Morris Minor Owners Club

HELLO,

I have a 948 cc 1962 Moggie.
This year has seen a lot of remedial work done-choke cable, differential, vacuum pipe etc.

I've just fitted a new Distributor, but for the life of me I can't get the Timing right and she won't turn over.

I am looking for a knowledgeable, Moggie owner who could come along and set the Timing.
I have a well-stocked garage of tools available.

Of course, I would be willing to pay for the service provided along with covering fuel costs.

The car is in Old Colwyn, Colwyn Bay, North Wales.

If you can help, please email me at

sloopjohnrb@btinternet.com

Or, call 01492 514682 and leave a message.

I really do need help.

Not turning over isn't a timing issue, it's probably a battery issue.
If it's charged up and you have the cap type connectors, replace them with the clamp type.

HTello,
I've tried a different battery to eliminate it from the problem.
The battery is the clamp type.

Thank you for your reply, I'm most grateful.
Best wishes

Do you mean the engine is turning with the starter but not firing up?

Hello, Yes that's exactly the problem.

I've refitted the Distributor, treble checked the Timing, the points gap, the plugs (new), checked carburettor, tried a different proven battery, checked the coil, the plug leads, new air filter, new oil filter and oil change,checked fuel and fuel pump, accelerator cable, choke cable, exhaust pipe for blockage, new vacuum unit pipe fitted, trieed starting on both key and handle.

This is really a puzzler!

Is there any fuel present ?? Try pouring an egg-cup full down the carb - then crank it. You say 'checked the timing' - but have you actually seen a spark at #1 plug when #'1 cylinder is at TDC with both valves closed ?? It's very possibly firing on the wrong cylinder - try swapping the leads round - and keep the order as 1342 of course. What other work has been done to the engine ?

On the same lines as Roy has suggested, did you just remove the old dizzy and then just fitted the new one without checking the position of the valves, best to remove the rocker cover for this. Also have you checked for a spark at the points which I assume you set with the correct gap ?

Hiyas,
Yup, removed the rocker cover as per the full service manual and treble-checked the vale position.

As to the spark plugs, someone else also said to check for a good spark at the plugs, which I'll be hitting at first light tomorrow. Plug gaps treble checked at 0.25 inches, .64mm.

I am so grateful for all your hints and help.

Thankyou again.

Is the bottom pulley the original one (both sides equal thickness)?

I believe some of the damper pulleys (fatter front than rear) have timing marks in the wrong place.

sloopjohnrb wrote:Hiyas,
Yup, removed the rocker cover as per the full service manual and treble-checked the vale position.

As to the spark plugs, someone else also said to check for a good spark at the plugs, which I'll be hitting at first light tomorrow. Plug gaps treble checked at 0.25 inches, .64mm.

I am so grateful for all your hints and help.

Thankyou again.

surely .025"

hi
are your points new?
20 years ago i serviced my triumph 2000 and it refused to start, after hours of checking and tinkering i tried refitting the origonal points and it started first try.
moral of this storey is never asume its fine just because its new.

john

If you fitted new points you might have fitted the wire that goes to the points (secured with a nut) over the plastic washer. The wire, with the wire from the condenser, should be fitted under the plastic washer.

Have you mixed up the ht leads?
Make sure no1 fires at TDC in the correct place, both no1 valves fully shut, then count 1-3-4-2 anticlockwise on the dizzy.

A set of these HT testers may help
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165469
also available on ebay

Hello,
The Dissy was brand new from Simon Distributors, so I must assume that the internal wiring is ok .
However, it does have one of those big red, "special" Rotor Arms that Simons produces so I'm beginnig to think that maybe this could be a problem.

It's the original pulley.

Today I will be checking the spark at the plug along with other things, and I've ordered a standard rotor arm just in case the Big Red is a problem.
many thanks again

I tested a spare plug off one of the HT leads and there was a deffo spark.

I rechecked fuel pump, and the carb, and also cleaned the contacts in the black box, the cut outs.
I cleaned the Earthing lead on thte battery cage, also cleaned, again, both battery terminals.

Significantly, when I had jump leads onto my battery from a Nissan Micra battery, she did turn over, full choke,albeit lumpily.
When I removed the clamps off the Micra battery, she cut out.

However, the battery charger indicates full charge and no apparent battery problems.

The starter motor seems to go into its whine pretty quickly, little or no chance to "churn"
and to churn even a little, I had to pull the starter slowly and for a few seconds maximum.
When pulling the starter normally the whine kicks in.

I'm a little bit farther I guess, but stumped as to what this is.

So you've had the engine running, but very lumpy (an I reading that correctly)?
If so it sounds like the HT leads are in the wrong order. Remember to count in sequence around the distributer cap but they fit on the plugs in the order 1, 3, 4, 2.

Hello,
Yes they are in 1342 order, anti-clockwise.
Number one on the Dissy being ..
. O the one represented by the large circle.

Don't understand "the large circle" sorry.... Number 1 is the one the rotor arm is pointing to when the engine is at TDC.....

1 cylinder is at TDC with both the front valves closed.
The HT lead that the rotor arm is then pointing at is number one.

Sorry, the diagram was supoosed to illustrate something but it didn't come out correctly.

I attach a pic for better illustration.

I was always told (by a mechaniic) that Number one on the dissy was the one depicted here in red.....

If this 'aint the case, then you've found the problem ..............[frame][/frame]