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MG MGA - Boot lid lock problems

I just cannot get the bootlid to shut proply on my MGA.
If i adjust the catch so i can shut the lid then its still loose and rattles. If i move the lock striker on the bootlid just a tad then the boot lid will not shut. It just all seems wrong the tightest part of the lock catch in on first shutting it and then i just gets looser. Please tell me, are they all like this or am i doing something wrong.

Thanks Roy
R Mcknight

mine stays rattle free because of the sealing strip that goes around the whole lid track. Is your in good shape?
Ted Persons

This was a constant problem with the solid rubber seal strip that was both too thick and too hard. One issue is that the moving latch pin is thinner than the socket in which it slides. When you press the lid down the pin moves down to the lowest part of the socket.If you have it adjusted right so it will actually latch, then when you remove pressure from the lid it moves upward slightly while pulling the latch pin upward a bit, and the lid is loose. If you adjust the striker even a little bit tighter from that condition, then it will never latch.

Installing the proper soft and hollow seal strip will likely make all of those problems go away. Read about the magic of the soft seal here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/body/bd116a.htm

Years ago, before I procured the proper soft seal, I tried something else. I thought that installing a shim in the latch pin socket might remove most of the vertical play in position of the latch pin, thereby reducing the great amount of spring back after latching. It did, but this introduced another problem. I had used a galvanized sheet steel shim, and it seemed to present a lot of friction. This caused so much drag as to make it very difficult to unlatch, do I gave up and removed the shim. This might work better with a brass or copper shim that would serve more as an anti-friction bearing.

Bottom line is, there is no substitute for the correct part. I bought the soft seal from MacGregor in Canada.
Barney Gaylord

This is a UK source for the correct seal:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGA-55-62-BOOT-TRUNK-LID-HOLLOW-SECTION-FOAM-RUBBER-SEAL-AFH1753-AS-ORIGINAL-/260978478085?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cc3878c05#ht_500wt_1054
N McGurk

Thanks. Yes i have the wrong boot seal, new one on order . Roy
R Mcknight

Barney,
I made a shim for my boot latch like you did but I made it out of hardned spring steel. I also have the proper boot seal purchased from MacGregor. I could not make it work with the Moss seal.
Ed Bell

This thread was discussed between 21/05/2012 and 22/05/2012

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