Larry
Larry Shoer

Sorry to hear that. The one I got from him was close to perfect. I'll try to measure mine in the next few days. George PS- did you contact Mick and see if he had a better one? In the past he would send me a few of some things and let me pick- mostly small things however.
George Butz

Bye the bye, our dash knobs are originaly made of hardened rubber. If you have original knobs ,including the horn button and the headlight switch, they can be restored to like new condition ( at least the surface anyway ) with a product called great knobs ( No affiliation ) I have used it with very satisfactory results. http://www.pensburymanor.com/Pensbury_Garage.html Try this link

Cheers, Keith





K. McKenzie

Larry, I dug out my original starter cable/knob. At most, it was very lightly sanded to paint black years ago. At the widest, it measures 0.874". At the narrowest, 0.435". I'll send or post pictures later. George
George Butz

George,

Thanks for reporting these measurements. It's now clear to me that my choke knob, while obviously quite old and having an assembly locking mechanism that appears like the original, is not correct for the TD. Perhaps it belongs on a TC?

The knob on my Moss starter cable appears closer to correct than I thought and closer than the choke knob.

Our cars are nothing if not full of surprises!

Larry
Larry Shoer

Picture of the starter knob (left) and choke knob (right). There appears to be a pin through the base of the choke knob to secure the knob to the shaft.

Larry


Larry Shoer

Larry, did you get my e mails? George
George Butz

As an aside regarding knobs pulling off in the hand, mine did as well the first day. I had heard of this problem, and figuring I had nothing to lose, I took a hammer and a cloth to pad the knob, and drove it home on the shaft- hard. No problems since. This was on my starter cable. On my choke cable, I repaired the cable and locking mechanism and I'm using the original (thanks to Kevin Gunther of this site for providing a photo of the cresent, the photo is now on my website). The original hard rubber knob closely matches the newer hard plastic knob.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

George,

Pictures and e-mails received. They were very helpful in helping to sort out what is on my TD.

Thanks.

Larry
Larry Shoer

This thread was discussed between 09/03/2009 and 12/03/2009

MG TD TF 1500 index

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