Engine cutting out - fuel line problem?

[Malcolm]

Ok, here comes a message from the almost supremely ignorant.

I bought a '61 ('63? depends who you ask) saloon recently, reconditioned. Good engine, ran well for a few weeks but suddenly it's become temperamental.

Once I get it started I can keep the engine running (usually) with my foot on the accelerator. Remove my foot and it still runs.

Rev the engine again or start to put it in gear and it cuts out. Dead.

At other times, it's hard even to get the engine to catch. It may catch for a moment then cut out.

A friend said it might be condensation collected in the bottom of the carbeuretor but I can't work out how to check.

and what else could it be? All the electrical cables seem to be in place and the fact that it will run on its own some of the time make me think it's nothing to do with the distributor and so on (correct?).

Any thoughts?

Help appreciated.
Malcolm

[Cam]

Sounds like a weak mixture and/or an innefective choke.

Take the spark plugs out and have a look at the colour. If they are whiteish then you need to richen your mixture.

Does the choke seem to be working?? Can you start the car without it? How long is it before you can push it in?

[newagetraveller]

If all else fails try replacing the ignition coil.

[rayofleamington]

As you say the car was running fine and this happened all of a sudden.
If so:
Does the petrol pump work properly? This sounds like my 61 mog when I first got it home and also 2 weeks ago when the petrol pump gave up completely!
You should get a few clicks from the pump at key on if it's been left overnight and it should click every few seconds whilst cranking with the choke on.
If it doesn't click - take the pipe off the carb for a split second to see if the pump goes (fuel should spurt out). If it does, then the pump seems normal, and maybe it's the carb or electrics.
Have a look to see if the choke mechanism is moving normally when you pull the choke out.
Next check if you get a nice spark - if not, then check points are not fully closed etc...
If the obvius stuff is ok, then Cam's suggestion of weak mixture could be the culprit.

[Willie]

MALCOLM..you have had several suggestions as to what tocheck
obviously there are many possible reasons for your problems so
please give us some feedback on this one,many people don't,and
don't be afraid to ask how to check anything.

[Malcolm]

Thanks to you all for the replies. My feedback isn't going to be too helpful, I'm afraid. The problem occurred the day before my departure to Shetland (where I'm sitting right now).

Another friend suggested checking the carbeuretor for grit on the pin, which I did (there was; I cleaned it) but that didn't solve it.

With only hours to go and to avoid risking leaving my wife for a month with no usable car, I called the old fellow who runs the garage a few streets away.

He fixed it. Said it was a cable of some kind that had corroded through, which he fixed. I couldn't get him to elaborate because he has lost his voice due to cancer and has to whisper everything. I'll have a look next month when I'm back and see if I can figure out what it was he found.

Thanks again for the help.
Malcolm

[Cam]

Sounds like it might have been the choke cable which had corroded through so no choke operation which would give exactly the symptoms you described!

Glad it's all sorted now though and your wife has transport!