MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

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 TD TF 1500 - alternator experience?

Alternators that look like Lucas generators have been out for a number of years. Browsing the archives revealed the earliest on the market apparently suffered chronic overheating failure. My guess would be, if the bugs have been ironed out, Moss would've made them available again.

JIM N

All the evidence over here points to the inexpensive new ones (probably made in the Far East), being trouble free. Loads have been sold, including by the MG Octagon Club, and no reports of failure. I use one myself. Accuspark also sell them.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I purchased one of the early and very expensive (£400+) units from Moss about three years ago. I don't recall how many times it failed but it was at least three. The service I received from Moss Bradford was exemplary. They promptly sent me knew units and paid all postage costs. Eventually we both agreed that the type of alternator was at fault and they refunded my money in total. I took one of the failed units to a specialist auto electrian and he was able to look inside using an endoscope. He believed the internals were Japanese and from a ride on lawnmower. He informed me that he had experience of these and in their original application they were very reliable. However when used on the lawn mower they were in a case with many air cooling slots. These were absent from the dynamo look alike case and this was causing overheating. I have since spoken to the Octagon Club who sell the much cheaper, but custom designed alternator, and they have had no complaints. I was so fed up with the earlier version failing that I bought an alternator from the scrapyard, taken from a Renault Clio and fitted that to the TF. I may replace it with an original looking one from the Octagon Club over the winter.

J Targosz

I don't know whether its made any difference, but I also fitted the 7blade MGB fan to make sure there was a good airflow through the engine compartment at all times.
Dave H
Dave Hill

A few weeks ago, when I feared that my solid-state regulator had seen the end of its days, I learned of British Auto Electric. BAE is owned by one of our contributors, Jerry Felper. I had a great experience working with Jerry to replace my regulator at a very reasonable cost. Among other things that BAE offers are alternators configured with a T/C/D/F tachometer drive output. See https://www.britishautoelectric.com/ . The usual disclaimers apply. Bud
Bud Krueger

Mine has the tacho drive output as well.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks for the feedback!

I just ordered one.
JIM N

This thread was discussed between 27/06/2017 and 28/06/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now