Morris Minor Owners Club

If my engine ( 1098 ) ''seems'' to be missing a beat ( only when it's been running a couple of miles ), what's the best
checks I can do on the engine - starting with the simplest ?

Water level
Oil level
Check the spark plugs for fouling or very "dry" running (which is what I would suspect)
Check spark plug timing, preferrably with a timing light
Check carb adjustment

Warm running with the engine "missing a beat" when warm would seem to me either badly adjusted timing or too lean a mixture on the carburettor, but others may have more ideas.

Check and reset the valve gaps - 12 thou inlets and 15 thou exhausts. What use would a 'timing light' be ??

Yes, valve gaps too. The timing being off could also be the cause of the problem; for me, using the light to make adjustments is much easier than with a test lamp.

If it is okay until it warms up that may suggest it is running rich, which is good when the engine is cold but bad when it has warmed up. Does it start okay without choke?

What would the timing be adjusted to ?? We have no accurate idea where the timing should be with modern fuels - so it is a matter for trial and error. Basically - advance till it pinks, then back off very slightly so it's not quite pinking. Make sure the vacuum advance is working first!

To be honest I haven't yet adjusted the timing on my Morris apart from the "factory setting" when assembling the engine. I did use the timing light to set a couple of old motorcycles to the factory recommended settings and they're both working pretty well. In any case the light will let you know if you're in the ballpark or way off, which could happen by accidentally hitting the distributor if it's not tightened enough.

Still, my basic point was to check everything else is well BEFORE starting to tinker with the carburettor, even though it appears the problem might lie there.

Yes but as BM says with modern fuel,full of all sorts of bio products and no lead,all a timing light will do is set the engine to run,as intended,on leaded premium fuel of the 60s and 70s. It could be a mile out from where the engine is now happy . Once running just do the ,lets call it the pinkdownbmc, test

Hi Beero.
The engine starts well ( first time ) on full choke - but needs knocking back as soon as I pull away, even
in the lower temperatures we are now coming up to. Within - say 1/4 mile I am running with the choke
pushed right back in. After reading your reply it does seem possible that the carb is set up a tad too rich.
After 10 minutes or so when the engine is nice and warm the car seems to run a bit sluggish, especially
in lower rev's.

Just wind the jet in a flat at a time and see if it gets any smoother.

Thanks for the advice chaps !