42 replies to this topic

[redboy]

Its been off the road for a year now but have been starting it about once a month. Its been hard to get it started and usually the only way was to warm the engine up with a fan heater first and then it would start.

 

Tried starting it yesterday but would not even try to start even with my fan heater trick 

 

I took a sparkplug out and it was getting a spark when i turned it over, Also took the fuel pipe off leading to the carb and fuel came out when i turned it over.

 

Any ideas? Mini is  a 1994 sprite1275 

[cal844]

its almost like an air leak or poor battery, take the battery to a garage and ask them to test it. (wont cost much)

 

once the battery is tested, re-connect it and pour a little petrol down the spark plug holes and into the carb throat... it should fire

[Dusky]

plugs wet?

[DomCr250]

Old fuel?

[redboy]

Battery turns it over for quite a while before it starts going flat so think that is ok.

Plug was dry.

Is the carb throat the air intake?

Edited by redboy, 20 February 2014 - 12:35 PM.

[Stu.]

Vacuum leak. Spray wd 40 round the manifold gaskets and try again. Using a heater may be expanding the metal sealing the leak allowing it to start. Vac leaks only need to be very small to cause starting issues. The wd 40 should seal the leak temporarily to allow starting, but you'll need to properly resolve it. Also make sure your carb manifold bolts are tight. Try it, you have nothing to loose. Let us know how you get on.

[Dusky]

Plugs dry= vacuum leak or a too lean/blocked carb

[Stu.]

Battery turns it over for quite a while before it starts going flat so think that is ok.

Plug was dry.

Is the carb throat the air intake?

Yes it is. The large opening facing up at the back of the carb.

[Jordie]

First you need to make sure its turning over fast enough, so charge battery to ensure that is ok.

[jime17]

Did you check there was a spark on all plugs? You might have picked the only cylinder that was firing.

it that's all ok, try jumping it from a running vehicle. It might need a lengthy crank which your battery might not be man enough for.... As said by jordie

Edited by jime17, 20 February 2014 - 01:50 PM.

[redboy]

Thanks folks, I'll try these suggestions when a get a spare 5 mins.

No only tried one spark plug

I know when it did start I would turn it over with the choke out but it would only try to fire if I pushed the choke in fast whilst turning it over.

Edited by redboy, 20 February 2014 - 02:13 PM.

[redboy]

Just an update. Managed to get it started today, sprayed wd40 over manifold gaskets but didnt start. took all plugs out which were all were wet and all were sparking. Cleaned plugs put back in sprayed manifold again. Tried turning it over and it tried to start but only when i pushed the choke in. sprayed carb cleaner into the carb air inlet and left it for half hour then when I came back realised I had left one of the leads off the plugs, Turned it over and fired up straight away :/
I'll give it another try tomoz see what it does.

[Icey]

I may be a little controversial here - but what’s with the fascination with spraying WD40 on everything? There are two starting threads currently running on here and both have the same suggestion, neither made a difference.

 

I've never tried it and never felt the need to when trying to find a starting problem. If it's not starting there usually something pretty basic wrong and even with a gaping vacuum leak and/or crappy fuel you'll generally get some indication of life if all other elements are equal.

 

I'll put it another way - the lump I have out in garage fired with both the vacuum advance and oil breather line open while being fed rather yellow 2+ year old fuel.

 

And to take it one further - we ran an A-series with no carb, just pouring a trickle of fuel into the manifold from a jam jar!

 

So before farting about with everything else - check it's getting fuel, check its getting a spark and it's happening at the right time and the very basic that the source of power (jump pack/battery/charger) has enough juice to crank with compression (i.e all the spark plugs in) and fire the coil, I've been caught out by that last one more than once!

 

 

edit: Sorry, that's a bit ranty!

Edited by Icey, 26 February 2014 - 09:16 PM.

[Dusky]

Happy to hear that :)

[Rog46]

 
once the battery is tested, re-connect it and pour a little petrol down the spark plug holes and into the carb throat... it should fire

You can get an aerosol "cold start" a quick spray in the inlet works better than petrol (it's ether based I think) Halfords stock it!