Morris Minor Owners Club

I spent a few minutes today adjusting the carburetter of the recently purchased Moggy. What a differance it made. The motor really sounds healthy now. One thing that surprised me was that I didn't need a spanner to adjust the big nut on the underside of the carb. A child could have adjusted it using finger power only. Is that nut really supposed to be that easily adjusted? I am afraid it will start moving because of vibrations made by the engine. Question 2: The knob you pull to engage the start motor - is it meant to go back to its original position by itself or should it be pushed in when the engine fires up?

Carb nut can usually be adjusted by hand. There is a spring (should be a spring) which holds the jet in tension to stop it from moving by itself. The start knob should spring back without being pushed.

It should just be a relatively small nut that you can move by finger pressure (although a special SU spanner is available!) - turn up to weaken the mixture and down to enrichen. As above - it should be held in place by a small spring around the jet assembly. The whole jet assembly should be firmly set into the base of the carb - only the adjustment nut should be easily moved.

Thanks for the quick answers. Then I guess the carb is at good health. It was rebuilt by professionals just weeks before the Moggy became a member of my family. The seller told me to adjust the carb and I thought I would need tools to do it. The start knob is obviously not okay then. I had a look in my Haynes bible and it looks like there is a wire connected to a relay. Where is the return spring located?

Maybe just need adjusted - the actual switch has a spring inside - the wire to the knob is connected to that and has no additional spring.

Then I know. Thank you. I think I will deal with that in the spring. The Minor will be stored in a dry barn this week. Right now it is very wet where I live and I expect snow will fall within the next weeks. Not a good environment for an old Moggy.

The start knob is obviously not okay then. I had a look in my Haynes bible and it looks like there is a wire connected to a relay.

I've heard the Haynes book called many things, but never a bible!

What year is your car? If you have a pull switch then I doubt you have a relay - most likely it's just the remote switch. These can become 'sticky' and not release well (I've used light oil on one which removed that problem), but it could also be the knob assembly on the dash that is sticking.

I assume 'sarcasm' rules re the Haynes !
Edit - Oh, hang on - are we allowed to be nasty about Haynes - what about the dearly beloved Ts & Cs ??

are we allowed to be nasty about Haynes

I was not being nasty - I can't help what you read in between the lines!

I thought it was ME being 'nasty'! And Pingis being sarcastic!

I thought it was ME being 'nasty'!

Oh ok then! Let me know which comment ou mean and I'll happily moderate it ;-)

No more being nasty to Mr. Haynes. Remember where the next National Rally is!!!!

Lovely manuals - absolutely excellent - can't be faulted, and highly recommended! Actually - I have the Haynes Computer Manual on my desk right now - and it's been quite useful with my recent computer woes!

This one's my favourite though.....

Excellent - does it say anything about Watch-Keeping, and Life-boat drills ?

I wasn't being sarcastic at all when I called The Haynes manual a bible. I am not a religious person but I have found a rather thick book full of facts and tips that really mean a lot to me - the Haynes bible . I must admit the Morris Minor manual feels a bit old fashioned. I used one of the more recent Haynes manuals earlier this year and felt much more comfortable with the language. Apart from being a good help when solving problems with cars technical manuals, both Haynes and others, are a great source to learn English from. Not all Moggy mechanics have English as their mother tongue

I know that well Pingis - it's just it has become a 'fashionable' to be a bit sarcastic about poor old Haynes. Their manuals are fine - but often have some mistakes - and sometimes they go into fantastic detail about trivia - and then skim over the really important items!
Not ever heard Haynes manual called 'bible' before - that title is usually retained for David Vizard's book 'Tuning BL's A-series Engine' - now that really IS a VERY GOOD book to have !