New Owner Seeking Advice

Hi Guys

I have found myself a Series III County SW (a low ownership car with full history, all old MOT's, tax discs, receipts, new carb, unleaded head, waxoyled chassis, safari roof), with about 56,000 on the clock. It is in superb order, but has a few niggles some of you might be able to help me with? I'm not an expert, as this is the first Land Rover I've owned.

1) It has a Kenlow fan conversion fitted operated by an on/off toggle switch on the dash. The fan runs constantly when switched on even when the car ignition is switched off until you switch it off separately, plus even with this running constantly it shows to be reading particularly high on the temp gauge but doesn't overheat (about 2-3mm under the red) I accidentally drove it the other day without switching the kenlow fan on, and it still ran at the same temp and didn't overheat. Is this set up correct?

2) When reversing it has a shudder which in turn causes what I think is the exhaust to bang about, it never happens going forward. Would this happen if there was a dodgy gearbox or engine mounting?


3) It misses and splutters a bit even when warm (mostly under acceleration), but clears itself if I drive with about 1/2 choke all the time. Could it simply be running to lean on the mixture?

I'd be really grateful for any advice, of things I could check myself rather than have to take it in to a garage.

yer fan set up sounds like someone has just bunged it in and sed to themselves" well its only me wots driving it so that ill do"

you can get themo switches both pre set and adjustable that will control the fan for you.. but for normal driving you don't really need a fan unless you are in some hot climate.
yer fan only becomes usefull when you are either doing a lot of heavy work or just going really slow.


yer shudder could be spring bushes or engine mounts
maybe even yer uj's but unlikey if its only in reverse

and yer carb is either outtta wack or yer inlet manifold is leaking.. possibly yer ign timing but doubtfull

If your thermostat is fitted and working.
You should under normal driving without a fan get around 70C ie hot but not hot enough to boil.
The most likely reason for fitting a manual electric fan is for wading or laziness as Mr Solb points out. You don't want a fan splashing all the electrics do you?

1. never believe a series landy temp guage they all lie if you want one that you can believe fit a good aftermarket one,
2. as per slobs answer
3. it sounds like the carb needs a fettle and the mixture upping

Now then.....first thing Im gonna sort is the Carb......now please don't laugh but how do I go about doin it myself....and which screw is which (so to speak)? And do I set it by ear of is there something more technical I need to do.

I have as Haynes manual, but it doesn't even mention the Carb which I though was a bit strange!

Also ref the Kenlow fan.....I drove the car again without it switched on, and the car doesn't run any hotter on the gauge...even sitting in traffic. Also the Kenlow fan is fitted in addition to the existing belt driven fan, I always thought it was supposed to be a replacement. I'm gonna check the thermostat, and then get a temp reading and see how hot we are actually running.....as suggested the gauge could be wonky.

Pics to follow soon when I get back from my Hols to Devon

zaria123 said:

Now then.....first thing Im gonna sort is the Carb......now please don't laugh but how do I go about doin it myself....and which screw is which (so to speak)? And do I set it by ear of is there something more technical I need to do.

Also ref the Kenlow fan.....I drove the car again without it switched on, and the car doesn't run any hotter on the gauge...even sitting in traffic. Also the Kenlow fan is fitted in addition to the existing belt driven fan,

Click to expand...

Is this a wind up to see if anyone bites?

Now I'm confused...have I missed something????? Wind up about what exactly?

Alan

zaria123 said:

Now I'm confused...have I missed something????? Wind up about what exactly?

Alan

Click to expand...

No offence meant, but I would caution against attacking carbs with screw-drivers and hope that you solve the problem without knowing first what is wrong. What carb is fitted? Then we can try to help you.
Secondly the two fans..........can you post a picture now?

if yer got a leccy one and a belt driven one.. throw one away unless yer going be driving to the gates of hell and back.. personally i'd bin the belt driven one

carb - best get it overhauled in my view. Be like a new truck when done. £80.

Fan - Either get kenlowe wired properly with thermostat and remove viscous/engine driven fan or keep engine fan and dump kenlowe. My view is keep the vehicle original and keep engine driven fan. Savings only worth it if you do lots of miles. If you do lots of miles and lots of towing, then you probably need a some other than a Series Landy.

Hope I don't upset anyone with this.

zaria123 said:

Hi Guys

I have found myself a Series III County SW (a low ownership car with full history, all old MOT's, tax discs, receipts, new carb, unleaded head, waxoyled chassis, safari roof), with about 56,000 on the clock. It is in superb order, but has a few niggles some of you might be able to help me with? I'm not an expert, as this is the first Land Rover I've owned.

3) It misses and splutters a bit even when warm (mostly under acceleration), but clears itself if I drive with about 1/2 choke all the time. Could it simply be running to lean on the mixture?

I'd be really grateful for any advice, of things I could check myself rather than have to take it in to a garage.

Click to expand...

erm - why would you want to recondition a new carb? Unless, of course its a new (second hand) carb.

I would be inclined to check timing first. It sounds like the Dibnah when I first got it.

Thanks guys for the advice, just back from Devon, so will get a chance to have a closer look at things over the next couple of days, and let you know the results.

The carb, is a recon one (couple of thousand miles ago).....but I'll have a close look at it and see what I find.

Cheers
Alan