Clean breather pipe.

[iddy]

Hi gang,
I recently took the breather pipe off the side of the engine and gave it a good clean (it was blocked solid).
Now, when I start the car from cold it takes a couple of turns, and then runs rough for a few moments. After which it ticks over like a watch. I assume it's to do with more air available now the breather is clean, and not enough petrol. Do I just adjust the carb to compensate, and if so is it the choke or mixture or what?
Previously the car used to start on the button first time and tick over OK.
Looking for an excuse to do something today, instead of taking "she who must be obeyed" to the garden centre
Thanks,

Idris.

[bmcecosse]

Can't see it making any difference. Look for something else!

[newagetraveller]

I agree with your diagnosis that more air is now available and the carb may need adjusting to make the mixture richer. Try unscrewing the nut at the bottom of the carb by one flat and see if it makes any difference.

At the same time check that the tube which goes (in some cars!) from the top of the rocker cover to the back of the air filter holder is not blocked in the same way and also that the air filter is clean.

[Willie]

IDDY, you do not say if the side breather pipe feeds in to the Carb' or is just
open? If it breathes into the Carb then yes, you have now weakened the
mixture slightly.

[bmcecosse]

I can just see that if you have the 'closed breather' system - then unclogging this pipe may now allow air to be drawn through the engine and into the carb. But it must be miniscule.

[iddy]

I do have a breather pipe from the rocker cover to the carb, but it's nice and clean, as is the air filter.
I'll unscrew the flat as suggested and see what happens.
Thanks,

Idris.

[bmcecosse]

Check the idle mix with the little lift pin on the carb. When you lift it - just enough to move the piston about 1/8" - if the engine dies then too weak, if it revs up too rich, if nothing much happens - it's just right! Do this only at full working temperature after having been for a drive.

[Willie]

IDDY, as far as I am aware no Minor was ever supplied with the breather
pipe on the rocker cover going straight in to the CARB!! only in to the AIR
FILTER. The nearest factory fitting like that went into a mushroom shaped
'breather valve' on the inlet manifold and then either into the inlet manifold
on some models and into the Carb on later types so what system exactly do
you have?

[iddy]

My mistake Willie, I meant the air filter

I've lifted the pin about 1/8 to 1/4 inch and nothing happens, but if I lift it all the way the engine starts to cut out.

I haven't unscrewed the nut a flat yet because when the car has run for a few minutes she ticks over ok. I'm assuming she needs a touch more choke when cold - but what do I know

Idris

[iddy]

Finally got to the bottom of it - lesson learnt, don't jump to conclussions
been poodling round France for the last few weeks so finally got round to starting her up again today - still spluttering on start up, but running ok when warm. Took the plug leads off one at a time and hey presto, number 4 hardly affected tick over. Changed plug and all OK. it was a coincidence that the plug started playing up when I removed and cleaned the breather pipe.
The annoyance is that the plugs are only 6 month's old and 2000 miles (Champion copper plus). Still, I'll change the others now just in case.
BTW if anyone wants to know how to dissable the annoying seatbelt warning bleep on a Focus (and Mondeo) pm me.
BTW2 are pickup side panels easily obtainable? There's a couple of used ones on Ebay - running out very soon.

Idris.

[bigginger]

Pick-up side panels? Easily availsble? NOPE - not available at all

[bmcecosse]

Don't change all the plugs too easily! May be something wrong with the lead to #4 - or with #4 cylinder itself. Try giving it a wee clean - and them try it in another cylinder.

[iddy]

bmc,
I changed the lead first, but it made no difference. Then changed plug and it was ok.

Idris

[bmcecosse]

Aye - well - faulty plugs can happen I suppose - but surprised with a Champion. I would still try it in another cylinder.

[Packedup]

Aye - well - faulty plugs can happen I suppose - but surprised with a Champion.

I'm not. I've read a few negative comments about them in the past, and certainly had the odd problem myself with them.

NGK every time for me, though I've also heard the odd worrying comment about those, but nothing like as often as Champion ones.

[iddy]

Just a last note for interest.
I took the plug to work and had it tested out of curiosity. The guys put it in a plug testing machine and discovered that there were micro cracks in the ceramic coating causing tracking, which in turn reduced the intensity of the spark. The kit apparantly checks the "shunt" (not quite sure what that is ) and the ceramic coating.
Idris.