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MG MGB Technical - Engine is locked up

Just picked up a 1967 mgb gt that someone started to restore and gave up on it. The problem is that it looks like they changed the starter and it may be locking up the engine. Could that be why engine is locked up.? Also I cannot seam to take starter out it is not budging. Please if you can help me I would very much appreciate it. It is I believe still a positive ground. Thank you!
RP Padilla

The starter pinion gear is probably jammed hard in the ring gear. I had that happen on our 66 MGB a number of years ago. Unbolt the starter and see if you can lever it out. The real fix will involve a new ring gear. Cheers - Dave
Daved DuBois

Mk1 cars up to 67 had an inertia starter (solenoid on the inner wing) and they did periodically jam in engagement with the ring-gear. Mk2 cars had a pre-engaged starter with the solenoid on the starter, and these rarely if ever jam.

The usual way to free them is to put the car in 4th gear, handbrake off, and rock it hard back and fore. However with a non-runner it could well be more serious, and possibly incorrect parts. Inertia starters have 9 teeth on the pinion, the pre-engaged has 10, and the ring-gears are different. As later engines can be put in early cars and vice-versa you need to go by the engine number as to which is correct.
PaulH Solihull

If this is an inertia starter and the chances are that it will be then just put a spanner on the end of the starter motor shaft and wind the pinion back and remove the motor
Iain MacKintosh

Paul and Ian - The normal methods of disengaging the starter pinion doesn't work in some cases, like the jam that happened to our 66. I tried both methods prior to and after the car was towed home. I no longer remember the sequence of events after getting the car home, but ultimately it required a new ring gear. Certainly trying the normal procedures to release the starter pinion should be tried before resorting to more drastic methods, but PRs statement that the starter cannot be removed, is exactly the situation that I had in our car those many years ago.

As an aside, we still have that car and use it as our every day transportation vehicle. The problem has never reoccurred since I replaced the ring gear. Cheers - Dave
Daved DuBois

Thanks everyone for the input I got. I ended up pulling engine and trans out to free up starter. I am thinking of installing one of those high torque starters to rid that problem ever happening again. Engine seems to be fine. While out I am also going to install new clutch assembly, new seals on motor and re paint. Anything else I should do I am open to suggestions. Would also like to convert to negative ground if not difficult.
RP Padilla

RP - "Would also like to convert to negative ground if not difficult." Not difficult at all - see the article, Polarity Change in the Other Tech Articles section of my Homepage at: http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/ for instructions on how to do the change. Cheers - Dave
Daved DuBois

This thread was discussed between 20/02/2013 and 25/02/2013

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