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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 MG Y Type - YA/YT halfshafts

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120154509820&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002 is for a pair of YA/YT halfshafts ... or at least that is what they look like from the photo and the description.

Although new ones can be obtained from the MG Octagon Car Club, this pair will be a much cheaper solution ... even if you never need them.

No connection with the seller.

Paul
Paul Barrow

I obtained a few nicely detailed photographs from the seller.

There is a problem with one of those half shafts. See for yourselves: http://geocities.com/clubvacm/YSHAFTS.jpg

Evidently, the one on the right is unusable because the spline end clearly shows a twist.

However, the one on the left, although covered in plenty of «shelf rust» does seem straight enough.

What do you think?
Gilles Bachand

Gilles you must be experienced in "shorting" on the stock market. I didn't need them anyway. (Wheelwoble)
but £5 50 is still a good price for just one good one
Peter Vielvoye

Hello Peter,

Sorry I pulled the rug from under you like that.

Even before I found and bought my YA, I was quite worried about these fragile half shafts. The very first thing I did when I received the car (which I bought from the UK last December), was to pull out both axles in order to ascertain their condition, which was very good.

Still, I remained haunted by the possibility of one of them failing on the road as I intend to use the MG on long runs starting next summer. Finding a spare axle was a high priority so as to calm my nervous nature.

Best regards,
Gilles
Gilles Bachand

When I first rebuilt my YT in the early 1970s the local self proclaimed MG guru advised that the weak point of the Y was the halfshafts.In hindsight he didn't know what he was talking about and knew next to nothing about Ys as there were only 3 here.

Anyway I obtained a pair of used halfshafts and for years carried them around in the boot in anticipation of the dreaded failure. Like Giles I had the shafts inspected a couple of years ago and they are perfect so I no longer clutter the boot with them.

Perhaps just having spares is a warranty that you will not break them. In any event used halfshafts are handed and mine are taged nearside and offside. Now if I ever need them will have to try and remember what that means.So one spare halfshaft is not a perfect solution, but would work in an emergency or if you knew the side it was from and your break was on the same side. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Hello Gilles
I managed to pick up a spare back axle that was on ebay localy last year and it is tucked away in my shed.I just couln't resist a small bid on the shafts when they came up, so having seen your photos, I was quite happy for you to have them.

Peter Vielvoye

Remember guys - NEW replacement half shafts ARE available from the MG Octagon Car Club - see the Links page on www.mgytypes.org under SUPPLIERS for details. The MG Octagon Car Club sell to members AND non members alike.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Yes but isn't there a problem with an order coming from North-America? I seem to recall reading that, for some sort of insurance purpose, they could't ship outside the UK...
Gilles Bachand

Their insurers will not allow them to ship to USA due to the litigious nature of the US. However,if a friend in the UK was to buy them, and then send them on to the USA ...

MGOC can ship anywhere else in the world though.

Paul
Paul Barrow

That reminds me to cancel my membership in the OCC. The ban also includes Canada where product liabilty law is essentialy the same as the UK. The insurance company are dimwits and no one at the OCC seems to have any interest in doing something about it. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Terry, in the MGOCCs defense I have had many a talk with Harry Crutchley about this issue. He really wants the insurance company changed but it requires committee approval ... and it is the rest of them that are dragging their feet. It is unfair to say that "no one at the OCC seems to have any interest in doing something about it", it would be fairer to say that "the ability to change course is somewhat slow".

I am continuing my membership as there are other benefits of being a member, besides the member discount on parts. Remember - as a member, although resident in the US, I can have stuff shipped to a UK address too and can then make arrangements for onward shipment to Washington USA ... or wherever else I may wish (wink wink)!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

After we bought our YA I drove around for about a year in total ignorance of the "well known axle problem". Then one day backing out of a parking space at the local shopping mall the car refused to move. That evening I ordered two new axles from NTG and have never looked back. The both old axles were donated to the local land fill.
Rob

Paul,
I am a member of the MG Octagon Car Club, and also a Board member. I raised the issue of selling parts to North America at a recent Board meeting. The problem the club has is that our insurance company (one that was run by a personal friend of Harry's) wants an additional premium of £3000 per annum to provide the liability cover to enable us to sell parts to North America. For a small club this is not viable, hence the Boards decision not to sell parts there.
Sadly this situation is brought about by the attitude in the USA of sueing when a problem occurs. We have no problems trading with the rest of World.

Paul, re your last reply, over the past 5 years Harry has never raised the issue of changing the clubs insurer at a Board Meeting. However, if we did we would hit the same problem, as all UK insurance companies are wise to the North American liability issues.

Best wishes, Brian Rainbow
Brian Rainbow

Brian

Thank you for your enlightenment on the subject.

Speaking as an Ex-pat but now living over here, we North Americans understand the economics of the arguments which are inescapable. All we would ask is that possibly the case is put to your insurers, and also that the club do actually ask other insurers for quotations too. Possibly instead of having it as a general part of the insurance cover, the Club do it on a declared sale value of GBPounds sold to customers in the US/Canada at the end of a year and the premium is retrospectively calculated. This could be covered/funded by instead of members in the US receiving the usual 15% discount off list price that all other members get, we only get 10% or 8% off. This will then help the club finance the insurance directly.

There are many parts that ONLY the MGOCC sells and there are also many willing and able people here in the CONUS who would like to be members if only to get them. Personally, I think the Bulletin is worth the subscription in itself ... but that is my view!

Anyway, please do look at it again, and I am sure everyone reading this would also like to place thier best wishes to Harry for his continuing recovery.

Keep up the good work.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Been away so only now have caught up with this thread.

The UK insurance companies have simply got it wrong in lumping the USA and Canada together as North America and charging extra for product liability insurance. The legal system in Canada is not the same as in the US and in fact is much the same as in the UK or Australia. There must be UK insurance companies still doing buisness in Canada; Royal and Sun Alliance? The OCC should find one and get a quote.

In my opinion the whole issue of product liability in both the USA and Canada as it affects the OCC is nonsense. Firstly the sales are on a commercial scale small. Secondly many of the items just do not lend themselves to product liability claims. In fact about the only products that might have any risk of a claim are steering and brake parts. If necessary exclude those.

The problem is not just with the 15% discount, even more it is the 17.5% VAT. When you eliminate those two items and then add the cost of shipping it simpy means that membership in the OCC for anyone in North America is not worth it. The Bulletin is good but today with the internet and forums such as this it is dispensable. Terry



Terry O'Brien

Terry

If the MGOCC WERE willing and able to sell to the US (and Canada) the discount would be available, and if the delivery address is outside the EU the VAT Sales Tax is also rated as 0% on exports.

I noted your comments on Hi-Gear though and wonder if it would be worth the MGOCC's while in contacting Hi-Gear (or the other way round if the MGOCC are reluctant to make the first move) to find out who the insurers are for Hi-Gear.

One question though Terry - was your conversion kit a direct export to Canada?

Brian - how about it?? There is a ready market for you guys if we can get this sorted.

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 26/08/2007 and 07/10/2007

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