Club 80-90 Forums

The popping is back

Time to adjust the flow as it's summer maybe? Economy seems to be tailing off too...

Thing is it's happening on LPG *and* backfiring on petrol...

So - is it likely to be new plugs time? (Put single-point iridium ones about 7 months/5000 miles ago - thought they would last longer...)

Time for a tune-up?

Or is my battered looking exhaust (the end of the tail pipe came off just recently, back box and manifold still look OK though) a likely cause of probs?

And if it is likely to be exhaust - does LPG conversion make this more difficult/require a specialist?

Help appreciated - have had loads through here before inc. top sparkplu and idle tips whcih sorted it all out, so much I've been away a while in the van (and making wedding plans) with nowt wrong

replace the tailpipe, it IS needed.......

also check dissy cap and rotor before plugs, and check vac advance pipes, sounds like its sucking in air when it shouldnt.....* check elbows on carbs*

Hmmm - tailpipe ain't gonna come off unless I replace the whole exhaust as it's rusted so fully it'll never come loose - just ***how*** needed???

THanks - will look at dissy and carbs...

Steve

The plugs may just need regapping (25 thou)

be very carefull if you try re gapping NGK Iridium plugs, that centre electrode is mighty thin, and allthough you shouldnt touch it by regapping plugs, it may break if you catch it.
didnt think you should ever try to gap iridium plugs anyway?, might be wrong on this.

Looked into that and thought they didn't need it/too fragile - when they first went in it ran like a dream, seems pretty good right now - backfiring only hapens when I'm using gears to slow down (which is a lot in the Lakes!) so not biggest prob ever...


Will check some of the bits and pieces suggested though...

well thats an air leak in the exhaust.. or even on the inlet if its popping in the manifold.. if its "popping" and not really back firing then exhaust leaks nearer to the engine than the tailpipe..

a backfire is a really big explosion in the system.. not healthy and usuall continued problem will damage something..

popping is a series of smaller explosions in the exhaust especially on over run..

Def popping - will get exhaust looked at... (had a spot weld a while back, may need another now...)

Cheers for info and tips

Steve

just found the 'important note' slip that came with my NGK Iridium sparkplugs from Sparkplugs.co.uk regarding re gapping, it says. . .
'' do not regap iridium sparkplugs unless necessary, iridium centre electrodes can easily be damaged.if regapping, take extreme care not to exert pressure on the centre electrode. Do not use a 'ramp' type gapping tool. the nature of iridium sparkplugs allows a larger than standard gap to be used.''
worth noting, as they're not cheap!
mine have been fine on petrol and gas since fitting, i left the gap as it was out of the box. cheers, wasserleaker.

Think I might have read that as well - regapping not needed as they're AWESOME plugs when first in - have developed a few new noises of late an think it's time for a service and checking exhaust (silencer and pipe need replacing), rotor arm, distributor etc. etc.

And a tune up and new fan belt are also on the cards...

Thanks all on this thread for advice!