Morris Minor Owners Club

It can score the insulator - not a great idea. Plugs are v inexpensive on ebay!

Ok. Apparently we used a softer copper brush. I will call the garage tomorrow and ask if they think it is the spark plugs that is the problem and also ask them why they used Champion N9 instead of N5s, because apparently thats what the Minor shop online said. I will let you know tomorrow of what is happening etc.

Champion N9Ys are perfectly OK for the Minor and are as far as I am aware, an update for an N5.
You should build yourself up a collection of spares to put in the boot . Stuff them underneath next to the spare wheel so they won't take up any space.
You can keep a head gasket set on top of the spare wheel with a fan belt.
Other useful spares are a set of plugs, coil, condenser, points, plug leads and distributor cap. That's just the basics.
And throw away the piller jack that came with the car and get a decent scissor jack. Don't use the central jacking point.
You also need to build up a decent tool kit, a good set of Whitworth and A/F sockets and spanners for starters, so it will be no good trotting off to Halfords 'cause they only do metric.

Don't forget the First Aid kit. Tinkering at the side of the road on a not completely cooled down engine can lead to burns and cuts.

Yes - N9Ys are the ones to use. If the engine is a bit 'oil burning' then N12Ys are less likely to oil up! Similarly - an engine that has been modified with higher compression etc wants N6Y plugs !

Well, car was returned today and was here when I got back from the driving lesson. Took it out to take my sister out and I must say it runs alot smoother. It has a little more power and the delivery is smooth. Also the wobbly wheel has gone. The work they did on her was apparently cleaned out bits in the engine and the carbs and checked other things. They also reset the choke and tuned it to run sweetly. With the choke working properly now I don't need it on at all .
The rear tyres also needed changing but one of the guys who works there, his Dad had a couple of spare Moggy tyres in his garage so sold them for £10 each. Overall £85 service which isn't bad from a non running car to a good clean one with 2 new tyres. I am happy and I think she is too.
Thanks again to all that offered tips and advice and although we couldn't put them to good use, I greatly appreciate the support.
Cheers
Steve
P.S. this means I can attend the classic car show in confidence next Monday . Her first show

Arh, that's excellent ... great to hear you are on the road again

I personally always use a copper wire brush to clean my plugs, sure it might score the insulator, which may mean I have to clean them more often, but by the time I get tired of cleaning them so often I replace them ... I'd be most interested in hearing about other ways to clean my plugs though ;)

Sounds like you have found a garage with a bit of a soft spot for seeing younger drivers with morris minor's ... if you arent mechanically minded then I'd stick with them.

Having said that though, to me 90% of the enjoyment of owning a minor is about getting grubby and tinkering with the old gal!

It's good to be back
I am not sure how Mum found the garage but it was a while ago for her car and they were so good, we only ever went there. We also now have the E-type serviced there and have been told they have done a few other classics. They are superb. You can tell they appreciate and enjoy all types of cars and although they think of the Moggy as a pain, they are still happy do work on it and have done me many favours. If anyone is local (Cambridgeshire) then just PM me and I will pass on their details. They are in The Offords.
My Dad is an engineer and seems to be very good with working on classics. I am slowly taking after him and although I haven't really got grubby with an engine, I do enjoy doing bits that make something work. No idea why, its just a good feeling.
Thanks
Steve

nice to know your back on the road and you got some new tyres for a tenner.its nice to know that there are some old fashioned garages out there,that look after their customers,hope to see you on monday at the bedfordshire classic car show.i think we are putting the dredded gazebo up,its a herts branch ritcual.

Yes I did read you were going on the other post. We have had the gazebo ritual with the Jag club. Stormy weather can really blow one away. Hope the weather is nice on the Monday.

alainmoran wrote:I'd be most interested in hearing about other ways to clean my plugs though ;)

My dad has a gadget that sandblasts them. You connect it to a car battery, shove the plug in the top, and press a button. It makes a loud whirring noise and after a minute the plug comes out dusty but fairly clean.

Nice one Stephen. You've got to drive it now, lots!

I never clean my plugs. Just chuck it a new set every 12K or so.

Andrew
(setting himself up for a major spark plug disaster!)

Copper wire brush is ok - it's the normal steel wire brush that destroys plugs. But I also don't clean them - they don't need it! And new plugs are cheap as chips - on ebay.
If the choke has been set so you don't need it - then the engine is running too rich. But wait to see how it performs on a cold start - that's the only time you need choke.