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Actually a self-sighting from last weekend 
With the weather warming up again, I've been trying to take the MG out as much as possible. I don't like to leave it sit. So, like most sunny Saturdays, I attempted to start the car...and failed miserably. Usually, it fires second or third twist of the key. For some reason, it was having none of that. As usual, when I'd pull the choke out and twist the key, the fuel pump started chattering away like Speedy Gonzales on crack
but nothing else.
As I'm trying to crank it, the starter was spinning slower and slower, and eventually not doing anything. Seems the battery had finally called it quits. Getting it out is a pain--remove the battery cover, undo the cables, and lift the thing out from the 'cave' beneath the rear seat (which isn't currently fitted). Any MGB owner will tell you that it's a tight fit.
Threw the battery into the other car, then headed to the nearest NTB. "Chuck" did his best to help me out, and eventually I drove home with a replacement.
Which didn't fit! All was good until I got to about the last inch or so. It wouldn't go down any further! Seems there are two lugs cast into the side of the battery...about an inch from the bottom. These are supposed to be used as mounting lugs. However, all they're doing on the MG is getting in the way!
Only thing I could do, was call up NTB and return it. Chuck said it wasn't a problem, and then kept apologizing for "wasting my time." Seems he'd had people screaming at him all day, and thought I was going to do the same.
Now why the hell would I do that? It wasn't his fault that many classic car designs were the result of too many drunken nights. Nor did he realize that many MGB owners dump the original twin-battery setup (which is a pain in the ass, since the proper 6-volt jobs aren't readily available or cheap), and fit a single. Nor was it his fault that the only battery he had in that size (26) had those stupid lugs cast into it. When you consider all of that, I couldn't exactly chew him out, could I?
With all that said, well done, Chuck, and thanks again for pointing me to a vendor who could help me out. New battery is on the way, and the MG shall be running again!
With the weather warming up again, I've been trying to take the MG out as much as possible. I don't like to leave it sit. So, like most sunny Saturdays, I attempted to start the car...and failed miserably. Usually, it fires second or third twist of the key. For some reason, it was having none of that. As usual, when I'd pull the choke out and twist the key, the fuel pump started chattering away like Speedy Gonzales on crack
but nothing else.As I'm trying to crank it, the starter was spinning slower and slower, and eventually not doing anything. Seems the battery had finally called it quits. Getting it out is a pain--remove the battery cover, undo the cables, and lift the thing out from the 'cave' beneath the rear seat (which isn't currently fitted). Any MGB owner will tell you that it's a tight fit.
Threw the battery into the other car, then headed to the nearest NTB. "Chuck" did his best to help me out, and eventually I drove home with a replacement.
Which didn't fit! All was good until I got to about the last inch or so. It wouldn't go down any further! Seems there are two lugs cast into the side of the battery...about an inch from the bottom. These are supposed to be used as mounting lugs. However, all they're doing on the MG is getting in the way!
Only thing I could do, was call up NTB and return it. Chuck said it wasn't a problem, and then kept apologizing for "wasting my time." Seems he'd had people screaming at him all day, and thought I was going to do the same.
Now why the hell would I do that? It wasn't his fault that many classic car designs were the result of too many drunken nights. Nor did he realize that many MGB owners dump the original twin-battery setup (which is a pain in the ass, since the proper 6-volt jobs aren't readily available or cheap), and fit a single. Nor was it his fault that the only battery he had in that size (26) had those stupid lugs cast into it. When you consider all of that, I couldn't exactly chew him out, could I?
With all that said, well done, Chuck, and thanks again for pointing me to a vendor who could help me out. New battery is on the way, and the MG shall be running again!