46 replies to this topic

[yukonphil]

Hiya peeps. Update time, firstly, the heater outlet was going through the auxiliary fan and back into the block using the standard A series setup, but thanks. New setup is standard copper rad (1275 spec we think), Morris Minor mech fan, existing electric fan and nothing else. Been for a run and it did ok, got a bit hot when I was briefly stationary but cooled down much quicker once moving. I'm not sure what to do now to be honest, the mechanical fan wasn't the transformation I had hoped for, it still runs around 90 degrees on the open road but maybe I need to accept that? When I got back I left it to tick over for a good 5 mins with the electric fan on and the bottom hose really was cool. Or I could put the copper pipe back on without the auxiliary radiator, mainly because I think it looks cool but also to give a bit more surface area for cooling? Starting to wonder if I'm chasing an outcome that isn't either possible or necessary? Many thanks, really appreciate the responses.

[yukonphil]

Oh, and Ethel you are quite correct the pump inlet is just as small as my copper pipe was!

[Spider]

By the sounds of it now, you have well enough cooling capacity, but the engine is making too much heat

 

Common causes for this can be either the fueling and / or ignition requirements are not correct.

[yukonphil]

Thanks Spider. I thought I had the timing about right, basically just rotated the dizzy until the engine note changed then back ever so slightly. Will try backing it off a bit, mixture seems perfect looking at the plugs.

[yukonphil]

Of course my cheap Chinese guage could be telling porkies but the Chinese are rather good at electronics.

[Designer]

Hi,

 

 but the Chinese are rather good at electronics.

 

Yep all their electronics listen into everything we do       but don't necessarily work as they should do. Take a simple thing like a condenser, many complaints on this forum about the ones from China.

 

Paddy

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[yukonphil]

Mmmmm....

[68+86auto]

Thanks Spider. I thought I had the timing about right, basically just rotated the dizzy until the engine note changed then back ever so slightly. Will try backing it off a bit, mixture seems perfect looking at the plugs.

You really need to use a timing light and check the timing throughout the rpm range. Alternatively get the distributor tested and set the timing at one speed based on having a known advance curve.

[Earwax]

I think a refrain from the cooling side of things, a check and verify on the timing side of things and hope for some lovely riding weather is warranted.

 

At a later stage if curiosity gets to you - you may want to explore the distance the mechanical fan is away from the radiator and whether or not the cowl and or shroud could alter things.

 

Different people have different opinions on whether the shroud in particular works ( but this is mostly in the East west out the wheel arch placement).

 

My personal preference is for quite a good bit of the fan blades under the cowl - but obviously a gap to the radiator - and something like the  2 inch rubber stripping (shroud) sort of helping push all of the fan's air through the radiator not around.

 

Given your atypical arrangements - you may be limited to options but perhaps still worth mulling over if you are still not convinced you have sorted it.

[yukonphil]

That's a very nice sentiment, thank you! Will tinker on with the shroud anyway, I don't like being able to see it spinning and it will also help efficiency. Will tinker around with the timing etc and report back.

[Spider]

Thanks Spider. I thought I had the timing about right, basically just rotated the dizzy until the engine note changed then back ever so slightly. Will try backing it off a bit, mixture seems perfect looking at the plugs.

 

Sorry, I should have been a bit clearer here.

Put another way (and as 68-86 was also suggesting), is it the correct distributor for the engine specification ? Likewise for the Carb needle and spring ?

You can set the timing at idle, same with the fuel mixture, but whether that's correct at various engine loads and speeds ??

There's a bit more on distributor advance curves here;-

 

https://www.theminif...d-distributors/

[yukonphil]

Thanks again Spider, I'm working on it but didn't realise how many things I need to get right. With all the advice on here and finding a post on another website where the author had been adjusting the dizzy the wrong way (that's part of my problem!) I think we might be on to something. Need to spend some time setting up a timing mark I can see from above (great YouTube vid I've found) and borrow a gun. For today I'm going to try and make sure it's not too far advanced and take it out for a run, hopefully my optimism won't be dashed. Will report back and thanks again to everyone.

[yukonphil]

Oh, and I think I've cured a small leak on the vac advance pipe, she's ticking over much slower now

[Ethel]

If it's holding a steady cruising temperature I'd expect that is whatever temperature the thermostat opens at - regardless of what the gauge says.

[yukonphil]

If it's holding a steady cruising temperature I'd expect that is whatever the thermostat opens at.

Thanks

Edited by yukonphil, 20 July 2025 - 03:38 PM.