MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Some discussion 'bout different variants of motor, gearbox, flywheels etc, got me thinking ( dangerous, I know ) .
As shown by the pic, the starter end pokes through a hole in the gearbox bell-housing, but the starter is not centred in this hole.
It all seems to function ok, but given the mix-and-match approach a PO has had with my car, is this normal?
Chris
Pretty much a normal crash starter.
Mine was about like that. All that matters is the relationship between the centerline of the shaft being the right distance from the flywheel. As it works well for you it might do so for many years.
This starter is very unique and was only used on the early B.
When it gets stuck in the flywheel, and it will, put the car in forth and push it backwards to pop it out of the ring gear. This can happen when the starter bearings or ring gear get worn.
This design eventually will eat the ring gear up. It takes more than 100.000 miles usually. If you replace the clutch be careful to inspect the ring gear. While the engine is out it is cheap to replace.
Larry
Chris
You are likely good for a long time.
The starters are problematic. As none have been made since the 70's sometimes it is a challenge to get a good rebuilt one. I went 0 for 4.
If that happens to you the gear reduction starter is a good choice.
Larry
I seem to recall my starter motor tending to jam on my '65 B in the early '70's. If my memory serves correctly, there's a square shaped nut on the front end of the starter motor you had to turn to release the jammed startrer ( Can't remember for sure but the thread may have been a reverse thread) I wound up carrying the correct-sized spanner with me all the time and got quite slick at releasing it. Rocking the car back and forth in gear never seemed to release it for me, though rocking always did work on my mother's Vauxhall Victor! Eventually I got tired of messing around and got my father
(a motor mechanic) to fit a new starter motor ( They were readily available then) Hope I dont jinx myself but that starter's worked fine for the next 120,000 miles.
Tom Aczel
Tom - my '64 in England did exactly the same thing. I believe the only real solution was to replace both the starter AND the ring gear. The problem occurs because the engine almost always stops in the same position, so all the wear on the ring gear happens in the same location and eventually it gets so bad the starter gear gets "stuck". When you turn the square end on the motor you are manually "winding" the gear out of the ring gear!
You said "Vauxhall Victor" - now you must go to bed without any supper! LOL
Thanks yet again Eric. Your ability to sensibly explain things never ceases to amaze me! (The Vauxhall Victor's column gear selector linkage used to regularly jam too. I got pretty good at flipping the bonnet and releasing that too!)
Best wishes Tom Aczel