Morris Minor Owners Club

when/who thought it was a good idea to remove the little button on top of the new starter solenoid?

such a good idea as it saved running around the car just to get to the engine in time for it to die on you.

any way, discuss

My traveller (1969 model) had the original solenoid with the red button you can push to turn the engine over.

I think it is the pattern parts that deleted the button.

mine too had the original button, until i managed to burn out the solenoid and then bought a new one, but minus the button.

Mine has the 'newer' type and as I found out last week when I broke down its a real pain if you cant attempt to start from under the bonnet - now looking for an original

my first minor a 1968 model some 28 years ago had the push button type i now own a 1969 model and it has a brand new shiny fixed solonoid bring back the push button i say how,s about starting a pettion?

Elf and Softy - you might press the button by mistake and slice your head off with the fan blade..........
Usually plenty nos old style units on ebay - at a price!

not wanting to offend anyone who has done it, but you have to be pretty stupid to start the engine with your fingers in the fan blade.

Ehem.

...or when the car is in gear!

ah, well i have to hold my hand up and say i did press the button whilst the car was in gear, only done it once.

Now I think about it, it's probably sensible not to have the button; imagine pressing it when the car is in gear with the handbrake off and when you're standing in front of it a foot or so from a brick wall behind you...

I thought all moggies have starter 'buttons' under the bonnet. We looked at a 1959 with the button on the bulkhead next to the battery. And my 1965 has a button further down where the battery lead connects into and goes out to the starter motor.??

they did as standard, but as bits wear out, the new bits just didnt have them. very annoying really

Ah I see. How silly!

The problem is if you're trying to test the engine on your own and want to spin it over for example to see if your getting a spark its nigh on impossible fortunately I've got one of those little gizmos which connects the battery to the solenioid via a trigger switch but you could just as easily use a bit of wire I sup[pose

I suspect my steering lock '71 Traveller had the original solenoid (Red/brown button on top), which failed a few years ago. I bought a couple of spare ones and these were bigger and had buttons but on the bottom (I think they are meant for earlier cars). I think I got them from the Birmingham MM Centre. The first one failed last year (Wouldn't work even under the bonnet, so I used the handle). I had heard they were no longer allowed but the suppliers hadn't heard of it and I got another spare, as I like to keep one in hand.

It was always said that "Rules exist for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" (In 2010 maybe "Wise men" should read "The wise"). Maybe with so many fools on the loose these days, there are more rules for fools and the flow chart is King. Lets hope the rumour of this fools rule is just a rumour.

Easiest and quickest way is just to bung a screwdriver across the two terminals. Don't touch the shaft though as it gets hot pretty quick, and avoid using your favorite screwdriver as it does tend to burn the shaft a bit.

There is absolutely no reason for not having the button. It's just another example of sub-standard spares being passed off. What really happened is that some wretched accountant decided that it was cheaper to manufacture without the button, but they could still charge as if it was there. That, plus the fact it's made by people paid peanuts in the far East, and they've probably got no idea of what it is that they're making. The originals would last for 40+ years, but I too have had the new units fail after less than a year. Bah!

IaininTenbury wrote:Easiest and quickest way is just to bung a screwdriver across the two terminals. Don't touch the shaft though as it gets hot pretty quick, and avoid using your favorite screwdriver as it does tend to burn the shaft a bit.

You dont have to do it that way just clip a wire from the ignition switch terminal of the solenoid and touch it to the battery live. - saves your favourite screwdriver