Morris Minor Owners Club

Hey
Having problems getting the minor to start after 5 years of not running. I need some advice please.
I have serviced absolutely everything and thoroughly cleaned everything and replaced what ever needed replacing got a new battery etc.

But it won't start. Order of the leads to plugs is correct. The battery is brand new and fully charged. It sounds very week when turning over though and seems to almost stutter if you know what i mean.

Do I need to replace the starter, the ignition wiring? Or does it sound like something else? Also the only light coming on the speedo is the one at about 9 o clock looking at the face.

Try cleaning the battery lead terminals and earth terminals to the body, not forgetting the earth strap on the gearbox. Also, are you using fresh fuel? Old fuel will not work well.

Yeah I have drained the old petrol and filled with new.
I have made new battery terminals so there's no problem there. Only thing I haven't done is clean the gear box earthing lead.
Had new fuel pipe and the fuel pump clicked away nicely until the carb bowel was filled.
I'll have to check for a spark

Have you got a spark at the plugs? Take one out and hold it against the cylinder head with a pair of pliers and spin the engine over.
Start with the basics first before looking for problems that are not there

I suggest the 'stutter' is the ignition too advanced and kicking back against the starter. Retard it - and dribble some petrol down the carb - should start just fine then. Could always boost it with jump leads from another car...

Cheers guys I will try these these things

I have taken the distributor off. I'll strip and clean it refit it and work back from the plugs. Having not run in years and sad idle a removal and clean won't hurt. Hopefully at some point over the next few days I'll be reporting back with something positive.

You have to first clean your battery and the body of the earth terminals. And you are using only new fresh fuel. Because old fuel will not work properly.

That's all done, one of the first things I did in fact. I made up new battery leads also