Morris Minor Owners Club

Still nothing to report on the starting front. I've been at *small voice* Bug Jam this weekend and being surrounded by beautiful classic VWs made me hanker for the Traveller being on the road more than ever!
Off to the garage I go... Battery on charge (just in case), going to check that the spark from the coil is still there then start on the plugs and leads again. I'm not a mechnic, and the HBOL is just down right confusing, so what do I look at after that? Can't be the rotor arm or the dizzy cap - both are new as stated before. Just so frustrated now, I need to get this motor started, MOT'd and back on the road!

She's running!!!!

Engine seems to be sputtering a bit but not badly and I'm assuming that it may be because of the old fuel still in the system? The radiator also went a bit mad and overflowed everywhere, but this could just be due to being too full - going to wait until it's cooled down and check fluid levels. Also, when the engine is turned off it seems to run on for a few second before sputtering out - what could be causing this?

Thanks for all the help so far!

Radiator overflowing is ominous(depends how much of course) -------suggests gasket blowing. Running on is generally a sign of ignition timing too retarded - something is glowing red in the cylinder head and maintaining the engine runn ing even after the plug ignition has been shut off.....

The over flow seemed quite substantial - on closer inspection it's gone from full to 3" down. Every time the engine was re-started and run for a few mins the fluid kept running out of the overflow pipe. By gasket blowing do you mean the cylinder head? There were overheating problems before the breakdown that led to the car being laid up. The thermostat was replaced at the time to help to remedy this but could it be connected?
How do we fix the timing? There was me hoping we were home and dry

Normally on starting after a 'refill' there would be some bubbling as air came to the surface and was replaced by water. But overflowing means air getting IN somewhere = likely blowing head gasket or cracked head. Was the past 'overheating' repaired by fitting a new head gasket? You can't just expect a problem like that to disappear ! And 'it's never the thermostat' so I suggest - off with it's head!!

bmcecosse wrote:Normally on starting after a 'refill' there would be some bubbling as air came to the surface and was replaced by water.

I didn't know that, I'll top up the radiator and see if it continues as a first step.

bmcecosse wrote: Was the past 'overheating' repaired by fitting a new head gasket? You can't just expect a problem like that to disappear ! And 'it's never the thermostat' so I suggest - off with it's head!!

The thermostat was corroded to the point of being encased in a green crust, and the radiator hose was completely blocked, hence replacing these as a fix. Didn't go anywhere near the head at the time.

Well - radiator hose 'blocked' would certainly do it ! But if it was like that - have to wonder about the rest of the cooling system. Meantime - if it continues to overflow when topped up - then it is head -off time.

Topped up the radiator just now and started her up, ran for 15 mins but as soon as the engine got warm the radiator overflowed again - a steady stream of water flowing out. I'm going to order a new gasket set, the good news is that I've checked the dipstick and filler cap and there's no sign of any bad smelling or discoloured oil. Is there anyhting else I should be getting whilst I'm on?

Could be an airlock in the cooling system, or serious blockage due to standing for so long, where the water jacket silts up and antifreeze crystalises. I'd take the head off anyway to examine the water passages.

If you fill the rad to the top when cold, then start it and warm it up it WILL puke out excess, as the water expands and has to go somewhere. The coolant (water) only needs to about half fill the top tank.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'd thought about there being an air lock. I'd filled her up with hot water to speed things up and it just kept flowing out once the engine got up to temperature - over a litre came out and showed no sign of stopping! It is only happening when the engine heats up, not immediately from cold - don't know if that makes any difference?

Going to take the head off and have a look anyway, a new gasket won't do any harm but I must admit that talk of serious blockages or leaks being ominous is starting to make me paranoid!

As above - don't fill the rad right to the top - keep it a good 2" down. Leave the cap off - and run the engine up - and tell us what happens.

Still overflowing. Gasket set ordered, what should I be looking out for when we take the head off? Also, is there a specific order for replacing / tightening bolts afterwards?

Nut order in the workshop manual. If you don't have one - PM me. Look for gasket failure - and any signs of cracks in the head or (much less likely) - in the block, between the bores).

Use correct socket size - 9/16 AF, and a decent torque wrench for when it comes to do them up again.