Is this typical winter behaviour ?

[Adam_B]

Hello.....you may recall in July I posted my concerns about things getting too hot in my '61 Minor, well now its December so I'm sure you can guess where this is going !

Since winter has kicked in I've had the engine die on me a few times, it'll give a slight splutter then just cut out. Starts again pretty much first time of trying afterwards but the same thing then happened a few times on a few occasions. However it seems that if I run the engine for five minutes or so prior to starting a journey and get the temp gauge off cold it'll run just fine. It can take a couple of attempts to get the engine warm, it'll cut out and I'll have to restart etc.

So my question is, is this typical winter behaviour ? Or does it indicate something is up more major ? I have ran it into a trusted but not specialist garage and they could see no problem with it but sods law they took it in the middle of an unseasonably warm day ! He did suggest that if I continued to have this problem it could be worth getting the petrol tank flushed out as it could be pulling up rust or grime ?

Any advice really appreciated !

And christmas wishes to all !

X

[dalebrignall]

it could be all sorts of things , have you had the car serviced propally , a good ignition system is essential . is the fuel system clean , have you looked at the filter in the fuel pump it could be blocked .what kind of oil do you have in the dash pot in the carb . moggies usually run cool in the winter its just the way it is because they have a big rad , get the antifreeze strengh tested too .

[panky]

Is the choke operating as it should? Try getting someone to pull the choke out while you watch what is happening ate the carb end. On full choke the throttle linkage is opened slightly to increase the revs, maybe the stop screw needs a little adjustment.

[Adam_B]

Thanks for the replies

I think the next inevitable question must be.....

Anyone know a good moggie friendly garage in either York or Leeds ?

I seem to remember there being one advertised in the magazine but cant find it now !

[SteveClem]

Very typical of my old mini in the '70's. Mostly sorted by driving with the choke out a bit... A good service is probably a better plan. Find an old fashioned back street garage with a mechanic in his 70's and you'll likely be just fine.

[busguy]

Very typical of my old mini in the '70's. Mostly sorted by driving with the choke out a bit... A good service is probably a better plan. Find an old fashioned back street garage with a mechanic in his 70's and you'll likely be just fine.

Hi Steve
If I remember rightly you have such a garage in, or near, one of your mills in Belper.
Great guy, I bought his Tapley meter from him.

[The vast minority]

Simple answer to the question, no it isn't.

As above, get it sorted with a good service and investigation.

Al

[bmcecosse]

Maybe just running very cold - and 'carb icing' could be a problem. What thermostat is fitted - and does the heater work well? An 88 degree stat would be wise for winter motoring. You could try temporarily blocking off most of the grille to see if that helps...

[Adam_B]

Vermont Classics is the leeds garage advertising in the mag so I'll get in touch with them tomorrow and try and get it in for a full winter service. If anyone knows the garage I'd be interested to hear opinion, please PM if you prefer.

I read a bit about carb icing and the air filter intake was facing forward so I've turned that around as per advice I read. The heater is little to no use I'd say, though the pipes running to it get very hot so I'd always figured that was to do with the fan (I'm guessing from the noise its a fan!) in there not being great ?

thanks again

[The vast minority]

Vermont Classics is the leeds garage advertising in the mag so I'll get in touch with them tomorrow and try and get it in for a full winter service. If anyone knows the garage I'd be interested to hear opinion, please PM if you prefer.

I read a bit about carb icing and the air filter intake was facing forward so I've turned that around as per advice I read. The heater is little to no use I'd say, though the pipes running to it get very hot so I'd always figured that was to do with the fan (I'm guessing from the noise its a fan!) in there not being great ?

thanks again

I have pesonal experience of the garage you mention.
I have had a lot of mechanical and also extensive paintwork done by them this year. The quality of the mechanical work which is the subject here has proven to be excellent. I had a lot done in one visit spending Well over £2500 with them although the paint element was the bulk of this spend.

Their Morris minor knowledge is good. I took a gearbox check strap with me as a test and asked them what it was. They Identified it immediately. I had all new brakes, new kingpin, trunnions, brake pipes, and so on. No engine work but they will be perfectly capable of that too. At the time of my visit the owner had a customers Capri in that was overheating and they were doing all the correct things to establish the cause.

Your heater matrix may need flushing, this is easy but if you are not so inclined they will do this for you.

Summary, I would consider them capable and competent to solve your running issues and would be happy to use them again myself. They were not overly expensive, I had a massive jobs list for them and was happy with the cost too.

Al

[kennatt]

not sure you need to take it to a garage YET......Just make sure the choke is working,get someone to pull it out while you watch the underside of the carb,if it is you should see the jet mechanism,move down.If it is working get it warm and whilst ticking over(with the choke full off) find the little pin hanging down out of the side of the carb and push it up until you feel that it has come into contact with something ,then push it up a couple of mm.the engine should speed up slightly then fall back and run a bit rough. Report back with the result for further advice.

[martin418]

i also think carb icing is the likely problem , i had a mk2 escort which did exactly the same thing every winter

[Trickydicky]

I too have used Vermont in Leeds and had good results.
As for your running issues it sounds to me as though it could either be be a mixture problem or as others have said the choke sticking, either is easily resolved. (We are trying to save you money ) If you dont have a manual google it and download it as a PDF.

If you are close to Leeds you would be most welcome at the Leeds Branch of the MMOC . http://leedsmmoc.co.uk/
Our next meeting is in February.

[Adam_B]

Thanks again for all the advice

I've had a look at the choke and its certainly moving freely but I cant find the pin you refer to !
You'll have to forgive my crude, useless description, theres a sort of small, headless screw with a spring / coil type thing running around it that I seem to be able to fiddle with on the underside, could that be it ?

I dare say that description is no use to anyone !

My son and I went on the grand de parp with the leeds branch summer just gone and had a fantastic time, I've not made any of the other meet ups due to other nonsense but they seemed a great bunch and I hope to catch up with them again in the new year, if they'll have us back !

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Yes - you found the 'pin'. While in that area - add a tea-spoon of engine oil in the carb damper. Unscrew the 'nut' on top and ease out the damper shaft. The piston inside should rise easily and fall back with a nice clunk when the shaft is out.

[kennatt]

every you need to know about su carbs http://sucarb.co.uk/technical-su-carburetters go down to settings for lifting pin usage