Ok a simple thing to check,Put hand on the coil.carefully when its hot and stops.If its really hot its rooted. They can play up for an age before stopping all together. Secondly does it have an inline fuel filter and has it been checked!
socram,
Feb 25, 5:13pm
Whoops!Forgot the twin carbs had an alloy inlet manifold. Got confused with single carb A series and my own 6 cylinder that is all cast iron.Sorry.
Now in #21, OP states it cuts out when warm - which is a different issue altogether from not starting when warm!.
Yes, OK, I need another car likea hole in the head, but I'll take it if cheap enough.Have a nice set of modified Twin 1 1/2" SUs on a shelf doing nothing!
ema1,
Feb 25, 5:14pm
Yep and a cam to suit plus it's ailment sorted it should be sweet socram. Hhhhh Hmmmm' Still sounds like a float /fuel level issue to me! A SU carb specialist in a BMC shop should pounce on this quick smart if he's on the ball!
jrlaw,
Feb 25, 5:19pm
I wonder if it has a fuel filter in line! maybe it is blocked.
ema1,
Feb 25, 5:21pm
Addition to post #25.Check the carb banjo union seals for fuel/air"tightness" they can be suspect and also the union nuts at the fuel pump etc! Also make sure the fuel pump isn't picking up air at the tank fitting! funnier things however small have been known to happen.
ema1,
Feb 25, 5:24pm
If it's picking up sediment or even water from a fouled fuel outlet bowser it could be a major issue too! I was wondering if it has an inline filter fitted too jrlaw!originally they didn't as the pump and tank originally were the only parts that did on them, some later revised SU carbs had filters as well! Wonder if the fuel line under the car has a Kink or similar damage in it from say stone damage or a rust spot that has released a lump of rust and that's blocking the fuel line/system. Bit of a witch hunt it's turning into eh! Probably worthwhile uncoupling the fuel line at both ends and blow the crap out of it with compressed air just as one exercise on the fuel system, cleaning out the fuel tank could be another worthwhile exercise too. The fuel tanks in em weren't a "sealed" type and there could be over a long time .ingress of all sorts of crap at the filler , just think of the number of times the tank cap has been off it and the number of chances it's had to develop condensation in the tank since 1962 right!
rodg.sue,
Feb 25, 6:58pm
I bought some stuff from repco thats sposed to of taken care of that, pop it in b4 fuel fill up, had suspicions re fuel myself as bought it from a supermarket chain and wasnt long after that she started to play up! funnily enuf same thing happened to my everday car so i dont shop for gas there now at all not even for the mower! Thankyou so much for all your inputs, but between you and i dont mean this to be rude where the hell do i start with all these things youve brought up, as i said my budget is about gone but would like to priorotise my next moves apart from getting a new mechanic thats a must! Please dont be offended its not meant to be like that just a mere female!
kenw1,
Feb 25, 7:00pm
If it is still using the original SU fuel pump they can be a dodgy item, may need the points cleaning.
Really it is a job for an enthusiast rather than a service shop, otherwise you will spend a b fortune going no where.
You need someone in the know to go round until it fails then they can make an on the spot assessment.
Credentials.Ran a full race 1098 bored out engine with twin 1' 1/2 SU carbs Midget close ratio box in a specially built Morris Minor 70MPH in third as much as you were game for in 4th clocked by the cops at over 100MPH, but not nicked only stopped and cautioned as no one would believe him, his words.
kenw1,
Feb 25, 7:07pm
Check that the points have been correctly installed, no trapped wires the little insulating washer is in good order, if points are burnt then condenser, check polarity of the coil is correct.Check SU fuel pump, that it Brrrrrs on startup.Siphon out tank and see how much crap comes out, if some then get the bung out of the bottom, blow fuellines through.Check vacuum pipe onto carb, suck on it and macke sure that the distributor does advance retard with vacuum.Check hole in card that feeds vac to distributor.Check radiator when hot make sure themostat hasnt stuck open or closed.You are using 95 fuel arent you.
kenw1,
Feb 25, 7:09pm
You are so right, but not many old Buggers left around anymore.
jmma,
Feb 25, 7:09pm
Electric fuel pump (o:
rodg.sue,
Feb 25, 7:13pm
yes using the golden fuel lol! they replaced the points today and new pins in the carb cos the seating was wearing! definatly does brrrr when key is turned on, as for the fuel bought the stuff to descunge it and seemingly it does condensation/mould as well, has a new fuel pump and filter put in as well dont understand about how to check the vacum pipe onto carb and rest of that wee bit sorry!
kenw1,
Feb 25, 7:18pm
where does all the crap in the tank go to! it doesnt just disappear.Get a bit of pipe and suck a bit out into a milkbottle, tastes dreadful see if you can get the pipe into the bottom of tank, might just be water in there.The vacuum pipe is a thin black pipe on the side of the carb.YOU MUST GET A SERVICE MANUAL FOR THIS CAR, sorry for shouting, the Haynes ones are pretty good.It could save you a fortune.our local library has a stock of service manuals so might be worth checking there. I am sorry but my experience of workshops in NZ has been pretty bad. Get onto these people they may be able to help you find someone who knows what a carb is http://www.mgcarclub.org.nz/
Good Luck.
kenw1,
Feb 25, 7:22pm
Just for the laugh. last time I drove a Midget broke a back spring at a sets of lights, so left the car there hitched to my uncles workshop, conveniently next door to a breakers, got a new spring, borrowed a jack and socket set, and changed the spring at the lights.Those were the days
rodg.sue,
Feb 25, 7:29pm
lol my dad would of loved that, kind of thing he would of done too! lmao, unfortunatly if he were here id have no probs with my baby but sadly thats not the way it is- hate to think how many cars he tinkered with over the years whether he actually repaired them i dont no lol will head to the library tomorrow and see if they have manuals and also definatly purchase one, thankyou all so much for your help will let you no how it goes have to get her home now as they locked her in the garage till monday as it was after 5 when i got there, so i cant even try ideas mentioned till then! Thankyou all again muchly
jrlaw,
Feb 26, 1:46pm
Midgets are not made for the people like me, 6' 2' got in once, could not get out of it, well with only extreme differculty. anyway I feel you have a fuel problem still, start from the front and clean all fuel lines filters etc and maybe clean the fuel tank. As some one said there could be a gauze filter in the connection at the carb.
clark20,
Feb 26, 1:53pm
Mine did the same, and I found it was a bad connection from the plug behind the dash to the fuel pump, the main loom down the RH side of the car. Those individual bullet connectors get corroded.
kenw1,
Feb 26, 2:00pm
I have been thinking about this a lot.It can either be fuel or spark. Fuel, make sure you a screwdriver or some way of SAFELY slipping the connection of the carb to see if it is pumping.Spark set up a old plug somewhere easy to get at under the bonnet wire it to the engine frame ready so that you can slip a plug lead off and see if you still have spark.
OTHER thing to consider, does it have those terrible carbon string HT leads especially the one from the coil to the distributor, they can play up forever before they fail completely.
ema1,
Feb 26, 5:46pm
Nor me jrlaw I'm about the same height as you, even the MGB is a bit of a squeeze as I'm burly built as well. Funnily enough the the B-GT has a little more room, can't work out why as they are dimension wise pretty much the same as the roadster.
ema1,
Feb 26, 5:52pm
If you know how to consult a dictionary or even Google the subject then you might get an answer like this.FFS.
Noun. vagary - an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.); "the vagaries of the weather"; "his wealth fluctuates with the vagaries of the stock market"; "he has dealt with human vagaries for many years" Alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another.
joeinwellington,
Feb 26, 7:56pm
condenser or coil failure, but also check for vacuum leaks, or bent plunger in carburettor damper.
jrlaw,
Feb 26, 9:26pm
If the condenser has a failure it usually shows as burnt points, i.e. black colour contacts.
ema1,
Feb 26, 10:31pm
Or a Burnt blue colour and pitted badly due to arcing.
skydog,
Feb 26, 11:16pm
I have a sprite now 45 years old.Its running a Nissan A15 an 5 speed. Changed the ignition to electrionic pointless.No more problems ,cost about $220Have found that the wiring is showing its age.Would look close at replacing thecoil and lead to disssy.Need to drain fuel tank and replace fuel. Check or add inline fuel filter.There are normally service manuals on Trademe.Yes mine does 103 mph on the Taupo track
lovemore_mbigi,
Feb 27, 5:48am
It's not a fuel problem.Your ignition coil is scrap.
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