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MG MGB Technical - MGB Hand Brake levers

I have just been going through my stock of hand brake levers, and noticed that one of them is a few inches shorter than all the others.

It probably came of a '65 car that became a racer.

Is anyone aware of different lengths and the change point?

Thanks

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Moss catelogue shows that the levers 17H6787 & 8 were fitted 1962 - 7 & lists the change point.Then 37H2005 & 6 1967 - 78, but implies these were used to the end of production.I don't know the sizes of the earliest ones which are stated as NCA.I think the earliest type were for the Banjo axle.
Cheers
Charles
Charles9

Thanks Charles, I was meaning hand brake lever, not hand brake lever!!

Moss list 2, chrome bumper BHH538 and rubber bumper BHH2503. I have 2 different lengths of chrome bumper lever, but only 1 listed.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

I don't suppose you have a midget hand brake there which might be shorter or perhaps for a different car make altogether ?
Charles
Charles9

I could try measuring my ‘67 Mk1, if it helps?
Dave O'Neill 2

That's why I refer to them as cabin handbrake lever and drum handbrake levers.

According to the Parts Catalogue and Clausager they changed for the 72 model year which was cranked away from the tunnel console, for rubber bumpers 'modified' metal parts painted black instead of chrome on mine, and for the 76 model year and on 'modified', possibly for the change from the all cable to the 'cable and rod' type handbrake cable.

But one being 'a few inches' shorter than the other? They can't possibly both be from an MGB. Shorter would be useless, longer would give more leverage for handbrake turns but would have to be an owner mod. Midget looks to be a completely different design to the MGB and I'd imagine it would be much the same length as the MGB, not inches different.

Maybe a complete different vehicle :o)



paulh4

Midget is quite different and fits to the opposite side of the tunnel.
Dave O'Neill 2

I measured my handbrake lever this afternoon.

Although the photo was taken when the seat was out, the measurements were taken with the seat fitted.

The distance from the bottom end of the lever to the step is 220mm. The length of the grip is 105mm, not including the button.


Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks guys, I think I have figured it now.

I have a 66 Roadster race car and that has also got the shorter lever. And is fly off as well.

The shorter lever will be from the narrow tunnel 3 synchro cars.

I will put a pic on later to show the 2 together.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Here we have the 2 versions of chrome bumper handbrake levers.


Colin Parkinson

It looks like I have the short one.
Dave O'Neill 2

Possible its with and without centre console installed. Needs to be longer with the centre console fitted
S P Brown

The parts book shows two versions. BHH538 is for chrome bumper cars and BHH1923 for rubber bumper cars. My car is a 1969 so will have the shorter lever. I have fitted the full console from later cars and there is no issue with the handbrake lever at all.
Mike Howlett

My 73 chrome bumper and 75 rubber bumper are the same length - 13/75" from the end of the tube to the tip of the button. The difference between them is that CB are chromed and RB painted black. Both are the longer ones shown in Colin's picture i.e. with the short section of tube in line with the handle before the bend.

My Parts Catalogue shows four levers - AHC548 prior to 258001 for the 72 model year BHH538 which Clausager says was cranked away from the tunnel and used for the remainder of CB. The centre arm-rest was provided at the same time, so perhaps to give more room to get your hand round the handle with the arm-rest fitted, as well as more leverage.

However Clausagers pictures show a 'short' one on a 1964 car and a Mk1 GT, but the longer one on a 68 MGC, 69 MGC GT and 71 roadster all without the arm-rest, which doesn't tie-up with the catalogue. The wider tunnel was provided on Mk2 cars, so perhaps the cranking away was more to do with accommodating that then the arm-rest.

The catalogue doesn't cover MGCs of course, and the main suppliers I've looked at don't help, but other sources indicate the shorter lever was with 3-synch cars and that MGBs and MGCs were the same. Of course, any car could have any lever by now.

BHH1377 for RBs up to 386600 when it changed for the 76 model year to BHH1923, Clausager says 'modified' but gives no reason. That was used until the end of production.
paulh4

Was the later 'modification' anything to do with the warning light switch that was added to the handbrake, perhaps?
Dave O'Neill 2

Possibly in anticipation, although the warning light itself wasn't provided until the next model year. That involved a completely different dash and centre console and a lot of other changes.
paulh4

Correction: AHC548 is the rod between the button and the pawl, the earlier lever is AHC546.
paulh4

Mike, I think if you have the console and 4 synchro, yours will be the longer one. Your parts book is probably the Moss parts book? which isn't necessarily complete.

Dave the last version, same length as the late chrome bumper one, was the same but with the switch bracket welded on and it was black.

Paul I am pretty convinced now that the short one was 3 synchro, the longer one 4 synchro, because of the different tunnel widths.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Indeed, and Clausager's photos are indicative of that. He shows short levers for Mk1 and long levers for Mk2 and later, straight levers prior to 1972 and cranked with the tunnel console. Pages 31 to 35, and 43 to 52. I don't think the longer lever was because of the increased tunnel width though, that would be more likely to foul the side. That's why I wondered whether the cranked handle was for Mk2 cars with the wider tunnel, but it wasn't.

That makes the short lever undocumented in the Parts Catalogue, although Clausager in the detailed production changes says "Improved handbrake with new lever and handbrake pawl rod (interchangeable)" at chassis number 115596 in March 67. The levers in the drums were changed to 'longer' items at chassis number 132463 in July 67, both changes would have improved the performance of the handbrake.

All RB handles were black.
paulh4

I had nothing better to do today so dug out my MGB microfiche!

Chrome Bumper

AHC 546 NLA use BHH 538
BHH 538 HN5 258001 - 360300
BHH 1377 HN5 360301 - 386600
BHH 1923 HN5 386301 on

Rubber Bumper

BHH 1923 HN5 410001 - 516118
BHH 2503 HN5 516118 on

So that is 5 different handbrake levers!!!

I feel better now!

Colin
Colin Parkinson

There are six:

Short straight chrome unknown part number used prior to chassis number 115596
Long straight chrome AHC546 115596 to 258000
Long chrome cranked BHH538 258001 to 360300
Long black cranked prior to 77 BHH1377 360301 to 386599
Long black cranked 77 and later BHH1923 386600 on
Long black cranked replaces both previous black handles BHH2503
paulh4

This thread was discussed between 03/02/2021 and 11/03/2021

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