Morris Minor Owners Club

when i turn of the ignition to stop the engine it couths and splutters for a second or two before stopping, i've set the timing as well as fitting new plugs points condenser and as far as i can tell the mixture is ok, other than that she starts and runs fine, any ideas what else to look at
cheers

john

to fast an idle on the engine coupled with poss timing

what should tickover be set at?
john

GET THE TICK OVER SO THE IGNITION LIGHT IS JUST ON

ok thanks
i'll try that

Do you use petrol additive? My blue minor always runs on unless I remember to put in the lead substitute, none of my other minors do this though!

Ignition light 'on' with an alternator will be tricky! It's designed to charge at idle. Basically - set the idle speed as slow as possible - but without it stalling when you plop foot on clutch. Try a different brand of petrol - and try advancing the ignition timing slightly - basically until you hear pinking, then retard again slightly until not quite pinking!

Possibly needs a de-coke. The deposits glow and cause the residual fuel and air drawn in to be ignited.

Indeed that is the cause - but these days it's usually possible to sort it without the dreaded 'de-coke'!!

THEY NEVER SAID THEY HAD AN ALTERNATOR

Indeed - but just in case (let's face it most Minors now have alternators) - I have pointed out the problem to save possibly hours of futile twiddling trying to get the light on!

i still got dynamo

Im not sure that most minors do have alternators. From what i've seen they are definately in the minority

Hmm - virtually all I see are alt - did we not have a poll about this some time ago ?

Just have a quick check over your tappet clearances. I had a very similar problem with my Pickup, Timing was correct, mixture seemed right, tickover was nice just like yours and it turned I my tappets were a bit on the tight side. A slightly open valve gets hot and would cause running on. 12 thou was the BMC specification but Ive read in previous threads that wider ones are better for unleaded petrol.

thanks for the advise,
i do have an alternater, but thinking about it i just started using unleaded when the prob started so i think i'll look at the valve clearences
cheers

john

i've just slowed the tickover down a tad and advanced the timing to 5* tdc and it seems to have solved the problem, seems to run smoother being that little bit advanced as well
many thanks for the ideas and advise
john

Well done - I suggest you continue advancing little by little until you hear some pinking - then take it back slightly until no(or just v slight) tinkle when you put your foot down. It's then set to the optimum for your engine.