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MG MGA - dash starter cable location

How is the starter cable on the dash routed to the switch in the engine compartment on a LHD car? Is it held by a clip anywhere?

Thanks!
George
George G.

Still trying to figure this out. A couple of pictures in Clasager show the choke knob on the dash to the right of the speaker, and the starter knob to the left of the speaker, on LHD cars. Seems like it should be the opposite...?

George
George G.

George,
That is the way my car is set up, choke to the right, starter knob to the left of the speaker. I see that the Moss catalog shows the opposite. As for any clips, I'm not sure but neither Moss nor VB show any.

Steve
S Jackson

Thanks Steve. I've installed them that way too, but the starter cable is too short by several inches to go behind the heater box and then to the starter switch. Maybe another bad repro part...
George G.

Mine is starter on the R, choke on the L
Seemed the obvious way and I think I saw some diagrams on Barney before I did it.
Art Pearse

The only thing I would say is that the choke cable is routed through the firewall on the left side of engine (looking forward) and the starter cable passes through the right side. It seems logical from the neatness point of view that they stay that way to avoid unnecessary cross-overs of cable runs.

That all said, my left hooker (now converted RHD) that I imported from the States in 1996 had the choke on the right as you can see in the photo. The car had been abandoned in a field since 1974 so the chances are it may have started life that way.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Thanks all. I may have found the answer I need on the MG Experience forum. Per a comment from Barney (!) from a 2013 discussion there, the starter and choke cables cross over each other under the dash. I'll try that routing today but I think it solves my problem.

Thanks!
George
George G.

I think that choke on right and starter pull on left is correct, with cross over immediately behind the dash.

There was originally a rubber strap AHH5440 to secure the demist cable to the dash braces to prevent rattling and chafing (but usually missing after restoration work). The same part number rubber strap is handy for tying off lots of loose stuff under the dash, although these days plastic tie wraps are much more common.

All cable routing is (originally) the same for both RHD and LHD cars. You have to think like a Brit. The cars were first designed to be RHD, then allowances were made to have them built also in LHD. In RHD configuration the tachometer and safety gauge are side by side, the choke pull is nearest the driver and the throttle cable is right above the driver's toe. All common sense.

For LHD configuration the tach ends up far away from the safety gauge, choke pull farther away from the driver, and the odd throttle cross shaft is used to pull the throttle cable on opposite side of the cockpit. For most LHD competition cars the four dash instruments will have been switched to position the tach close to the safety gauge.
Barney Gaylord

Problem solved. I had the choke and starter knobs in the correct location on the dash, but I had routed the starter cable thru the choke grommet, and the choke cable thru the starter grommet (not knowing the difference at the time). Once this was reversed by crossing the cables behind the dash, the cable location in the engine compartment made much more sense.
George G.

I have just browsed through some more pictures of the wreck I bought in 1996. If you look at the starter switch you can trace the cable along the front edge of the lower firewall. The cable then passes back alongside the master cylinder and through the higher vertical firewall (photo in next entry).

Steve


Steve Gyles

...Starter cable routing.


Steve Gyles

Steve, yes, I see what you're saying. I wonder if that was original to your car (and it doesn't agree with your first posting)...? The repro starter cable I sourced from SF would be too short to do that. When I questioned SF about the length, they said it was made to the same length as several original starter cables they had. After installing per Barney's comments, things have worked out. These cars can be real puzzles at times!

George
George G.

My starter cable inner is actually a single stiff wire, so I chose the most direct route possible (not having noted where it was during demolition). It certainly would not do the contortions shown in Steve's pic. Mine is LHD.
Art Pearse

I bought my lh drive car in '82,it had been off the road for 10 years. The starter is on the left,the choke is on the right. Have not found my notes but I had written down the outer cable length when I had them replated so that I would get them back in the right place. When I find them I will post what I found
gary starr

George

Obviously I cannot comment about the car pre 1974. All I know is that it was rolled racing in California in the 60s and the driver apparently killed. It subsequently had scuttle panel work done so it is always possible the rebuilder did not pay much attention to originality.

My first paragraph in my first post was a reference to any MGA not mine specifically. I was suggesting as Barney stated that any cross-over would be behind the dash, although my wording was unintentionally ambiguous.

I was somewhat surprised to see that routing on my old wreck. Pity I could not make out the choke cable in the photo.

Steve

PS. Despite all that bore rust in the engine it was not seized and ran great after a rebuild. The cylinder head was in the trunk - cracked.
Steve Gyles

Just to clarify the situation regarding RHD cars. Barney states the choke pull is nearest the driver, however the starter pull is actually nearest the driver, refer MGA Workshop manual General Information section pages 2 and 3. All my experience with RHD MGA's have the controls installed this way.
Garry Kemm

Good catch, Gary. I happily stand corrected. It always seemed a bit odd to me that when the vast majority of all MGA were LHD they never published a Drivers Handbook (Operators Manual) for the LHD cars, or ever illustrated the LHD controls.
Barney Gaylord

Siggi Weinberger

re. MGA LH and RH dash difference,
got a booklet from P.Olyslager, London, 1962.
Two drawings of the dash show that they are different, like mirror.
Try to get a copy and send it.

MGrüße

Siggi
Sigbert Weinberger

Steve, wonderful restoration BTW! I have seen numerous "after" photos of your car but never a "before" photo, well done.

George
George G.

George

It looked bad, but most of it was superficial. All the panels (except the scuttle) were in excellent condition.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 20/10/2016 and 24/10/2016

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