Club 80-90 Forums

jswagger wrote:Before I took the carb off, when the engine was cold it would be a pig to start, but would start. Amongst other things, it turned out that the choke pull down unit and the choke plate linkage that Kev kindly supplied were broken. Does this mean that previously the choke wasn't coming on at all?

What's really confusing me is, now, regardless of whether the choke is correctly set up, shouldn't the van still start as it did before?

The van has been off the road for 5 weeks now so unless something else has coincidentally broken in the meantime?

There's a lot of assumptions there.
Start again, methodical.

Cobra88 wrote:Which part of Essex are you

It might be easier if i come and look at it if your not at the far end of Essex
Rick

Thanks for the offer, it's very kind, I'm in Wivenhoe, Colchester.

How do ignition amplifiers like the cold? We had cold snap in Jan so perhaps that has killed it?

kevtherev wrote:

jswagger wrote:Before I took the carb off, when the engine was cold it would be a pig to start, but would start. Amongst other things, it turned out that the choke pull down unit and the choke plate linkage that Kev kindly supplied were broken. Does this mean that previously the choke wasn't coming on at all?

What's really confusing me is, now, regardless of whether the choke is correctly set up, shouldn't the van still start as it did before?

The van has been off the road for 5 weeks now so unless something else has coincidentally broken in the meantime?

There's a lot of assumptions there.
Start again, methodical.

I will check the sparks and fuel just to rule them out.

We have fuel coming out of the pipe that connects to the carb. I stuck the petrol that I drained off down down the carb and it wouldn't start.

There is also spark coming from one of the spark plugs.

And the timing is good
Plugs in the right order
It's difficult remotely advising to get a non starter started, but my advice would be to use the eggcup petrol in the carb method.

I would
Fully charge the batt
Do a static timing
take couple of the plugs out and clean em.
Turn the engine over to dry the bores
Make sure the leads are on right
Tip some fuel in the carb
Crank it till it fires.

If it doesn't then I would suspect a weak or intermittent spark.

kevtherev wrote:
And the timing is good
Plugs in the right order
It's difficult remotely advising to get a non starter started, but my advice would be to use the eggcup petrol in the carb method.

I would
Fully charge the batt
Do a static timing
take couple of the plugs out and clean em.
Turn the engine over to dry the bores
Make sure the leads are on right
Tip some fuel in the carb
Crank it till it fires.

If it doesn't then I would suspect a weak or intermittent spark.

Thanks Kev, I totally understand the difficulty in remote diagnostics and your help is much appreciated.

Ok managed to get over to Jim's
and got the Van running

combination of things but seems ok now after timing it up and sorting carb out.

He looks much happier now
Rick

Hi

Apologies for delay, I had hoped to post on Friday but been having computer problems.

As mentioned above Ric extremely kindly came down and sorted everything . When I started the engine today from cold it fired first time no less and settled onto fast idle. The missing alternator nut has been replaced and a suitable bolt found to secure the broken engine earth. New breather tower, plugs and leads have been ordered.

Thanks to all who helped , especially Kev for providing the linkage itself.

Not only am I a much happier, my neighbours must be delighted at not having to hear me trying to start the van!!

No that won't do
Details please!

kevtherev wrote:No that won't do
Details please!

Sorry, I thought that was enough detail .

Rotor arm may have come adrift as van started with a substitute arm. The original one had marks on it from where it was rubbing on the distributor cap but is now back in running fine.

Choke was wasn't coming off correctly as I had managed to insert the linkage in the wrong way round! Ric spotted this and managed to take the choke spindle apart and put back together correctly .

Timing I don't think was out but hopefully Ric can remember.?

Hi Jim

Timing was slightly off but not enough to stop it starting

Think the broken earth was stopping the cutoff valve from opening
But not 100% sure

Was mostly choke flap holding choke mechanism in the off position due to the reversed lever

Came over as its far easier to fix than doing it via web and your not far away
Once i looked at carb i could see choke flap wasnt moving as it should.

Glad to hear it started ok and fast idled as intended

Regards
Rick

Also, the broken earth happened after the van stopped starting, so wouldn't be the reason for non starting

Thanks fellas.
Yes, it's so much easier when you can see the whole picture