mk1-forum.net

I've just had a repro solenoid with a switch pack up on me after about 10 starts, I was debugging something under the bonnet, using the switch on top to start it. It stuck on.
Pretty shoddy quality, even though it was from one of the large specialists. Does anyone know of a reasonable make one?

No, mine did the same. They are or we're useless. I fitted a 50 year old one. Works fine. Disappointing that there seems to be nothing available unless others can shed some light. Cheers

Nos Lucas is the way to go not the new Chinese ones

I'm afraid I concur, after having aftermarket ones fail every time I now source used or NOS solenoids there's nothing worse for me or the customer after an expensive restoration for the car to "fail to proceed" as Rolls-Royce put it!!

I had a repro one on my Mk1 and the button assembly came adrift and fell out.

Now using an original secondhand Lucas one that is 50 yrs old.

The Chinese aftermarket stuff is quite simply Shite

so is the one Minispares sell one of the crap ones? as I've got one saved for my next order but an old original one, that's damaged.

whoever answers this question next better be careful!

product feedback is the only way to get things improved!

in calvers piece in minimag he mentions about how badly fitting the handbrake cables he bought were, but doesn't name the supplier and pictures the original versus the new ones. I had exactly the same issues with an identical piece but without anything original to reference against I had no idea it was wrong.

I cannot comment on Mini Spares solenoid. However, I no longer have the repro push-button solenoids on any of my British cars. I bought three over a decade. Each one failed within a year of purchase. I thought the first one was a fluke and bought two more assuming they would be different and OK. They weren't so I am done with them.

I have the later square Lucas solenoid on my Spitfire and Mini (originality be damned). I have a Ford Mustang solenoid on my GT6.

I have to say I did buy the new solenoid from minispares. I don't want to bad mouth them as most stuff I get from them is fine. The solenoid, however, is now in the bin and a secondhand one fitted.

I think it's the luck of the draw sometimes ..whys everyone scared about there views on mini spares ? I got one from them and it was crap . But in fairness I took it back and they exchanged it no problem . Thing is I spent more on diesel getting there , than the cost of the solenoid

So, looks like there is a need to communicate this with Minispares. They have sorted there coils out due to similar QC issues. Rich? Do you want to tell them?

In the case of the reproduction pushbutton solenoids I would not describe the situation as "luck of the draw".

I have disassembled all three of mine once they failed. Inside there is a metal pushrod with a couple of circlip grooves on it. The circlips are supposed to support the moving contact and push it against the fixed contacts to close the circuit when you turn the key to the start position. On every failed solenoid I opened the circlips had come out of the grooves and were no longer able to push the contacts together or pull them back apart. The failure could be attributed to the depth and width of the grooves and/or the low spring strength of the circlips.

The solenoid issue is not unique to the items sold by Mini Spares. The units I had failures with were not from Mini Spares but from two different U.S. suppliers. The problem probably originates with a common supplier in the far east who has a poor design and/or poor quality control.

Yes there's a common supplier . So it's not just mini spares problem . But that said mini spares do push the fact that there parts are superior to any one else's . So as a customer you could get fooled into thinking you were playing it safe by purchasing from them . Of all the company's out there I still use mini spares over anyone else . Never had a problem getting a refund or exchange and that's important if your spending your hard earned cash

the solenoids we sell are a Lucas boxed product, sourced from a large uk based supplier / agent for Lucas parts.


we have no input in the design of the part, its simply a bought in item