Strange breakdowns

Post by **rio678** » Thu May 03, 2007 12:46 pm

Hi everyone

My Moggie broke down the other day, it started jerking so i quickly pulled over, it then stalled and wouldn't restart. Phoned RAC, man traced it down to the condenser, which he replaced, all okay again for the day, i then was advised to replace the coil aswell, which i have done, along with new spark plugs. Then yesterday, again it started jerking, would tick over but as soon as you put more gas in, it stalled. Left for two mins, started up again and revved fine. Fuel is definitely getting to the carbs (twin carb set up) So i can't think it would be the fuel side of things. Seems like something electrical breaks down occasionally then comes back to life, but changing the condenser and coil has not solved the problem. The points look fine, the cap is new and the rotor arm is also unworn. it's odd as it will probably run fine all day then break down?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu May 03, 2007 1:19 pm

Could be almost anything - loose wire connection on the LT side, and the new condenser could be faulty too - maybe even the new coil - change back to the old one, there is no reason to change coil because the condenser failed. Also the little 'low voltage' wire inside the dizzy can give problems - and maybe the HT connection sin the dizzy cap or the little carbon brush. Lots of checking to be done !

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu May 03, 2007 2:40 pm

Yes, my vote goes to the pesky little wire between coil connection and points in the dizzy. If it looks suspect, get a new one. You can buy them ready made up with the right connectors from ESM and such places.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu May 03, 2007 3:57 pm

Yep - that's the 'low voltage' lead.

Post by **rio678** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:12 pm

You don't think it could be something wrong in the float chambers? as the first one started flooding the other day, then stopped, now the second one has started doing it and now stopping? Thats the trouble when it doesn't get used much, everything starts falling apart!

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:24 pm

I don;t have any twin carb experience, but that could be a sticky or blocked float valve (the little valve above the float).

Take the carbs off and clean/ re-furb as necessary.

Post by **Willie** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:58 pm

The float chamber valves have given me trouble on all my cars which have had a period of innactivity. If the petrol is overflowing from the chamber and the float hasn't got any fuel inside it when shaken then the valves are suspect and should be changed. You can usually see a clear
wear ridge on the point of the valve.

Post by **PAULJ** » Thu May 03, 2007 9:41 pm

Do you have an in line filter? these block and allow only a small amount of fuel through

Post by **rio678** » Thu May 03, 2007 9:49 pm

Checked both floats this evening, all appears to be okay in there and working fine. Fuel filter is brand new. Didn't actually have one on, but i thought it best to have one.

Took her out this evening and didn't miss a beat, it's so odd! and frustrating as if it happens again i really don't know what else to check

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:06 pm

how long had it been running and what had you been doing before it spluttered / stalled?

Post by **rio678** » Thu May 03, 2007 10:33 pm

Been using it on and off in the day so not from cold, but was Just driving it along at steady pace, not been caught up in long traffic of anything, but seemed at the time to be something electrical as it is very intermittent and 'sudden'