26 replies to this topic

[cal844]

As above, how olds the fuel? Also checked basics like fuel filter, lines, ignition components? Changed the plugs?
 
Stuffs not like it used to be back in the day, ignition components fail, fuel filters can get blocked / reduced flow.
 
 
My high spec 1380 wouldnt pull clean past 90 last year after winter recomissioning, combination of poor fuel filter, slightly iffy rotor arm & cap and a couple of spark plugs not fully right. 
 
Good tank of V power & italian tune doesn't harm. 

Had this on my 998 last year, we changed distributors, coils etc as it wouldn't run to get the emissions tested... A fresh tank of Tesco 99 octane fuel then let it run until the old stuff is used up.

So my advice now is to drain the fuel from the tank, lines and carb, refilling with fresh stuff, clean the plugs and try it

[JDImini]

I had pasta this evening so ready for the Italian tune tomorrow and will get some nice fuel and see how we go

[Dusky]

With that much advance id say your advance weights are stuck.

[JDImini]

With that much advance id say your advance weights are stuck.

is that a euphemism? I know I'm over 50 

How do I check them ?

[Dusky]

 

With that much advance id say your advance weights are stuck.

is that a euphemism? I know I'm over 50 

How do I check them ?

 

I wouldn't even dare to go there ;)

THe advance weights sit in the dizzy, you can check if they're stuck by looking at the timing with the engine running ( vac advance disconnected) and rev the engine, does the timing mark move? If it doesn't move the advance weights are stuck. Should move atleast 20 crank degrees if I remember correctly. Depending on your distributor it'll have anything between 16 and 36 degrees of inbuilt advance

[JDImini]

 

 

With that much advance id say your advance weights are stuck.

is that a euphemism? I know I'm over 50 

How do I check them ?

 

I wouldn't even dare to go there ;)

THe advance weights sit in the dizzy, you can check if they're stuck by looking at the timing with the engine running ( vac advance disconnected) and rev the engine, does the timing mark move? If it doesn't move the advance weights are stuck. Should move atleast 20 crank degrees if I remember correctly. Depending on your distributor it'll have anything between 16 and 36 degrees of inbuilt advance

 

Cheers Dusky the timing mark does move as I rev the engine so they're working at least to some extent.

Went round to a friend's and adjusted the timing and improved how the car drives significantly.

[JDImini]

tweaked the timing a bit more and it's running better but still rich so leaned it out a bit more and just bought a colortune to see if I can get the mixture right

[JDImini]

So three months later I used the colortune for the first time on Sunday, what a simple but clever bit of kit.

 

As with all these things, as I seem to find, the results are never quite as easy as you'd hope. Wound the mixture down to get it "bunsen burner blue" when giving it some revs, but of course its not the same colour across all four cylinders, No. 1 seams leaner than the others. Is this likely to be issues with the inlet manifold - it is a stage one manifold with the heating disconnected or could it be something more serious, or that's just how it is on a a series engine and therefore it's better for the engine, not necessarily the environment or my wallet to keep it a bit rich. 

Unfortunately wasn't able to get the car out for a run after the colortune to do a real world check on the spark plugs which I hope to do at the weekend.

 

I suppose that is why a rank amateur like me should give it to someone that know's what they are doing.

 

cheers

Darren

[cal844]

So three months later I used the colortune for the first time on Sunday, what a simple but clever bit of kit.

As with all these things, as I seem to find, the results are never quite as easy as you'd hope. Wound the mixture down to get it "bunsen burner blue" when giving it some revs, but of course its not the same colour across all four cylinders, No. 1 seams leaner than the others. Is this likely to be issues with the inlet manifold - it is a stage one manifold with the heating disconnected or could it be something more serious, or that's just how it is on a a series engine and therefore it's better for the engine, not necessarily the environment or my wallet to keep it a bit rich.
Unfortunately wasn't able to get the car out for a run after the colortune to do a real world check on the spark plugs which I hope to do at the weekend.

I suppose that is why a rank amateur like me should give it to someone that know's what they are doing.

cheers
Darren

I have never needed a colour tune, I simply call my MOT station to use the emissions machine to set the carb to 3.0% CO at a healthy idle.

In general an A series runs leaner on 1&4 than 2&3.

I use BPR6ES (NGK) plugs which generally (IME) have black soot when set up to 3.0% CO or above.

[JDImini]

Hi Cal844 

 

Thanks I did wonder if 1 & 4 would be leaner. I have the same spark plugs and they make Bert the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins look clean, so perhaps all is OK.

 

I need to get it out on the road and give a good run

 

cheers

[cal844]

Give it a good run, make sure you arrange an emissions check to see what it's at

[JDImini]

Gave it a good run today and had a look at the spark plugs

 

 IMG_3672.jpg   68.4K   1 downloads

 

Does anyone think the mini is running too lean? They are 4 to the left then 3, 2 & 1  especially 4 & 1

 

cheers

Edited by JDImini, 14 July 2018 - 10:37 PM.