MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 MGA - Worn carburetor linkages - odd wear!

The mixture control linkages on my car have always been pretty sloppy but it never worried me too much as the car starts easy in the warm Australian climate without little use of the choke.
I noticed today that there is excessive wear in the front carby body casting where the link pin (item 32 workshop manual) connects - looks like about 6 mm in the vertical direction. My query is how come it has worn like this in this spot - I hardly use the mixture control - maybe it is from vibration in the loose linkages? I assume I need a new body or can this area be bushed if the rest of the body is okay?
Mike
MGA 1600
Mike Ellsmore

Mike,

A movement of 6mm (1/4") seems a lot. Are you sure it moves that far?
I can't see how it would be a problem. When adjusting the choke cable can't you just take out the excess movement?

Image from 1600 Workshop Manual attached.


Mick

M F Anderson

post a picture and we can give an informed answer.
R J Brown

Mike,

Is all the wear in the body, or some in the link and some in the swivel pin, at the arrow point?

See image.


Mick

M F Anderson

Mick,
The wear seems to be all in the body (the lug your arrow points to). When I pull the mixture lever up the link and the pin move as one, maybe 3 mm (I might have exaggerated before saying 6 mm, but it is quite pronounced). I haven't pulled it apart as yet as I want to use the car next Sunday - unlike some I haven't retired yet, so I will wait till I get a couple of spare weekends then pull the carbies apart, chase the spare parts and rebuild. I will post a photo when I get it apart - it does seem an unusual area for wear!
Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike, it would appear that if it is worn, it would be quicker and easier to drill oversize and sleeve the hole with a copper or steel tube. The sleeve wouldn't even have to be a pressfit. This could be done insitu and you wouldn't have to rebuild the spare carbies. Alternatively, the link could be drilled oversize too and you could substitute a larger pin. I'd opt for the previous technique.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

If you drill oversize in the lug, be sure to get it on the original centre.
Art Pearse

As I said earlier, I don't think it is important at all, either to repair it nor to accurately drill it.
The slack is taken out when you adjust the choke cable and any slight variation in the lever to the cam, that raises the idle speed, is adjustable by the screw.
However, as an MGA hobbyist it is important to be always working on our cars, while the wife cuts the lawn etc....


Mick
M F Anderson

Mick,
Your a man after my own heart, I do prefer fiddling with the MGA rather than cutting the lawn - as I tell my wife "I could have had a better car but I would not have cost as much"!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Sorry a typo, I meant "I could have had a better car but it would not have cost as much"!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike,

My wife would think you had it right the first time. She's always telling me how expensive I am!

Ken
k v morton

This thread was discussed between 13/09/2009 and 15/09/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now