12 replies to this topic

[rendersonique]

Hi there,
I will try and be as descriptive as possible here.: I have a 1968 cooper S and have not long finised restoring it but have been plagued with handling problems ever since I got the car on the road. I have changed both engine mounts on the car and have an extra top engine steady, along with two further steadies on the bottom of the engine (best to be safe). Initialy when I changed the engine mounts the car seemed to respond better over bumps and not seem to go into this kangarooing action at low speeds . What actually happens is when I hit a bump on the road my foot presses slightly harder on the accelarator pedal and the car (natuarally) accelerates. However, it does this quite violently causing me to lift my foot off the pedal, then the car decelatates quite violently which makes my foot go forward etc, etc. Now if my engine mounts have gone again, what could possibly be causing it to happen when my engine is tied in with an extra 3 steadies?

Has anybody else had similar issues in the past?

[998dave]

check the mounts and steadies for movement.

How good is the clutch?

D

[rendersonique]

check the mounts and steadies for movement.

How good is the clutch?

D

Engine does not seem to budge at all when rocked from the top. The clutch is fine and is always engaged fully when I get the problem.

Andy

[M J W J]

If the engine is securely fastened to the sub frame check the sub frame mounts. It could be the whole sub frame is moving. Also check the dash pot fluid level.

[rendersonique]

If the engine is securely fastened to the sub frame check the sub frame mounts. It could be the whole sub frame is moving. Also check the dash pot fluid level.

Subframe is fully tightened as I changed the steering rack a month or so ago and made sure both floor mounts and front mounts were tightened.

[998dave]

Check drive shaft lash. (Free movement of one driveshaft/wheel in degrees with the car in gear, and without the other wheel turning).

Have you got some form of rubber cush-drive fitted?

What clutch have you got fitted, may be slipping? Any oil contamination?

[998dave]

Also, with you mentioning the throttle seemingly being the cause of the issue, how smooth is your throttle?

You may want to check, and consider re-routing the throttle cable, also check the freedom and smoothness of movement of the throttle arm on the carb, and the butterfly.

Also check the dashpot oil, and condition of the plunger, does it look like it's been sticking?

Lastly, condition of the ignition bits, is it a kangaroo, or miss fire, vac advance okay? dizzy cap and rotor arm?

It's hard to work out what it could be without seeing the car...

[rendersonique]

Also, with you mentioning the throttle seemingly being the cause of the issue, how smooth is your throttle?

You may want to check, and consider re-routing the throttle cable, also check the freedom and smoothness of movement of the throttle arm on the carb, and the butterfly.

Also check the dashpot oil, and condition of the plunger, does it look like it's been sticking?

Lastly, condition of the ignition bits, is it a kangaroo, or miss fire, vac advance okay? dizzy cap and rotor arm?

It's hard to work out what it could be without seeing the car...

I have been thinking that the throttle may not be quite as smooth as it should be so I was going to check that. In answer to your previous questions, the clutch is not the cause of the problem. It works fine and is deffo not slipping and there is no oil contamination as the engine has only just been re-built and run in (1300 miles on the clock so far). All of the ignittion parts are functioning correctly and its not spluttering or missfiring. I am interested to know what you mean about the drive shafts as I do have a knocking noise when the car is reversing slowly (which is another problem I have to look at).

I am just a little peeved that I have spent so much time and money on the car and its still got problems 2 months after being on the road.

Andy

[rendersonique]

Also, with you mentioning the throttle seemingly being the cause of the issue, how smooth is your throttle?

You may want to check, and consider re-routing the throttle cable, also check the freedom and smoothness of movement of the throttle arm on the carb, and the butterfly.

Also check the dashpot oil, and condition of the plunger, does it look like it's been sticking?

Lastly, condition of the ignition bits, is it a kangaroo, or miss fire, vac advance okay? dizzy cap and rotor arm?

It's hard to work out what it could be without seeing the car...

I have been thinking that the throttle may not be quite as smooth as it should be so I was going to check that. In answer to your previous questions, the clutch is not the cause of the problem. It works fine and is deffo not slipping and there is no oil contamination as the engine has only just been re-built and run in (1300 miles on the clock so far). All of the ignittion parts are functioning correctly and its not spluttering or missfiring. I am interested to know what you mean about the drive shafts as I do have a knocking noise when the car is reversing slowly (which is another problem I have to look at).

I am just a little peeved that I have spent so much time and money on the car and its still got problems 2 months after being on the road.

Andy

[shorty]

this kangarooing happens to me but only because when i hit a bump i don't move my foot so it hits the pedal numerous times and gets very annoying...i now anticipate the bumps that can be seen and remove my foot of the pedal completely and just have it over the brake just incase the bump is harsher than expected

[rendersonique]

this kangarooing happens to me but only because when i hit a bump i don't move my foot so it hits the pedal numerous times and gets very annoying...i now anticipate the bumps that can be seen and remove my foot of the pedal completely and just have it over the brake just incase the bump is harsher than expected

Surley this is just avoiding the problem. I am sure when i owned my first mini back in 87, and an MG metro in the early 90s i didn't have the same problem. I have not had an opportunity to drive another mini since then, but i cant imagine it happens in every one. To me its a real pain, and if i could find a garage that i trusted to work on my mini (it being an older car), i would gladly take it to be looked at. Unfortunatly, i don't trust modern garages to make the correct diagnosis.

Andy

[shorty]

well with me it only happens because my foot bounces up and down on the acceleration pedal so the only thing i can do is to avoid it. it will still happen from time to time due to unseen bumps and stuff.
if it does happen to me dipping the clutch helps (well my dad tells me to dip the clutch when this problem occurs)

[998dave]

Drive shaft lash, essentially free movement, it's used to determine drive shaft wear.

As for the knocking noise in reverse, due to the position this puts the shifter in, you may find it's the exhaust knocking on the gear shift.

Dave