9 replies to this topic

[Apeman85]

Hi
My mini has been sat for some time. It's a 998 with a new unleaded head. It has new coil, Distributor, leads, bp6 spark plugs and a new manifold

Before I started it up I had set my carb (hs2 not new) to its base line for first start. I disconnected the HT leads and turned it over with fresh oil to make sure the oil light went out and it did.

I then connected the HT leads back up and it started after the 2nd time of turning the key. I moved the distributor to get it to pick up and sounded around where it needed to be. Turned it off added coolant and started it back up.
I then went to check the timming and before I got to put the gun on it seemed to back fire and stop.

It will not start again but still turns over. I have checked the plugs and no1,3,4 seem to be clean. No white or dark marks on them. No2 plug is black.

I have checked the gapping on the plugs and the rocker to make sure they are still correct. There is still a spark but just doesn't seem to want to bark into life again I have also moved the distributor around again hoping that I maybe had to much advance

Any help will be great thank you

[gazza82]

You are going to have to re-time it if just moving it back and forth ...

[Steam]

Have you got enough fuel getting to the fuel bowl and the carb?

[Apeman85]

Have you got enough fuel getting to the fuel bowl and the carb?

I checked that after it died seemed low but then after I turned it over for a bit and checked it again it was up to the float. I'm more concerned that plug 2 is black and the rest is clean.

[sonscar]

Why do people move the distributor about randomly?set it to the correct position and leave it alone until running and use a timing light.Steve..

[Apeman85]

Why do people move the distributor about randomly?set it to the correct position and leave it alone until running and use a timing light.Steve..

Hi Steve I didn't move it around randomly. When I first started it up it sounded a bit lump so I moved the distributor slightly clockwise so it sounded better. I then left it and turned it of filled it with coolant so I could run it up and then dial it in with a strobe light and an O2 sensor. Before I got to run it up it died and wouldn't restart.

[Chris1275gt]

What does setting the carbs to there base line mean?

[Apeman85]

Going by what I've read and from other people the base setting or first start is to take the top of the carb so you can see the Jet and adjust the (nut on hs2) till it is in line or fully up as far as it can go then it's two full turns back to get you a base setting. I have then filled the top with su carb oil and made sure it had the correct spring in it.
There is a position on the idle screw but I can't remember it of the top of my head.

When I had it running it was running at 980-1100 on the rev counter but was going to use the gun to get a correct reading but didn't get that far.

[Apeman85]

I have now got my issue resolved.

The problem was the dizzy had moved out of position when it backfired and this had changed the time by 180° so the arm is now in the correct position and pointing to 2 o'clock to fire on cylinder 1.

Once I had that sorted I had realised that my oil pressure light doesn't go out till I have started the car is this normal?

The other concern I have is the rockers now seem to have a heat mark on the tips of them shown in the picture. Is this normal?

There is oil getting to the top of the head does it slowly flow over the rockers or should I be seeing oil going everywhere when I take the oil fill cap off.

Thank you to everyone that has helped me with this issue.

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[Lplus]

I have now got my issue resolved.

The problem was the dizzy had moved out of position when it backfired and this had changed the time by 180° so the arm is now in the correct position and pointing to 2 o'clock to fire on cylinder 1.

Once I had that sorted I had realised that my oil pressure light doesn't go out till I have started the car is this normal?

The other concern I have is the rockers now seem to have a heat mark on the tips of them shown in the picture. Is this normal?

There is oil getting to the top of the head does it slowly flow over the rockers or should I be seeing oil going everywhere when I take the oil fill cap off.

Thank you to everyone that has helped me with this issue.

oil pressure only builds when the engine is running, so it's normal.  It shouldn't take very long though.

 

The heat marks are sign of the heat treatment of the rocker tips during manufacture.