10 replies to this topic

[Bass Man]

I have a 1983 Mayfair 998, all original.

My daughter recently ran out of petrol and subsequent to this she had issues where she would suddenly lose power. Especially under load.

I took the carb apart and it was clogged with 'carp', including the jet. I cleaned it out and put it all back and everything seemed fine, took it out for a run, after about 3 miles it stalls as soon as the throttle is pressed.

So, off again and a more through clean, especially around the slide, exactly the same thing happens, fine for a few miles then nothing!!

As the throttle is opened it sounds like it is sucking loads of air and dies!!

Any ideas? I'm thinking something I am missing is blocked.

Fuel line is clear, all pipes have good seals as well.

TIA.

[benjy_18]

check the fuel filters and the pump, if the carbs picked up gunk then the filters and pump will have aswell.

it might be worth flushing the tank out completly.

[Bass Man]

check the fuel filters and the pump, if the carbs picked up gunk then the filters and pump will have aswell.

it might be worth flushing the tank out completly.

Yeah, probably will eventually.

The fuel is pumping to the carb without issue, the valve in the float chamber also got stuck so it was pumping out onto the road!!

[GTIAlex06]

Mine does this if the vacuum advance pipe is off my dizzy, might of just happened to come loose at the same time while messing in the engine bay? Matches the sucking loads of air thing as well

[Bass Man]

Mine does this if the vacuum advance pipe is off my dizzy, might of just happened to come loose at the same time while messing in the engine bay? Matches the sucking loads of air thing as well

Checked that, tried with it on and off, no difference. Pipe is clear as well......

It is very frustrating, I'm thinking that there might be a breather hole somewhere on the carb that has got blocked that I am missing?

[lrostoke]

There's very little to go wrong on the HS carb.

Here's what I'd do

remove float chamber lid (3 screws) clean out all off that.

remove the large dome off top of carb. remove piston with piston removed, spray some wd40 or similar down through the jet, watch float chamber to make sure wd40 is getting through from jet to float bowl. I actually use an airline but just assuming you haven't got one.

Also in the float chamber remove the float and needle assy, clean out all of that and reassemble.

finally fit an inline filter between the carb and fuel pump.

[dklawson]

I started a post yesterday and for some reason Internet Explorer closed on me in the middle of typing. But I digress....

You report finding "crud" at several places in the fuel system. Were this my car I would go from back to front replacing any existing fuel filters AND any existing rubber fuel lines.
I would also place a "coarse" filter with replaceable elements between the tank and the fuel pump inlet.
After the pump and before the carbs I would install a disposable translucent fine filter to catch any silt missed by the pre-pump filter.
Of course... I would also clean out the carb one more time to make sure the jet and tube to the float bowl are unobstructed.

The picture linked below is for the type of coarse filter I am talking about:
http://shop.advancea...69_pri_larg.jpg

The picture in the link below is for the type of disposable inline filter I use before the carbs. This type was commonly used on air cooled VWs back in the day.
http://i.ebayimg.com/10/!BwlIQz!!Wk~$(KGrHqEOKisEwO-KRqMWBMJpEe,ncw~~_35.JPG

[Bass Man]

Well. I think the fuel problem might have been a red herring.....

I gave the system a thorough purge, confirmed flow of fuel, no dirt etc, now it won't start at all......

So, I thinking time to stick it in the garage and suck up the £100!!

Then I noticed the vacum pipe was off, put it on and it fired (just). I pulled the pipe off and it stopped, now I thought, that's not right......

So, I thought, lets work backwards, check the timing.... Not even close, the notch on the flywheel isn't even visible, no wonder it won't run, so, check the points, looks like a bit of carbon around them, can't get a dwell reading so took them off, feck, they were knackered, absolutely frazzled.

So, off for a new set and a condensor, all the car shops were shut so I ended up at Halfords (yeah, I know!), well they achieved a whole new level of ineptitide today....

Me: Have you a set of points for a 1983 mini 1000 please?
Manager: What?
Me: Contact breaker points.
Manager: If they aren't car specific they will be with the electrical items
Me: No they will be car specific, rather like the distributor cap etc...
Manager: The what?

I should have left then, the next 10 minutes of my life where I tried to explain what I wanted are now gone for ever!

I might try that Pertronix conversion when I work out what distributor I have.

Thanks for you input guys, guess it'll be another week in the driveway.

[lrostoke]

Not checked prices of Aldon and Pertronix lately but used to be about £70

A fraction of the cost and works a treat

http://www.mm-4x4.co...-kit-2720-p.asp

or another

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae15ce5e8

[dklawson]

If you thought your experience getting points in the U.K. was bad... try it over here. You don't even bother to ask for classic Mini parts. Before you go to the store you have to know what other vehicles use what you need. Like: "Hi, I need a cap and rotor for a 1972 MG Midget 1275".

If it is not in their computer database or a very, very common part, the clerks (excluding grey haired veterans) haven't got a clue what you are asking for.

[Bass Man]

Thanks for all your input, I went for LROSTOKEs suggestion, http://www.mm-4x4.co...-kit-2720-p.asp worked out at about £20 with VAT & post. Thanks Steve, save me about £50!!

I had to bend the positioning bar for the points a bit to get the unit in place, i also had to reduce the thickness of the back plate a little so the screws would reach.

Started first time, with choke, did a basic set up on the mixture and it seems fine. I'll stick the colourtune on later to get the mixture right.

Good service from www.mm-4x4.com even emailed me to see if it arrived.

Thanks all