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MG MGB Technical - Starter Question

About 3-4 years ago I replaced my 74B starter with one I got at the local auto parts store. It looked a bit different but was British and rebuilt well. In the past year about once per week it fails to work and just makes one click. I have found if I tap it with a 1x1 stick the car will always start. Not a big hassle and I can do it thru the hood. Any ideas? If I remove it is there perhaps something I can clean in it that will solve this? If your starter fails try this tap thing...it really works. Happy New Year!
Bob Ekstrand

Bob: Tapping the starter on a later MGB with a pre-engaged starter like yours shakes the plunger in the solenoid and loosens it. It is likely that if you did not replace the neoprene starter cover after installing the replacement starter that the solenoid has collected enough dirt and oil to sticking. If you remove the starter and then remove the solenoid and disassemble it for cleaning, you'll see the problem.
John Perkins

I would suggest that you remove the starter and give the brush holders a good cleaning. This sounds like a sticking brush. Some Bosche starters depended on grounding the solenoid through one of the brushes. I had to solder a lead from the ground wire of the solenoid to the solenoid frame on my 300D. this solved a $300.00 problem on my mercedes diesel.
Sandy Sanders

Depends what clicks. Could be the starter relay in which case there is probably an iffy connection to the spade on the solenoid. If it is the solenoid that is clicking could be corroded contacts, or the aforementioned dirt preventing its full movement to close the contacts, or a sticking motor brush.

On some starters it is possible to diagnose the solenoid or the motor by testing with a voltmeter on the exposed copper link between solenoid and motor. No voltage - it is the solenoid. Voltage, it is the motor.
Paul Hunt 2

Bob,

Take your starter out and take it down to Broadway Auto Electric in Lemon Grove. They'll sort it out in no time for a very reasonable cost.

Have you changed your brake hoses yet?

Paul K

As my neoprene cover to my starter has sloughed off its mortal coil decades ago, I find I have to clean off my connections every few years to the solenoid, as Paul Hunt suggests. Like any good fault tree, pick the fruit that's easy to get to first. But then, you already knew tht.
John Z

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help. Happy New Year. Bob
Bob Ekstrand

First, happy new year to you all.

Now that i have to replace rear wheel cylinders( fail MOT), what is the best way to change the brake fluid.
its a MGB 71 without brake booster.
thks
alf
alfredo

Single circuit or dual?

Probably the eeziest (ho ho) way is to use an EeziBleed to pump clean fluid through. On a single circuit system one bleeds starting with the longest run (left-hand rear) and progressively does shorter runs finishing at the right-hand front.

With dual circuit you have to do things with the pressure failure warning switch. One set of instructions says to remove the wires from this and unscrew it 3 1/2 turns, bleed at normal, then tighten the switch and reconnect the wires. That may be for the switch in the remote manifold and unboosted brakes.

FWIW I think on the later dual master with integral booster and failure switch, you bleed as normal first one circuit then the other. Then with the ignition on the failure light should be on, so bleed the *first* circuit again very slowly until the light just goes out.
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 26/12/2007 and 05/01/2008

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