DanClarke said:
The starter is VERY bogged down and it doesn't crank very fast at all.
But then, all of a sudden.....

There is no vac advance fitted yet (awaiting the parts).
Click to expand...

"so it's all about carburation"

Hate to say "I told you so" but I did, right at the beginning, post #10, as did others, and you got a rebuild kit didn't you?
Seriously, well done on finally sorting out the basic problem to do with the dizzy. I too had read this can happen on Mini forums. I just hoped you'd be able to discover this electrically.

If I was standing next you when it started I'd have let out a whoop and a yell! High 5 ed you, bought you a pint or two!!!!

Then shouted "Now get that rebuild kit out!!!!!!!"

(Well maybe the new dizzy helped. A bit. ;) )

Once you have rebuilt it. Got the float level OK etc.......

Get it properly warm then follow all the usual stuff about getting the mixture right on tickover. Hopefully your rebuild kit will have a new jet, i.e. not worn as the ones on HIF carbs wear constantly due to pressure from the sprung jet.
Then it takes D Vizard all the way to the bottom right hand corner of page 93 to tell you the way to set the idle mixture. So shoot past all the stuff about Colourtune and exhaust gas analysers and jump straight to it. annoyingly he keeps going on about twin carbs, so ignore that too.

Then take it for a spin and see how it goes. If the carb is worn or there are air leaks, it'll run lean at higher speeds.
BEST OF LUCK MATE!!!!!!:):):):):):):):)
 
Last edited:
Stanleysteamer said:
Plus one on this!
Click to expand...
Mark Piercy said:
Try a bit of brake cleaner while it's running. Spray around anywhere you find air could get in. Any doubts on the inlet manifold, cracks or damaged gasket?
Click to expand...

But won't brake cleaner just catch fire on a hot exhaust manifold?

Anyways, today I started it up just fine and I ran it with some choke for a bit until it was warmed up a bit.
Then as soon as it was running without feeling like it would die any second I exited the cab and adjusted the idle screw to set the revs at 1,000. It was ok but cycling up and down a little bit and sounding slightly "lumpy".

Some "Good News"??? I like good-news. :)
I spoke to the previous owner tonight and I queried the Raffle organisers statement about the car having a "Lumpy Cam".
The guy replied, no not on GWEN, that's a standard 1275 A+ Metro engine and cam. What it does have is a skimmed head and so the compression ratio might be up a bit from standard.

I am happy if it has a standard profile cam and it is identified as a 1275 Metro engine.

The HIF rebuild kit arrives tomorrow via DHL.
 
DanClarke said:
But won't brake cleaner just catch fire on a hot exhaust manifold?

Anyways, today I started it up just fine and I ran it with some choke for a bit until it was warmed up a bit.
Then as soon as it was running without feeling like it would die any second I exited the cab and adjusted the idle screw to set the revs at 1,000. It was ok but cycling up and down a little bit and sounding slightly "lumpy".

Some "Good News"??? I like good-news. :)
I spoke to the previous owner tonight and I queried the Raffle organisers statement about the car having a "Lumpy Cam".
The guy replied, no not on GWEN, that's a standard 1275 A+ Metro engine and cam. What it does have is a skimmed head and so the compression ratio might be up a bit from standard.

I am happy if it has a standard profile cam and it is identified as a 1275 Metro engine.

The HIF rebuild kit arrives tomorrow via DHL.
Click to expand...
My engine!
And as Vizard said, its cam was the best that Austin Rover ever put in a 1275 A+.
It ran docile as you'd like, but when you gave it beans it took off like a rocket.
Higher compression would just make it yet more sporty.

Ooooh you norty boy!
I thought you had the rebuild kit already. 🤣 🤣 🤣 Really looking forward to what happens when you rebuild it.
I am seriously hoping it comes with a new jet.
You can now work on getting the right needle, or, if you are brave, getting a standard needle and a "needle file"
 
Stanleysteamer said:
My engine!
And as Vizard said, its cam was the best that Austin Rover ever put in a 1275 A+.
It ran docile as you'd like, but when you gave it beans it took off like a rocket.
Higher compression would just make it yet more sporty.

Ooooh you norty boy!
I thought you had the rebuild kit already. 🤣 🤣 🤣 Really looking forward to what happens when you rebuild it.
I am seriously hoping it comes with a new jet.
You can now work on getting the right needle, or, if you are brave, getting a standard needle and a "needle file"
Click to expand...
The idea of the brake cleaner is that if it is sprayed on a crack and the engine sucks it in the revs will go up!
 
DanClarke said:
But won't brake cleaner just catch fire on a hot exhaust manifold?

Anyways, today I started it up just fine and I ran it with some choke for a bit until it was warmed up a bit.
Then as soon as it was running without feeling like it would die any second I exited the cab and adjusted the idle screw to set the revs at 1,000. It was ok but cycling up and down a little bit and sounding slightly "lumpy".

Some "Good News"??? I like good-news. :)
I spoke to the previous owner tonight and I queried the Raffle organisers statement about the car having a "Lumpy Cam".
The guy replied, no not on GWEN, that's a standard 1275 A+ Metro engine and cam. What it does have is a skimmed head and so the compression ratio might be up a bit from standard.

I am happy if it has a standard profile cam and it is identified as a 1275 Metro engine.

The HIF rebuild kit arrives tomorrow via DHL.
Click to expand...
The brake cleaner being highly combustible will "catch" if sprayed in a crack and the engine will pick up, or even rev like flick!
 
Stanleysteamer said:
My engine!
And as Vizard said, its cam was the best that Austin Rover ever put in a 1275 A+.
It ran docile as you'd like, but when you gave it beans it took off like a rocket.
Higher compression would just make it yet more sporty.

Ooooh you norty boy!
I thought you had the rebuild kit already. 🤣 🤣 🤣 Really looking forward to what happens when you rebuild it.
I am seriously hoping it comes with a new jet.
You can now work on getting the right needle, or, if you are brave, getting a standard needle and a "needle file"
Click to expand...
I am hoping that this program can also help me. But of course it might be complete bunkum.
You put all of your vehicle specs in and it gives a list of needles that are most appropriate to your application.

1738314237280.png
 
Mark Piercy said:
The only problem with the brake cleaner is it reacts rather quickly to a spark plug lead crack and will then catch fire 🤭
Click to expand...
The stink of petrol all around/in the car has me afraid that it is about to burst into flames at any minute. I don't remember my Mk1 stinking like this at all.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Ooooh you norty boy!
I thought you had the rebuild kit already. 🤣 🤣 🤣
Click to expand...
I didn't mean to tell a fib guvnor. I suspected that a rebuild would be required but at £115 from Burlen I was fighting shy of pressing the button until I had had a better mosy around. I don't know about your situation but my "domestic management auditor" takes a dim view of profligate spending on "bike-parts, lathe tools, boys-toys" and such stuff. ;)
 
Mark Piercy said:
Have you got a colour tune for checking the idle mixture? 🤔
Click to expand...
This has been mentioned up thread.
Colourtunes are all very well but only work properly if there are NO air leaks especially on the butterfly bearings.
I have one, been there got the tee shirt!!
If he has a new carb then he's lucky.
Even the lifting of the piston method isn't all that accurate.
After years of messing around with SUs I find that tuning at higher revs, combined with plug cuts is the only way with a carb that has any wear. ;)
 
Last edited:
BikerB said:
I thought the Spit had the 1500 triumph engine, same as the later MG Midget.
The earlier 1200 version was something similar?
Click to expand...
From memory the earlier spits had 1300 engines but yes the last ones had 1500 s.
Many people reckon the mk3 was the bees knees. I've only worked on a mate's 1500.

Right having checked yes, it did go from 1200 to 1300 to 1500. I thought maybe the 1200 was an A series but apparently it was made by Standard.

en.wikipedia.org

Triumph Spitfire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
DanClarke said:
I didn't mean to tell a fib guvnor. I suspected that a rebuild would be required but at £115 from Burlen I was fighting shy of pressing the button until I had had a better mosy around. I don't know about your situation but my "domestic management auditor" takes a dim view of profligate spending on "bike-parts, lathe tools, boys-toys" and such stuff. ;)
Click to expand...
Oh dear!!
We use the financial management system invented by my father. It stopped my parents arguing about money, it worked in my first marriage and works very well. even now in retirement.

You work out the sum of all your household, annual expenses. and I mean ALL, as some people don't see things like alcohol you drink as a household expense!
Open a joint bank account.
Take the figure of your take-home pay, each of you. (unless you both earn exactly the same there will be a ratio).

So from your salaries you pay into the joint account, in proportion to what you earn, the same total sum needed to cover said expenses. divided by twelve. (from which all household expenditure will come).
The rest stays in each person's personal account and becomes their pocket money with which they can do what they want.

This does take a bit of maths as some things are much more regular and predictable than others. Some you only pay once a year, so these will have to be divided by 12.

(I have wondered if there is a book in this as some people get this, others don't and some just can't do the sums.)

But this is how W can spend what she wants on jewellery and I can buy cars. (Two cars are seen as joint expenses so everything to do with them is paid from the joint account.)

Of course this doesn't work for couples where one half doesn't work or does but earns very little.

Or those who have children still at home.

Or those who for some reason feel this is "unfair".

In those cases I would suggest couples agree that each of them should have some pocket money each month that they are allowed to spend on what they want. If one doesn't earn then take all spare money and divide it in two.

No two couples share out their money the same but I did know a couple where one paid the mortgage the other paid all other household bills. This was fine until the mortgage rate shot up!! Much feeling of aggrievement on one person's behalf.
 
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