13 replies to this topic

[fabdabcab]

having fun and games getting this blooming engine started, i really want to hear it run before i start to strip car for restoration. the car is a mini cooper 1275 carbed version. so far i have put new battery on, wired in the coil we have spark and good compression 1.8 on all cylinders, at first had problem with engine turning over slowly mangaged to sort that out now we were having problems getting fuel through so looked at the mechanical pump on the block to find that the arm had snapped grrrrrrr just so you know the previous owner has put a spi lump in and put the carb in place and obviously changed the pump as it was new. question is why would this have snapped? did he put it in wrong ( is there a right and wrong way) cand any fuel pump be used on it or does it have to be a certain type ( bearing in mind its an spi lump) im getting very close to just binning the blooming thing and sourcing a new cooper carbed version engine grrrr!

thanks wayne

Edited by fabdabcab, 02 May 2010 - 07:13 PM.

[Ethel]

It would have to be new as SPI's use electric pumps. If You're happy there's no debris waiting to chew the engine just rig up a gravity feed to the carb from a small container of petrol on the roof (Mini's not your house!)

[samsfern]

the worrying bit is where the bit that snapped has gone...

[samsfern]

is there a spacer between the block? is it still spi or carbed? mines running a spi block with twin carbs, fueled by a facet solid state electric pump. if you go for a leccy one youll need to fit a blapump and the blanking plate to the block, i made one for mine out of polished alluminumis

Edited by samsernie, 02 May 2010 - 06:39 PM.

[wile e coyote]

Haven't seem the pump arm break off before but I guess with a cheapo aftermarket pump anything is possible - one though strikes though - there is a spacer block fitted between engine and pump isn't there?? If estemmed ex owner had forgotten that - an spi lump wouldn't have one then damage - or lack of working is bound to have happened....


(damn beaten to it!)

Edited by wile e coyote, 02 May 2010 - 06:42 PM.

[fabdabcab]

It would have to be new as SPI's use electric pumps. If You're happy there's no debris waiting to chew the engine just rig up a gravity feed to the carb from a small container of petrol on the roof (Mini's not your house!)

no fraid minis not my house i am learning about them the hard way ha ha im a ford mad im doing this up for my wife. not shure where the rest of the arm is think it may have dropped to sump so will have to take that off and check before trying to get her started

[fabdabcab]

is there a spacer between the block? is it still spi or carbed? mines running a spi block with twin carbs, fueled by a facet solid state electric pump. if you go for a leccy one youll need to fit a blapump and the blanking plate to the block, i made one for mine out of polished alluminumis

it is now carbed i dont remember seeing a spacer just a gasket and i fear the rest of the arm has dropped to sump so am going to drain oil and take sump off to make sure. i did consider an elctric pump then just blanking off the block. is this strait forward and where did you place you leccy pump?

[samsfern]

the sump is the gearbox, the only way you can get that off is by pulling the engine out.... perhaps drain the oil, and try poking and waving a long flexable magnet thingy around the sump, put it in through the fuel pump hole. you may get lucky and be able to get it out this way, but i doubt it, its worth a try though before you try yanking the engine out. maybe you could take the diff off the rear of the engine and put your hand in there, not sure if thats possible though.

[fabdabcab]

Haven't seem the pump arm break off before but I guess with a cheapo aftermarket pump anything is possible - one though strikes though - there is a spacer block fitted between engine and pump isn't there?? If estemmed ex owner had forgotten that - an spi lump wouldn't have one then damage - or lack of working is bound to have happened....


(damn beaten to it!)

bugger guess that is the reason no spacer = broken pump and possibly a metal arm floating around the sump oh f-ing joy grrrrrrrr

[samsfern]

damn previous owners ehh, i ended up rewiring my mini due to previous owner bodges.. so i know how you feel...

[fabdabcab]

damn previous owners ehh, i ended up rewiring my mini due to previous owner bodges.. so i know how you feel...

yeah that is half the problem of buying a project as im sure most people would agree and that is sorting out the bloody bodge jobs in the first place i was going to pull the engine but wanted to hear it run so that i didnt waist any time or money on it and put it back in to find its a donkey. guess im going to have to take the risk now!

[samsfern]

try a magnet first though...

[wile e coyote]

Looking on the bright side - if the arm came off then the engine wouldn't have run for too long on no fuel supply maybe no damage has ensued...

http://www.somerford...Carburetter.pdf

spacer is No 84.........

[fabdabcab]

Looking on the bright side - if the arm came off then the engine wouldn't have run for too long on no fuel supply maybe no damage has ensued...

http://www.somerford...Carburetter.pdf

spacer is No 84.........

thankyou for that comfirms there was def no spacer fitted we couldnt get the engine to run so hopefully will be fine getting the broken piece out off sump/gearbox on otherhand could prove to be a real headache, i shall try draining the oil and shining a torch through sump plug hole and hope the gods are on my side for once.