Starter Switch

[ricrx7]

On the picture of the 1939 MG TB dash, what are the black and red things?

1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speed

[Royal]

Those were + and – 12vdc for various optional accessories like a spotlight or emergency flashers. 

[ricrx7]

Thanks.  I’ll have to see if mine are hooked up.

1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speed

[Royal]

Kent,

The reason that the “choke” on a MGTD is labeled mixture instead of choke is because that is really what it is.  TD’s came with SU carbs which do not have any provision for “choking”.  As you probably know, the choke on most cars actually closes off or “chokes” off the air to the carburetor thereby enriching the fuel/air mixture.  On an SU carb, the gas mixture needle is drawn upwards at increased loads and speeds.  But, since SU’s did not have a choke plate, they relied upon moving the jet downward away from the needle, this increases the jet size by means of the “mixture” control.  On most carbs, choking reduces the air. On SU’s it increases the gas.  Different approaches to the same result of increasing fuel/air ratio. 

Many of us (who liked SU carbs) would adjust our mixture, while driving, depending upon the weather even with the engine fully warmed up.  This is actually adjusting the mixture rather than “choking” off the air as on a non-SU carb.  I can’t remember whether it was on the TD or one of my other fleet, but the mixture control had either ball detents for various positions of pull or you turned it 1/4 turn to clockwise to lock it in position.

On a few of my cars, I even installed another cable pull type control that went to the distributor housing and controlled the ignition advance (timing). 

I strongly advise against either of these methods of tuning up your car while driving on T1 air cooled engines unless you really know what you’re doing else you’ll be burning up valves.    

[edward ericson]

Roy, I know you’re an old salt, but you sure you weren’t also a Sopwith Camel pilot in the Big War?

[Royal]

No Ed, but there are tons of knobs, gauges, valves, pots, controls, handles, buttons etc etc on a submarine.  And for the little ones, I always carried a non metallic insulated “tweaker” (as opposed to a twerker) in my pocket.  After 24 years, I guess I became addicted to controls of all sorts. 
Royal2015-04-23 21:22:41

[newkitman]

You never know. I heard that Roy was a crew chief for the Wright Brothers. No wait… that was me. My bad!

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[ricrx7]

Roy – saw your post that mentioned submarines.  Were you on the diesel-electric ones?

1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speed

[Royal]

First diesels for 7yrs. USS Croaker (SS246). A WWII sub. Then nukes for the last 17yrs.

[ricrx7]

Cool  I spent 4 years on diesels – 2 on Tirante (SS420) and 2 on Entemedor (SS340)  I didn’t want to stay at sea, so I got out and joined Public Health Service until retirement

1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speed

[Royal]

Crikey, you must be an old cart!

[ricrx7]

Certified – just reached 70 – can’t deny it anymore.  But I look the same.

And just to keep this post on subject, I have the push button start.  Which I thought was original, but now I know it should have a pull start.

1986 British Coach Works Type 52 (Sammy)
Chevy 2.8 V6, 5 speed

[Author]

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