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So far I haven't managed to track down either an original old working one or a new old stock one, but that's me just about to replace mine for the 3rd time. I have purchased the "Lucas" one from mini spares on all 3 occasions, hoping that it might be the better option, however like I have already mentioned this is the 3rd one am about to fit in under a years driving, and not many miles. Has anyone else had any similar issues or indeed found better alternatives?

Cheers D.

I don't like to bad mouth manufacturer's wears on these forums, however, that Lucus stuff we buy these days in the Green Box, all of it, is well, nothing at all like the Lucas of old. I have been told that the old Lucus went bust and a few years back another company took up the name and started manufacturing (effectively) repo stuff. Sorry but it doesn't even come close to the quality of the original. As far as I am aware, that's what we are more or less stuck with these days unless you could be lucky enough to find a NOS one at a swap meet or something like that.

The originals were totally reliable, so look to manufacturer. But new old stock for something that went out of production about 1970 and I think the replacement used a similar part number. It was simply a plastic cap instead of rubber over the pin on the square one. The round one was out of production by then.

the trouble with lucas now is that they are licensing the name, so you can buy the rights to put your part in a lucas box.

hence the quality has suffered

The round ones without the pushbutton feature that all the usual suppliers have seem to be reliable enough....
I managed to eat two of the ones with the pushbuttons in less than a year. I've been told that there's a snap ring inside where the groove cannot be made deep enough to suit. Hence the failures. Never bothered to hack one of 'em apart as it looks like all the king's horses and men could'nt put it together again.

Edited to add; All the pushbutton feature gains you is the ability to run over your foot when you leave it in gear and bump the starter.

Ditto, I managed 150 miles on first 'new' Lucas solenoid followed by failure of the second inside 400 miles.
Lost its spring so to speak. Fitted a grotty 50 year old one with perished rubber cap and never looked back.
Would have thought Minispares would have sorted the quality control issues with manufacturer by now though?

3 years and about 2500 miles on mine, no probs yet.......Probably shouldn't have said that

Sounds like a mixed bag, but plenty having had similar issue's, I agree with the comment that Minispares should perhaps have a word in someone ear regarding the quality, either get it sorted out or take em off the shelf's. Both I have the internal pin has come free, you can remove the rubber cap and slide the insides right out, the grove mentioned is then clearly visible....right where's my grinder !

Well my hats off to Minispares who sent me a replacement solenoid free of charge no questions asked, don't know how long it will last so also bagged an original Lucas one, which I will be keeping in the car... just in case .

I am now in possession of the above mentioned NOS solenoid. Thanks guys for not bidding it up to the moon.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181173813633? ... 1423.l2649
Seller was prompt and the part arrived well packaged with no damage. If anyone else is interested in some of his parts, I had no problems in the deal.
Hopefully, it still works as designed. But, even if it doesn't, I've been told it can be opened up and repaired. I'll fit the solenoid over the weekend.
I am a bit curious though. Did any Minis of the era have this as standard? (My Moke was built fall of 1967)

Well done, but that's the later type version, I managed also to win one on ebay, and the correct early round bodied one to suit my car.