On 2010-08-28, wrote:
On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:17:18 +0100, Ted Frater
wrote:

[ ... ]

Then theres the temporary faulty car starter problem. Best cure is to
have mans oldest tool handy, thump the starter a couple of times then it
will work fine all week. And dont forget to slam the hood down well.This
always helps.

Sounds like my old Mini. always had loose connections on the battery
in the trunk - as well as having an SU fuel pump.
Jump in and turn on the key. If no "tickety tick_ in the back corner,
slam the door or get out and kick the left rear tire to start the fuel
pump, then get in and push the starter button. If it didn't crank,
slam the door again with the starter button pushed.
Or just reach out the window and slap it on the flank good and hard
and yell "giddy-up!!"

My MGAs had SU fuel pumps as well. If it quit on the road, the
trick to get gas to get to a safe place to start was to turn the
ignition key on and of several cycles (no steering lock so it was safe)
and this would pump enough fuel into the float bowls to drive for a
little while.

Then pull over, open the trunk and get out one half of the jack
rod, tilt the seats forward and remove the cover over the batteries (two
6V batteries, one on each side of the driveshaft), get back in, turn on
the ignition, and bring the end of the rod down smartly on the fuel pump
(behind the passenger's seat) and it would run for a while. Repeat as
needed until I could get to work or home, then climb under, unscrew the
nut securing the points cap, remove the bolts securing the toggle points
assembly, rotate a couple of turns to change the toggle point, and
reassemble. Fine for another year or so. :-) (I understand that they
later added a capacitor to reduce the burn rate on the points.)

As for the starter -- no pushbutton in the MGA -- you pull on
a knob which pulled a wire in a spiral steel sheath, to mechanically
close the contacts on the high current switch near the starter.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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