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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 MG Y Type - Exhaust/Handbrake

Chaps,

What's the cheapest way for me to get my hands on a stainless steel exhaust for my YT?
Is it to join the Octagon car club for a year, just to benefit from their reduced members prices?
I used to be a member of the Octagon club, but let it lapse as I wasn't really "using" my membership.
Anyone here able to help me out?

One other thing - my handbrake packed up this morning. I haven't had a chance to investigate it yet, but the ratchet no longer holds. The cables and brake itself are fine, but as soon as I let go of the lever it falls down to the first "click" on the ratchet and the car rolls away.
Any suggestions?

Thanks as always.

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

Have you checked the spring on the ratchet pawl? May have broken.
Steve Simmons

I would not recommend joining the MGOCC for one year - I have been a member for many years and at the same time also in the MGCC. Both represent excellent value for money and there will be other times you will need the advantage of the MGOCC for your YT. Like owing a YT it is a long term investment so do not short yourself out.

Do as you suggest and you will not be allowed back in when you need it and it is not really the done thing old chap. If you cannot afford to belong to both, just pay the full price - otherwise other MGOCC long term members are just carrying opportunists and it is not something I personally savour.

The MGOCC and the MGCC have embarked on a few joint adventures and without the combined resources there would not be the support network available that there is today. Lets be honest about it - the MGOC (Owners Club) cannot begin to offer anything like the resourcs that are available to T or Y owners and that is no deprication to the MGOC versus the MGOCC or the MGCC, it is simply a question of horses for courses.

Paul
Paul Barrow

I am a member of the MGOC and the MGCC and have been so for years. I was a member of the Octagon Club for about three years, but like I said I didn't feel like I was fully utilising my membership and so didn't renew. This doesn't make me a bad person.
Anyway with Octagon membership costing 27 pounds and non-members only having to pay an additional 15% on spares it would be of little (or no) advantage be me to re-join just to obtain the reduced rate. However if I did it wouldn't make me a bad person.
Ownership of a YT (or indeed any MG, any classic or in fact any car) doesn't HAVE to be a long term investment. Surely for some it's just a car and it's just a bit of fun. It doesn't have to be a religious experience, does it?

Anyway I took my handbrake mechanism off last night and sure enough the pawl just doesn't hold on the ratchet. I think this is due to a couple of things:
1) The pawl is worn out and doesn't have a decent lip to hang on to the ratchet teeth.
2) The handbrake handle itself has quite a bit of play around the big rivet and washer that it pivots on, meaning that the pawl has quite a bit of play relative to the ratchet.

The ratchet itself looks fine and the pawl spring has quite a good pull on it, so probably the easiest option is just to fit a new pawl. However having looked at NTG and MOSS it's going to cost somewhere in the region of 45 to 50 pounds! What a rip. Does anybody know of a better source?

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

I've never had the pleasure of dismantling mine, but perhaps a long session with a triangular file sharpening up the teeth would do it.
Michael Nicholson

The MG Magnette ZA/B series uses exactly the same handbrake Saul. If you get stuck I may have a spare I dont need.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thought I had a spare but on closer inspection ... bad luck.

However, call Lou Shorten on 01603 872436 in the UK and have a chat to her. I am sure she may be able to sort you out with one from a Magnette ZA/B, as I said, they are identical. She should be a lot cheaper than either of your other two sources.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thanks for the info Paul.
It all appears to be a bit more complex than I first thought.
NTG list all the Y handbrake parts along with those of the TD, TF and Z. Most of these parts appear to be common to all of those models except the pawl and ratchet they list are (apparently) for the the TD & TF only and not for the Y or Z.
They don't actually have a listing for a Y/Z pawl or ratchet.
If these TD/TF & Y/Z items are indeed different then Moss aren't going to be any help to me either.

I'll try Lou.

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

Saul-

The TD/TF have a fly-off brake, whereas the Y is a normal locking one. Pull up the Y and it locks. Pull up the T and you have to push the button to lock it. They can be interchangeably swapped, but the action is different. Do you have a Rally-prepped Y?

Paul
(TDs/YB, etc.)
Paul

Based on Paul C/T's comment Saul, I am more than confident Lou is your lady.

Paul
Paul Barrow

I tried taking my handbrake mechanism to pieces yesterday and this is one of those annoying jobs that is turning out to be much more hassle than it should be.

I took the split pins and bar out that holds the pawl to the handle in the hope that this would allow me to pull the pawl out the bottom of the handle sufficiently to be able to release it from the pawl rod. No.
So I took the chrome knob off the end of the pawl rod in the hope that this would allow me to pull the pawl out the bottom of the handle. No.
So I took off the cables and pulled out the balance bar in the hope that this would allow me to flip the handle right over and give enough space between the handle and the ratchet to allow me to pull the pawl out the bottom of the handle. NO!

So the only answer (as far as I can see) is to do exactly what I was trying to avoid - remove the handle from the ratchet by taking out the big pivoting rivet thing.
1) How do I remove this?
2) Do I need to purchase a new one for when I put it back together?
3) How do I put it back together?

I hate rivets.

Once I have got the thing out how do I remove the pawl from the end of the pawl rod? Is it another rivet?

What a pain.

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

Did you contact Lou Shorten yet for a new old stock one yet? You could save alot of grief to yourself if she can help.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Yes, thanks Paul.
Lou believes she'll be able to get a pawl for me, which is excellent news.

However I'm still going to have to take the old one out, which I believe is going to require me taking the handbrake lever off the ratchet by removal of the big pivoting rivet.

So my queries still apply
1) How do I remove this?
2) Do I need to purchase a new one for when I put it back together?
3) How do I put it back together?

Many thanks.

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul



http://www.ntgservices.co.uk/tempy/mga/MGA16-01.PDF

Saul

Sorry about that last entry, my PC submitted it before it should ;-)

Anyway what I was going to say was sorry to be a pain but are you sure Paul that the Y & Z handbrake mechanisms are common?
If you go to the following parts list and check the picture for the ZA and ZB handbrake on page 19 (you'll need to zoom in) it looks a bit different from the one on my Y.

http://www.ntgservices.co.uk/tempy/mga/MGA16-01.PDF

There's no balance bar for the two handbrake cables and the fixing points for the ratchet look different - or is this just down to artistic license?

Cheers,
Saul.
Saul

You are essentially correct in the differences but I think the pawl is the same. Ask NTG - they should be able to advise.

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 19/07/2005 and 28/07/2005

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