Morris Minor Owners Club

Took a trip to the Merthyr Tydfil classic bus/car show today.

About a mile away, pulling off from a roundabout the car started to chug and the engine cut out Right in the middle of the roundabout! I caused chaos

Luckily there was someone in the car with me and a guy stopped to help (many thanks whoever you are ). He commented "nice car, it'd be nicer if it was working"

We pushed it over to the side of the road and the first thing I did was to put the handbrake on while taking my shoe off to whack the fuel pump after hearing about the common problem and its cure (I believe LouiseM has also used the shoe method ). The guy looked at me as if I was crazy

Well it wasn't the fuel pump. Turned out to be the points in the distributor had jammed shut. Prised them apart with a screw driver and I was on my way again. Got to the show, realised I didn't have a camera (not my day ). Looked around the show, went back to the car same problem again. Sorted it out and got home. Looks like I need to fit some new points

and a condenser as this will be the reason for the points welding shut...

Just had a look. There was a bare wire in the dizzy that I presume was earthing itself out. I must have been moving it without realising when I was messing with the points thinking it was them and the rotar arm must have moved it to begin with.

Put some insulation tape around the wire and tucked it out of the way so that the rotar arm doesn't move it again. Starts everytime now so hopefully that was the problem. Only time will tell

Always carry a spare dizzy! And a spare fuel pump. Perhaps a spare shoe too?
I too attended a classic show today - turned out to be deadly dull (nice AA Minor van though!) - mostly Tractors, and Fire Engines for some mad reason - so slipped away after an hour to the Steam Railway and blagged a footplate run! Ahh - MUCH better!

My next door neighbour was there displaying his model steam engines (Had them running on compressed air). Was it a good event? You had good weather at least (Hope it stays dry for Tredegar House in 2 weeks). I have been working today; the downside of being self employed I suppose .

I believe LouiseM has also used the shoe method

Quite right, or the mobile phone method if I'm wearing flip flops Glad to hear it's running ok now. I had a similar problem recently and it was due to the braiding on the low tension wire wearing away meaning that bare wire was shorting and causing the car to break down intermittently. Insulation tape worked as a temporary measure but I've now fitted a new low tension wire and problem solved

Yes was a good show More buses than cars though, but a good show.

I saw the model steam engines. Very interesting

Where in South Wales are you then?

LouiseM wrote: Quite right, or the mobile phone method if I'm wearing flip flops Glad to hear it's running ok now. I had a similar problem recently and it was due to the braiding on the low tension wire wearing away meaning that bare wire was shorting and causing the car to break down intermittently. Insulation tape worked as a temporary measure but I've now fitted a new low tension wire and problem solved

Sounds like whats happened to mine. Looks like the rotar arm wore the braiding away

MColes wrote:Yes was a good show More buses than cars though, but a good show.

I saw the model steam engines. Very interesting

Where in South Wales are you then?

Tredegar, though I know Merthyr pretty well (My father's family are from there). I am in Valley Sports & Classic Cars (http://vsandccc.org.tripod.com/), who meet in Pontllanfraith once a week. I don't get much time to go there and the club is less active than it has been.

Ah yes I'm on that forum but it seems a bit dead

This subject was raised as a topic for discussion and it looks like my post follows yours!! A case of too much too soon.

Small world.

or the mobile phone method

phoning a friend? I won't ask about wearing sensible shoes..

A bit off topic, but I rather like shows where they have a few little single cylinder petrol engines with hit or miss ignition and water sloshing about for cooling.
Like this one:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0_5pvE ... annel_page