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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Little Blue Goes Bang

I knew it was too good to last. After a year of driving since I finished building her, she's been towed home for the first time.

Laura was near the end of a scatter rally when the clutch failed - couldn't get into gear. Intent on getting to the finish, she tried to start her in gear, followed by black smoke, followed by a starter that wouldn't stop (but did eventually).

When I got there, I found only about a quarter of a pedal (assume hydraulic failure), seized starter, starter switch jammed closed, and a heady electrical smell.

Nothing for it but to pull the battery terminal and wait for recovery. Oh well.
Nick

Nick,

Could be worse, sounds like you haven't done any engine damage so should be easy to sort once the engine and box have been pulled.
David Billington

Sympathies, Nick

For the first couple of years of driving after my rebuild (and still now, to a minor degree) I was convinced that some major ineptitude in my amateur motor engineering skills would be exposed in similar, spectacular fashion.

Any chance you can justify some further performance enhancements while the engine is out? It was all your financial manager's fault, after all...
Steve Clark

Mmmm - I haven't had a proper look yet, but I can't decide whether simply to pull the lump out, or to leave it in, take the starter motor out (assuming not welded to ring gear), fix the clutch, replace the starter switch - and see what we have then.

Yes, Steve. If the engine and gearbox come out, I might even think about a Ford box. And possibly a wilder cam. And if I do that, I might as well try and balance the engine this time.

Trouble is, it's the wrong time of year. My shed is unbearable in July/August.
Nick

Sorry to hear your woes Nick. As others said, it doesn't sound too disastrous so I'm sure she'll be up and running again in a blink.

If the shed is too unbearable, why not do a rebuild al fresco...?

Gimme a call if theres anything I can do to help (eg an engine crane?).
Bob T

Good idea, Bob. But outside my shed, it's all grass and flower beds.
Thanks for the offer. I shall have a proper look, and then decide my fate.
Nick

>>>>>>>>>>>>But outside my shed, it's all grass and flower beds

So? Same as me, but I've got my race car (engine removal), a car for breaking, and large piles of "valuable pre-loved mg spares" (or scrap as Mrs midgetmax terms it) cheek-by-jowl with the flowers.

Priorities, Nick, priorities ;-)
Max T

Turf the horses out and do it in the stable. I'm sure Laura won't mind.
G Lazarus

This thread was discussed between 01/07/2008 and 02/07/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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