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MG MG Y Type - Throttle return spring

I recall some discussion about what parts to carry when travelling with a Y Type, but I cannot find it now. After having to be towed home at the weekend, I suggest that a throttle return spring might be added to the list.

I was driving along happily and thinking how sweet the XPAG sounded, when the accelerator pedal dropped away from under my foot and the car surged forward under power that I did not know it could muster. I turned off the ignition pdq and coasted to a halt at the side of the road. Failing to persuade my wife to part with the elastic from her knickers, I had to call the AA. The drivers do not carry any spare parts any more. I suppose that it is a sign of the times. The parts on modern cars are either bespoke or cannot be replaced without special tools- a far cry from the days when many parts were universal and could be fitted with a couple of bicycle spanners.

So it was a tow home. When we arrived, I dived into my garage, found a suitable spring and had it fixed in the time it took the tow truck driver to remove the straps securing the car, and drove the car away from the truck! The spring is a bit weak, but works. I have ordered two new ones - one to fit and one for the glove box.

Mike
M Long

Mike

A cautionary tale! Always keep a young girl in the back seat who will oblige you ... or failing that a spare spring in the glove box!

What you experienced is now known in the motor trade as Toyota Syndrome.

Good luck bringing a class action lawsuit against Nuffield Corporation!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Yes very worrying experience, when mine suffered a similar spring breaking and the loss of control not good.
The article is here:-

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/imgytr/technical.shtml#Spares%20to%20carry%20with%20you


Took advantage of bright sunshine today and I took the YB for a 101 mile trip today and it was fun!! No problems and trouble free trip.
R E Knight

Can someone post a picture of how this fits and where the spring is obtained and how strong it should be etc as the one fitted to my YB does not work very well and I have had to modify the mounting of the spring to get the throttle to return properly.
D MULLEN

Dave,

Go to the links page of the IMGYR and look for Burlen, they are in Salisbury and sell a pack of spring for few quid.
Sorry no pics.
R E Knight

Dave

When you get your pack from Burlen one end of the spring goes into the small tab on the side of the air cleaner tube (there is a small hole there for it) and the other should attach to a small almost triangular tab on the throttle spinldle on the H2 carburettor.

I can get a picture later if you still need it - let me know on the BBS.

Paul
Paul Barrow

On a more serious note there was an account of a new powerful 4 wheel drive [not Toyota] car which didn't drop out of cruise control. It seems that as the driver applied the brakes so the engine fought back, in desperate panic he removed the ignition key so locking the steering, the vehicle went off the road hit a tree killing the driver.
Every modern car I have driven I can sense at slight throttle openings a sort of digital aliasing where its not quite sure if its 00010 or 00011. My hope is that it doesn't throw in a 10010

Happy driving Bryan
B Mellem

At least with a Y Type, you can turn off the ignition and remove the key without the steering locking.

Incidentally, I got a bag of 14 assorted tension springs on ebay for £5.62, including postage. There were two that are perfect for the throttle return. The others will probably find a use one day. Just enter 'tension spring' into the search and you will get plenty of options. The seller was Hi-tech springs. Prompt despatch too. All fixed now.

Mike
M Long

Bryan

I dont suppose the driver ever thought of putting the car into neutral and then use the brakes? It never ceases to amaze me how dumb some people really are in an emergency and it just shows how bad driver training is in this day and age.

Being as close as you are to Burlen, Michael, (I know you need Red Funnel to get to Southampton) I would have just phoned Burlen in Salisbury and had them put one in the post for you. You could probably have gotten the correct 2 for £5.

Paul
Paul Barrow

It is a sad state modern cars have reached where every action or command by the driver is refered to a computer program. The other day after my modern car had stood a week I tried to clean the brakes by driving in low gear and gently applying the foot brake. The throttle just closed down on its own and refused to open until the brake pressure was eased. You never know with a modern car if a combination of circumstances will arise which is totally beyond a drivers ability to quickly analyse. At least with a classic car the knobs and switches only do what is in the drivers manual and nothing more. No doubt in the future your car will give you a brain scan.

Bryan
B Mellem

Dave,

Here's a picture of the spring attachment.

Not visible is the part that goes through the hole in the aircleaner tube, sorry for that; the picture was made to show of my phenolic washer.

Willem vd Veer

I dont have the bracket the spring clips to by the throttle linkage - where do you get them from?
D MULLEN

David

I would suggest you try Burlen Fuels in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Their phone number is on the link page at www.mgytypes.org.

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 07/03/2011 and 19/03/2011

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