31 replies to this topic

[mini danny]

yeh sounds like its probs overfueling and thats why the spark plugs are black and when you changed them to new the car started.

urmm i cant do anything tonight but i can see if anybody in club is free over the weekend? also do you have an haynes?

nah i dont have one i was going to pop up to my halfords and get one but havent had the time and that be much appcetaitated if some one could help me out over the weekend thanks

Edited by mini danny, 11 March 2010 - 06:07 PM.

[cherryblossom]

well haynes will tell you everthing really, but you always need a hand to be shown what to do. ill have a chat to the guys and il send you a pm to see what we can sort out

[mini danny]

well haynes will tell you everthing really, but you always need a hand to be shown what to do. ill have a chat to the guys and il send you a pm to see what we can sort out

thanks ild appreaate that thanks dan

[oli8925]

As said what colour are the plugs? Are the plugs getting a spark? Is the engine properly turning over or is it not getting that far? (In which case look at battery/starter motor).

If you are sure the battery is fine test for a spark at the plugs (take them out and hold them to the block, and get someone to turn the key. make sure you don't get in the way of it as it bloody hurts though) If there is no spark then look towards a problem with the HT and master leads, if new ones don't help try a different coil.

If you are getting a spark and the battery is fine but its struggling to turn over, smack the starter with a big spanner, or try another starter motor.

If it's turning over but not starting, it's beginning to look like fuelling. Check the colour of the plugs, and adjust the mixture on the carb accordingly. turn a flat at a time and try for a decent amount of time. If no luck, turn another flat and try again etc etc etc. Or your carb could need a clean, it's not unusual for the piston to get jammed on some grit etc. Use the haynes manual and take it apart, clean it, put it back together and try again.

Other stuff to take into consideration: plug electrode gaps, dizzy points gap, dizzy condenser, dizzy rotor arm, dizzy points, dizzy advance, timing, are the cylinders firing in order?

When you get it running, get a CO tuner/colortune, and get it running sweet.



It's a bit trial and error and it's a pain but it gets there. I had to do it and found, after replacing a hell of a lot, my carb was proper buggered. Got a second hand one and tuned it up and off I went again. A bit later had similar problems, took the carb apart and found that the piston was getting stuck.

Good luck

[mini danny]

As said what colour are the plugs? Are the plugs getting a spark? Is the engine properly turning over or is it not getting that far? (In which case look at battery/starter motor).

If you are sure the battery is fine test for a spark at the plugs (take them out and hold them to the block, and get someone to turn the key. make sure you don't get in the way of it as it bloody hurts though) If there is no spark then look towards a problem with the HT and master leads, if new ones don't help try a different coil.

If you are getting a spark and the battery is fine but its struggling to turn over, smack the starter with a big spanner, or try another starter motor.

If it's turning over but not starting, it's beginning to look like fuelling. Check the colour of the plugs, and adjust the mixture on the carb accordingly. turn a flat at a time and try for a decent amount of time. If no luck, turn another flat and try again etc etc etc. Or your carb could need a clean, it's not unusual for the piston to get jammed on some grit etc. Use the haynes manual and take it apart, clean it, put it back together and try again.

Other stuff to take into consideration: plug electrode gaps, dizzy points gap, dizzy condenser, dizzy rotor arm, dizzy points, dizzy advance, timing, are the cylinders firing in order?

When you get it running, get a CO tuner/colortune, and get it running sweet.



It's a bit trial and error and it's a pain but it gets there. I had to do it and found, after replacing a hell of a lot, my carb was proper buggered. Got a second hand one and tuned it up and off I went again. A bit later had similar problems, took the carb apart and found that the piston was getting stuck.

Good luck

ive had a look at sparls there black soot on them there wet with petrol and if i pump pedal and keep pumping it it it ticks over at about 500rmp very low but as i soon i as i stop it stops

[monkey]

Have you tried taking the plugs out and giving them a clean? Have you checked that they are sparking?

When you get it started, is there any smoke out the exhaust? If so, what colour is it? What does it smell like? (Dont put your nose up the exhaust, just put your hand near it and then sniff your hand).

Does the mini EVER get driven? If your only starting it up on the drive, and letting it run for a few mins, this could be half your problem?

hth

Steve

[mini danny]

Have you tried taking the plugs out and giving them a clean? Have you checked that they are sparking?

When you get it started, is there any smoke out the exhaust? If so, what colour is it? What does it smell like? (Dont put your nose up the exhaust, just put your hand near it and then sniff your hand).

Does the mini EVER get driven? If your only starting it up on the drive, and letting it run for a few mins, this could be half your problem?

hth

Steve

it only smokes on cold days i think that just couse it cold outside and hot fumes and yes it get driven 3 times a week max for a 10 mile drive

[monkey]

Just saw your reply to Oli. If it wants to stall and the plugs are wet, then the mixture and idle possibly need adjusting, without haynes in front of me, i cant remember which screws are what, it would be worth posting up what carb you have though, and hopefully someone more helpful will come along and explain how to adjust your carb

[mini danny]

Just saw your reply to Oli. If it wants to stall and the plugs are wet, then the mixture and idle possibly need adjusting, without haynes in front of me, i cant remember which screws are what, it would be worth posting up what carb you have though, and hopefully someone more helpful will come along and explain how to adjust your carb

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i think this is the carb not sure tho i think that the mixture does need changing but i dont have a clue how thanks dan

[oli8925]

If I remember correctly from yeeeeaaaaaars ago, the crosshead 'screw' on top of the body of the SU, facing to the sky if you like, is the idle speed screw. clockwise = faster.

The mixture screw is the big one sticking out from underneath the carb, should feel like a nut hence me talking about flats. as if you were lying down looking up at it, clockwise = more fuel, anti-clockwise =less fuel

Sorry if you know all this already, don't know what level of knowledge you already have. Is the air filter clean/new?

[mini danny]

If I remember correctly from yeeeeaaaaaars ago, the crosshead 'screw' on top of the body of the SU, facing to the sky if you like, is the idle speed screw. clockwise = faster.

The mixture screw is the big one sticking out from underneath the carb, should feel like a nut hence me talking about flats. as if you were lying down looking up at it, clockwise = more fuel, anti-clockwise =less fuel

Sorry if you know all this already, don't know what level of knowledge you already have. Is the air filter clean/new?

the airfilter is fairly new no more than 5 months i would try it myself but i dont ont to bugger my engine

[oli8925]

you shouldn't bugger it by playing with mixtures. just do it one flat at a time as i said so you dont lose track of how rich/lean youre making it.

Struggling to find a good diagram at the moment, and not having MS Paint isn't helping.

Best i can do is this - CLICK

1. Is the mixture adjustment screw

And there should be a sunken screw in the body of the carb with a cross head in a similar position to 8 in that diagram (I'm hoping someone comes along with a better diagram)

Easiest way is to get hold of a Haynes Manual asap.

Dont worry about idle speed till after you get it running right, so for the time being work your way through the list i posted.

Edited by oli8925, 11 March 2010 - 06:41 PM.

[Pauly]

If the plugs are wet then you are not getting a spark, if it was overfueling it would at least start but not run well performance wise, take a plug out, keep the HT lead attached and earth it against the block (do not touch the plug), get someone to crank the engine over and look for a spark.

[mini danny]

you shouldn't bugger it by playing with mixtures. just do it one flat at a time as i said so you dont lose track of how rich/lean youre making it.

Struggling to find a good diagram at the moment, and not having MS Paint isn't helping.

Best i can do is this - CLICK

1. Is the mixture adjustment screw

And there should be a sunken screw in the body of the carb with a cross head in a similar position to 8 in that diagram (I'm hoping someone comes along with a better diagram)

Easiest way is to get hold of a Haynes Manual asap.

Dont worry about idle speed till after you get it running right, so for the time being work your way through the list i posted.

ok thanks for that ill get a haynes next week when my money comes throgh and might give it ago what is the recommented idle speed when mine actully runs it idles and about 900rmp

[oli8925]

around about 1k is perfectly adequate for an old car IMO. 700-1000 is perfec

Edit: Sorry dont think I read where it said what colour your plugs were, but I agree with Pauly. would be a good start to check if theres a spark at the plug, report back and go from there

Edited by oli8925, 11 March 2010 - 06:56 PM.