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MG MG Y Type - Y type outer door handles

Morning (here) all ,
The outside door handles on my car are in a bad way, chrome has gone in places and its badly pitted .
I believe they were made of Mazak ???

So a couple of questions .
Has anyone tried getting them re-chromed with success?

Does anyone know of a supplier for new ones ?

Or failing that does anyone have any good used ones they would like to sell ?

Thanks as always
John B y4424
J K Bowman

Yes made out of pot metal/Mazak so chroming is not really an option.

I have piles of old ones here if you want some. None of them are brilliant and some are worse than others.

It will be an interesting experiment but one of these may be helpful if you want to give them a go:

https://www.autotoolworld.com/Eastwood-12451ZA-Liquid-Chrome_p_311042.html with a seal coat of https://www.autotoolworld.com/Eastwood-12452ZA-Liquid-Chrome-Clear_p_311043.html

Or

https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-Instant-Chrome-Finish-Aerosol/dp/B06Y37VP7V?

Let me know if you want a sacrificial handle.

Paul
Paul Barrow

John - just get on to Paul at NTG in Ipswich, mate. I saw their stock when I visited there this week. Cheers. John.
J P Hall

Thanks guys.
I watched a U tube video yesterday where they re-chromed mazak parts .
They spent hours grinding/sanding/polishing to get rid of the pits before they even started dipping . Unfortunately they couldn't get into the tight corners of the detail.
Results on open surfaces looked very good but on closer inspection of the detail it was messy and uneven .
So I wont bother experimenting thanks Paul . I have tried the chrome paint before , not the Eastwood one ,and it is ok depending on how visible it is .
So I will give NTG a ring next week , thanks John. Also Pete at Octagon is having a look . Fingers crossed then , thanks guys .
John B
J K Bowman

Let me know if you need some spares - I have a pile of them here. :)

Paul
Paul Barrow

Vintage & classic spares have what appear to be similar exterior handles on eBay , maybe worth a look.




Rob Snell

Thanks Rob , they look very close if not thesame . I will take a look .
NTG don't have any in stock , and neither do Octagon .
Cheers John
J K Bowman

Just to round this off.
Rob Snell found some at Vintage and Classic Spares in Malvern , ebay advert. Thanks Rob !
They looked close in the photos and they are close enough for me to go and check .
They are identical as regards handle shape and size .
The locking handle has a very long shaft so it will need trimming and the end of the shaft will need tapping for the little screw. All straightforward stuff.
The 3 other handles have a shaft which is I think about 1/4" to short . Bit of a sod but not insurmountable , and worth it because they are such a good match.
So if you will be needing them soon I suggest you try Vintage and Classic, since NTG said no and Octagon didnt have them either.
Part nos 701 AL - for locking handle
and 701 ANL for the plain ones.

Thanks to all who replied John B

J K Bowman

The screw thread is a BA thread - either 2BA or 4BA - I can never remember which without checking John.
Paul Barrow

"Sloop", let us know how the Aussie handles compare if you go down that track. I have a feeling the square shaft might be able to be exchanged. I'll have a look at a spare when I get home next week (still in UK). John.
J P Hall

Paul, Thanks for that , useful to know .

John, I split one last week . The shaft is crimped to stop the spring and washer shooting off the rear .A file took care of the crimping . Once off you just tap out a little pin and ease off the handle. Reassembly is simply the reverse as it says in the Haynes manuals !!! In reality you need to find a method to replace the crimping at the back . Maybe a small pin tapped through the shaft? Maybe a dab of weld ? but tricky when you have to compress the spring at the same time.
Still all part of life's rich tapestry ( he says through clenched teeth )

Cheers guys
John
J K Bowman

Do you have some pictures John?
Paul Barrow


No sorry Paul , should have done .
I have modified one today , so I will photograph one of the others as I do it.

These new ones are assembled a little differently to the originals .
With the originals the crimping needed to be filed off the shaft and that released the spring and escutcheon. The pin that secured the shaft into the casting is then obvious . Tap it out from the small end , it is splined at the bigger end .

With the new handle the spring and escutcheon are held by a pin through the shaft .Easily seen. Easily removed.
The shaft appears to have been secured into the handle before it was chromed , so no pin to be seen .Chrome extended right round onto the shaft. Searching would have meant destroying the chrome.
Solution i chose was to form a tongue joint on the end of the shaft and a slot in an extension piece - woodwork style ! Then carefully welded the join .
Next time I may try a rivet through the joint instead of welding. Small nut and bolt would work also .

Finally a question - Does anyone know what thread is used on the outside door handle screws ?
It looks 3/16BSF or is it 0BA ?
Becoming quite a saga isn't it , hope someone finds it useful some day.
Cheers John


J K Bowman

Hi All,
Just for future reference all the door handle threads are definitely 2BA.
I've included some photos to help make sense of my verbal ramblings .
Cheers John B




J K Bowman

Last photo, how i chose to lengthen the shaft. It needs to be about 1/2" longer but the join is within the door so there is plenty of room .
Till next time
John B

J K Bowman

This thread was discussed between 27/11/2025 and 15/12/2025

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