93 replies to this topic

[jaydee]

My mini has a stage 1 kit on it, so I guess I need to change the needle, is the AAA needle that upgrade from stock?

What needle you currenty running?

[m1tch]

My mini has a stage 1 kit on it, so I guess I need to change the needle, is the AAA needle that upgrade from stock?

What needle you currenty running?

Im unsure as to what needle it currently has, it will be the OEM it came in the factory with. To take the dizzy cap off I guess I will need to take the front grill off? Also is there anyway that when I take the cap off I can mess up the timing at all? I know some dizzy caps you can turn to advance or retard the timing.

Is the general consensus that its the dizzy thats the issue or the needle?

[jaydee]

Can be either timing and needles, anyway you have to replace needle at all.
Stage 1 needles for 998 engine are AAU/AAA/AAM.
Go to a Rolling road if you're not experienced with su carbs tuning.
You dont need to take out dizzy cap to set timing, you have to turn the whole dizzy.

[mars red mike]

Basically you have changed the inlet and exhaust system and now the car has a bad flat spot. You could change the coil,cap,rotor arm etc and it may cure the problem and if your happy then end of story. I am 99% certain that this is a case of wrong needle and/or mixture.

[m1tch]

Thanks guys, I just just taken the car out on a private road to show you what its like, just took the dizzy apart, all new points and internals in the dizzy, contacts on the cap are slightly worn, I have just emery papered them, here are some pics (sorry about the quality)

Here is the video, its kinda hard to hear as something seems to be clinking sorry bout that I think you might be able to hear my problem as the car comes round the bend, it seems to pick up ok when I change gear (no its not a dog box, just a worn 1st gear lol)

http://s93.photobuck...nt=MOV00624.flv

Dizzy:



Cap:

Edited by m1tch, 03 July 2009 - 11:40 AM.

[m1tch]

Right just got back in, I have changed the dizzy cap for a new shiny one woop lol and I have also topped up the dashpot with some more oil so that its definately not that. The problem is still there but:

No choke + thottle = missfire/not good sound + no acceleration
Choke on + thottle = nice fruity sound + acceleration is back to basically normal, slightly boggy though

Should I change the needle to a AAA or is there a way I can richen the mix with the current needle?

[mars red mike]

Get it booked in to be tuned properly mate. If you arent 100% sure what you are doing then dont mess with it as you will only end up disappointed with an undrivable car. You could spend days beggering about with different needles and get absolutley nowhere whereas a couple of hours on the rollers and it will be sorted.

[m1tch]

Its impossible for me to get to a rolling road, the car is already too dangerous to drive, I don't know why this has suddenly happened though, it was running fine, now its not lol do you think the carb cleaner has blasted away 26 years of rubbish that was stopping the needle from fully closing? Ie the needle was dirty and so the jet was never fully closed?

[jaydee]

Nope, happens that old jets melted in gummy fuel residues gives loads of problems when cleaned, but the opposite at yours they may need lean needles, while you need a richer one.

[m1tch]

Hmm I might take the carb apart and see whats happening, I really want to get it rolling roaded, but I can't get my car there lol am I to take it that because I cleaned it its now showing up the problem with the needle?

[m1tch]

Ok, just taken the carb apart and given it a full clean, its running an ADE needle, which im guessing is stock. After I cleaned it all out with carb cleaner the car won't hold idle anymore, it just dies, meaning that its the needle, so I need to go get either an AAU,AAM or AAA needle to put in there so that I can get it to a rolling road for a proper tune up, the car won't be able to get anywhere until I change the needle here, even if it does run rich or drives like a dog, at least I can get it somewhere lol

Is it worth me getting a stage 1 piston spring? I have seen one on minisport

[jaydee]

yes, might be. But might be many other things also ie timing, points gap, massive air leaks.. Dont dismantle carb if dont know what u're doing, SU carbs are easy, but are very delicate units also.

[mars red mike]

If you are going to buy a new spring, buy a new standard one.

[m1tch]

Ok I am always careful with stuff don't worry, just 1 question though, minisports gives out an AAV needle in their stage 1 kits, minispares gives out an AAU needle in theirs:

Minispares:

"The favourite and best needle for Minispares stage one kit. Tested on a rolling road by Peter Baldwin and Keith Calver this baby gave the best performance when using our RC40 system, minispares inlet and exhaust manifold plus a K&N filter. If using other manufacturers components this needle never seemed to work as good from results obtained or given to us over the last 5-6 years,but it is a good starting point"

What stage 1 needles is everyone running?

[mycoolmini04]

i think you should at least buy a new dizzy cap before doing all the other stuff. look at the centre piece on the inside of the cap and make sure its still springy and not broke. If you say your car was fine before hand then imo it must be the ignition.