Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello all. I believe my engine is pinking (fast metalic vibrating, rattle at low revs in 3rd and 4th under load) I have tried retarding the distributor and even with the knob turned all the way to retard but im still getting the pinking (well what I believe is pinking) but the more I retard the timing the more the performance suffers so im thinking the timing doesn't need retarding any further. Im worndering if there is anything else I could try? My dad says that I should try adjusting the carburetor as it could be running too lean, would this be a cause of the pinking? It runs well and sounds smooth when idling and when in 1st or 2nd gear. Even tried the more expensive fancy fuel but makes no difference. The car still runs fine just the sound is really annoying and cant be good for my engine. Any ideas on what to try next?

Thanks

Ed

have you turned the actual dizzy? not just the knob?

Sure it's not big ends rattling?? What's the oil pressure when hot at 40 mph in top gear? Pinking is a faint 'tinkling' noise...

Lambretta lad: ive not twisted the dizzy but with the knob turned all the way to retard performance is affected drastically with no improvement to the pinking sound, am i right I thinking that retarding it further would decreases performance further? When I say it alters performance it is very down on power and doesn't feel as responsive and perky as usual.

Bmcecosse: Yeh I would describe it as a tinkling sound, unsure about the oil pressure as I dont have a guage fitted.

1. sparking plug - i think 1 plug not wark may be 4th or 3rd from front check all , clean and reset remember not going to change plug waires 2. Just Chack fuel pump presher and filtor 3. Timing ? Do U chenge it from cutout ? bad sound - check ur battery it want 12 .30 to 12.5 ok good luck

try getting it warm and turn the dizzy till you get the best tickover,(slowly both ways ) this is a good indication that the timing is near spot on ,then go for a drive to see if it pinks

lambrettalad wrote:try getting it warm and turn the dizzy till you get the best tickover,(slowly both ways ) this is a good indication that the timing is near spot on ,then go for a drive to see if it pinks

It ticks over nicely but no matter what i do regarding adjusting the dizzy i still get the pinking, if i retard it too much i lose all power but the pinking still persists. Ive adjusted it back to best tick over but still get the pinking. This is why im inclined to think that maybe its the fueling and its running a bit lean (am i right in thinking higher temperatures from a leaner mix could cause pre-ignition pinking?) just after a bit of clarification to see if this could be the cause of this? Fuel pump is fine and the filter looks as good as new!

Also Bmcecosse, after just taking a mechanically competent friend out for a drive he said its pinking and not the big end. But i think i may have come to the conclusion that its not being caused by the dizzy timing as retarding the timing does not eliminate or improve the pinking sound.

Thanks

Ed

do you have a strobe to see what the timing is at tick over?

Well - it could be horribly coked up combustion chambers i suppose - does it 'run on' when you switch off ??

No it doesn't run on when turned off.

The only thing I have done is try to adjust the timing I retarded it until the car had no puff and the sound was unchanged.

I'm wondering if adjusting the fuel mixture could make any difference at all, I've read pinking can occur on a too lean mix but all these sites are mostly motorbike related but would have thought It would apply to moggys as its all internal combustion at the end of the day. I just want to know what difference it could make if any? Would it just be a waste of time?

The car goes very well, its a pokey little number so im very happy with its performance its just this sound is bugging me, its the only thing that's not perfect about my little car. I just don't want to be delving too deep with my limited moggy knowledge and start to mess things up.

I should add its at its worst at around 30-40mph in 4th gear, happens on flats and up hill, doesn't happen down hill. It stops the moment i back off the gas. 50-80mph it goes like a dream! Any faster and its just damn scary haha.

As said it's a faint tinny rattle/tinking sound, nothing aggressive or knocking. The engine still sounds very smooth just the tinkling sound worries me, don't want to do my engine in as I need to use this car every day. It my only vehicle.

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lambrettalad wrote:do you have a strobe to see what the timing is at tick over?

Should be getting hold of a strobe tomoro if my mate remembers to bring it into work. I've only adjusted it back to what it was when it was going its best but may not necessarily be right. Retarding the timing did nothing to the pinking so that's why I thought this may not be a timing issue.

Is the vacuum advance connected correctly? Is the engine non-standard? You describe it as 'pokey little number' which doesn't sound much like a Morris Minor.......

The vacuum advance is connected but it may be at fault. gave it a suck and not a lot happened, didn't get any suction. I maybe wrong but doesn't the vacuum advance the timing slightly at higher rpm? With the pinking Being an issue only at low rpm and that I think the vacuum advances the timing I though it may be something non dizzy related (please correct me if my logic is wrong here I'm a noob with engines) Engine is a bog standard 1098 but has been well looked after by its previous owners. And when I said pokey I guess i meant responsive, its just as nippy and tight on the b roads as the new little fiesta I learned in and keeps up with traffic no problem. I'm a new driver and this is my first car, its more than fast enough for me!

The vac advance is faulty then - and that's why the power is lost when you retard the timing - the vac advance should make that up for you. New vacuum unit required - OR - buy a complete dizzy from simonbbc or accuspark - I would get a 45D with points.....but many seem happy with the electronic version which is of course much more expensive.