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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 TD TF 1500 - High-torque starter for small-clutch XPAG?

Hi everyone:

Now that we've got the engine down into itsy-bitsy pieces again, the thought crossed my mind that maybe I should also be putting in a more modern starter. My starter is actually a TC starter, and I noticed that it doesn't always provide the motive power that might be needed on a hot day with a percolating carb and a warm supercharger.

There's been an ad in 'Classic Motorsports' magazine for high-torque starters for TR6's and MGB's - I wrote and asked them if they had a starter for an XPAG and I never got a response - do any of you know whether there's a similar remanufactured/modern starter out there for our engines?

By the way, Len Fanelli has a cam kit on the way, and Hugh Pite found a good oil pump for me - a big thanks goes out to all of you for all the leads that have helped through the fragging of the engine bits.

Dave
Dave Jorgensen

Hi Dave
I really enjoyed your photo posts this winter.
I was just cruising ebay and saw a hi tech starter.
Item # 230467194235
Might be what you want. I cannot vouch for it.
I like ebay.

Tom
Tom Norby

Thanks for the eBay tip, Tom. I appreciate it. This starter seems to be advertised as a general fit for XPAGS and BMC 'B' blocks - are the starters really compatible? If they are, is there a difference between small-clutch and big-clutch XPAGs?

Dave
Dave Jorgensen

TC's use a different ring gear, so if you switch you may need to switch to a TD ring gear. I'm not sure what the difference is- diameter or teeth, etc. A real TC starter with the switch on the end would likely be worth some bucks, as they are really rare. George
George Butz

Dave,
I don't know if this will help with your starter woes,,,, but for years, in our TD,I have been using an inexpensive "off the shelf" starter for an MG midget which is available from almost any parts store. The only mod that must be done is to file down the round head of one of the long bolts that hold it together, The bolt is countersunk, so removing the exposed head doesn't matter. This bolt head interfers where the starter is mounted. Mabey there is a "modern" Hi torque starter available for a Midget....

SPW
Steve Wincze

Dave,

There are several people offering a high-torque starter for the TD/TF. Bear in mind that the Spridget starter is almost identical and in some cases, was directly interchangable.

However, your best bet is to get one made specifically for the job, and SC Parts offers just this at £162.80 - see:- http://www.scparts.co.uk/index/lang-2/lkz-195/markenid-3/katnr-183/kat_sprache-2/lang-2/hrubnr-1569/rubrik-4824/functiontpl-artikelresult_zoom.tpl,,search-299735.htm

I imagine you will have to specify positive or negative earth.

Pic attached.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.


Gordon A Clark

Dave,

You can also try this company in the US.

http://www.britishstarters.com

Cheers,
Jim
James Neel

Does the MGA/early-MGB/late-TD/TF starter fit a small-clutch early-TD engine? How about the Spridget starter, would it fit an early TD engine? A Spridget starter would also be the same one that runs in a Mini, correct?

Dave
Dave Jorgensen

Yes Dave, A Midget starter fits....
Steve Wincze

Hi Dave, Midget, Sprite, MGA starters will all fit on any XPAG block. The problem is the number of teeth on the flywheel which must correspond to to the starter pinion. I do not think a later starter will work on an early TD unless the pinion gear is changed.
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2010 and 01/05/2010

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