Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, we're mid trip at the moment but cut out 3 times yesterday getting to the campsite. We've had this problem before which I thought was the coil overheating as it would happen on a long journey, normally after about 2 hours at a steady 55mph, would start spluttering and losing power until it fully conks out, cool was always very hot. A bit of cooling down and running with the engine lid off (noisy but warm cabin) would get us home. I thought a new coil fixed this (also changed the plugs, dizzy cap, rotor, leads) but we had this issue again yesterday, and the last few times were not after a long run. Fuel supply good, fuel definitely in carb (Solex) when we conk out, fuel solenoid clicking in and out strongly when earthed. One thing which was odd, after the last time it happened we pulled over and it didn't fully die so left it running while I poked around in the engine bay waggling wires, something I wiggled caused a temporary stalling and also gave me a huge jolt. I'm thinking this is related, surely I shouldn't get full 12v through me whatever I wiggle? We're about to set off again later this morning but is there anything that jumps out as obvious that I can check/change?
Cheers, Joe

I bought some cheap HT leads once from a retailer which will remain nameless ( but which wasn't Brickwerks - lesson learned) and the van was running terribly. I also ruled fuel out of the equation and a mate suggested I checked the HT leads by running the engine in the dark and taking a look. Sparks were jumping all over the shop. I wonder if maybe one/some of your cables are routed near something hot and when it warms up the insulation is retarded perhaps? You wont get a shock from 12v in the engine bay but you will most definitely get a shock from HT leads if you are an easier path to earth.

I appreciate it may be unrelated but I recently had issues with randomly cutting out and it was the ignition switch at fault. When it conks out do you have ignition lights coming on on the dashboard?