[Spridgets] Trying to start up the old MG

Guy R Day grday at btinternet.com
Tue Jul 13 01:31:54 MDT 2010


Kyle,
I'm going to presume you have checked / changed the oil, this really is 
vital.  Then have a look at the fuel - is that 26 years old?  Oil in top of 
SU carbs often drains / dries out so that will need a top up.  Now stomp on 
the brakes as hard as you can for around 20secs or so.  The brake pedal will 
be hard to press but it should stay rock steady.  Next is to take the spark 
plugs out and turn the engine over by hand for some time to get oil up and 
about in the engine.  A debatable point is to squirt a little oil in through 
the plug holes to lubricate the rings / cylinder walls.  A couple of seconds 
worth of something like WD40 should do no harm.  The rockers at the top of 
the engine will be dry and if you hand prime the oil up there that's fine. 
If it is hard to turn the engine over then try (spark plugs out) pushing or 
towing it (slowly) whilst in 2nd or 3rd gear.  That should turn the engine 
over without too much problem.
It is a damage limitation exercise you are trying to perform, a 'dry' engine 
WILL self destruct fairly quickly and if it runs you will want to try to 
drive it round on brakes that haven't moved for possibly longer than you 
have lived!
Jim Johnson is going to be right about the clicking noise which is why you 
need to find the reason for it.  It can be the starter, it can be the 
engine.  Turning it over without the spark plugs in doesn't just start the 
oil pumping , it shows the engine is free to turn over - the clicking 
problem is now confined to the starter motor / battery.  My next step (after 
the above) would be to put a set of jump leads on from a running car to see 
what happens (spark plugs still out) and see if the engine turns over.  If 
it does, screw the plugs back in, connect the plug leads and fire it up 
still using the jump leads.
The other thing is to nail your Dad down as to why it was stored.  What 
defect made him take it off the road?  There was a reason, find out why.

Guy R Day

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Johnson" <bmwwxman at gmail.com>

Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Trying to start up the old MG


> Whoa!!!   Don't rebuild the engine just because you get a "click" trying 
> to
> start it!!  <snip>
> Cheers!!
> Jim
>
> On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 10:24 PM, Kyle Werner <kmwerner at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hey forum,
>> I recently brought home my dad's MG midget 1970 (1275cc) and I'm hoping 
>> to
>> get it running and fixed up. I've been quickly going through all the
>> interior stuff, but thats not my real problem.
>>  <snip>
>> The car sat in my grandparents barn for 26 years with no starts or
>> anything.

>> Thanks for any ideas,
>> -Kyle Werner
>> _______________________________________________


More information about the Spridgets mailing list