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Post by peppib on Jun 26, 2016 13:57:30 GMT
Unless she has been standing for a few weeks, in which case it takes a couple of turns to pump the fuel through, Mo starts first time, every time, no matter where I take her ...... EXCEPT outside the pub following Sunday lunch (only soft drinks are consumed)
Every time, for the return journey, she refuses to start until I get out, lift the bonnet, look but don't do anything, turn the starter and she fires up and then get out and close the bonnet. Today I wasn't going to play ball so just kept on turning the starter, and she kept on refusing to start - a real battle of wills. Eventually I flooded her so had to get out and dry the plugs - heartening as they were the correct colour and not sooted. She then fired instantly and purred all the way home.
Such temperament she MUST be female! 
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Post by dave1800 on Jun 27, 2016 7:27:44 GMT
Perhaps you should treat the crab to a fresh few litres when you go for a drink, that's fair.  Sounds like the dreaded vaporisation in the float chsmber. One "trick" I read was to pull the choke in and out before starting to releasse any vapour pocket in the nylon jet tube, no idea whether it works. Also fir a heat deflector to provide protection from the the exhaust heat. Happy Sunday lunch times! David |
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Post by peppib on Jun 28, 2016 7:20:02 GMT
Thanks Dave.
It only does it at the pub, never elsewhere. I can be on a motorway on a hot day, nip (or in my case, trundle) into the services, come back out, load the scooter, touch the starter and away she goes without complaint.
Next Sunday I will ask her if she wants a drink! (Either that or take the Merc)
Dave
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Post by paddymk2 on Aug 10, 2016 22:01:19 GMT
Oh don't take the merc.
If it starts after opening the bonnet is there something associated with water or humidity at that location? Or possibly temperature?
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Post by peppib on Aug 11, 2016 7:14:44 GMT
Hi Paddy
Nothing unusual about the location of the pub. Home is beside the river Tyne so far more likely to have problems there. I KNOW the atmosphere here is very damp because a few years ago I sprayed her with cellulose and she bloomed with the water in the air.
I did battle with her one day, refusing to open the bonnet and ended up flooding her. Once I dried the plugs off she was OK. Following week I just sat in her, issued a few expletives at her and third turn she fired into life! Had her to pub on Sunday (before I knew about the alarming state of the underside) and again a few choice words before turning the key did the trick!
As I said, it MUST be a temperamental female!
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Post by paddymk2 on Aug 11, 2016 15:01:00 GMT
Hey Dave,
It's intriguing. Shouldn't jump to conclusions without revisiting the crime scene but my finger is definitely pointing at water as the culprit.
(It seems like the last ages I've been doing experiments on trying to get water to spread out evenly on the medium of an evaporator - only to be thwarted by it trickling down the back.) Water is such a special material with its weird surface tension and polar features.
You may be right about the gender inside the machine - unfathomable which is what attracts us in the first place.
But I still have faith in science (oxy) and feel certain that with the right analysis the cause can be identified and the bulletproof dream car can be realised.
PS Did you ever listen to Car Talk on NPR (USA Radio) - this is right up their street.
PPS Sorry to hear about your underbelly - the nightmare begins?
Paddy
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Post by dave1800 on Aug 12, 2016 0:19:56 GMT
Hi Dave, just a question. Where you park at the pub is the ground level or if not is the nose of the car pointing up, down left or right or does where you park vary? Very odd it only happens there
regards
David
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Post by peppib on Aug 12, 2016 7:10:46 GMT
David - the car is parked on level ground, always within a few feet of the same spot at the pub door (I can't walk any further)
Had her somewhere other than the pub last week and she behaved perfectly.
Dave
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Post by paddymk2 on Aug 12, 2016 12:04:54 GMT
Hi Dave,
I was talking with a guy who owns a 1969 Alfa GTV (built out of old biscuit tins)
He told me that when he pressed on the brake pedal the RHS headlight went out.
Eventually traced it back to a dodgy earth connection.
Perhaps opening the bonnet jiggles the earth contacts?
His mate had a similar problem with an old Corolla - except the horn beeped when turning left!
We've all seen the so dim tail lights that fade further when the brakes are applied.
I still blame water - if only for causing corrosion.
Paddy
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Post by peppib on Aug 12, 2016 19:27:56 GMT
Paddy - over the years I have had issues with earth wires on several cars - some current models at the time. A few years ago (memory fails me but about 4 or 5) all the earth wires on Mo were replaced and all joints soldered.
My Moggy used to give me the greatest headaches with earthing problems - usually in the boot behind the spare wheel and difficult to access
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Post by dave1800 on Aug 13, 2016 0:16:43 GMT
I assume that the engine is turning over but not firing. If so that should rule out a bad earth as the starter motor, engine block and points ignition share the same big earth. If you have electronic ignition then there will usually be a separate earth lead worth checking. Did you try the trick of pulling out the choke knob a couple of times to allegedly remove a vapour block in the nylon jet feed tube? Have a good drive to Leeds. David David - the car is parked on level ground, always within a few feet of the same spot at the pub door (I can't walk any further)
Had her somewhere other than the pub last week and she behaved perfectly.
Dave
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Post by peppib on Aug 13, 2016 7:52:06 GMT
Yes David I tried that trick and it didn't make any difference. Ignition is original as I understand what I am doing with it - electronics goes straight over my head. She just spins fine but doesn't fire. It is right outside a window and provides entertainment for the bar staff!
Mechanically I have no worries about the trip to Leeds - this is the car I used to take all over the country to tow others home when I used to restore them. Furthest trip was Falmouth and back - was 'happy' on a Sunday afternoon when I bought that car on ebay, didn't look to see where it was and only after I sent the paypal payment did I see the location. Don't shop for cars when 'happy' is the moral of that I think ..... and it was an Allegro  posh Vanden Plas one, but it was still an Allegro! 
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Post by peppib on Sept 3, 2016 14:40:48 GMT
Brought car home from Chris last week without any problems. Parked her in my garage space and left her. Because she had played up for Chris (but not me) I bought a new coil. Today I went to fit said coil and clean some of the cr ... er, rusty debris, from the dash. Needed to move her to get doors open more comfortably so she started second touch (mechanical pump had to get fuel from tank) BUT no accelerator. Eh? She managed fine home from Yeadon and no one has been near her since. Will now have to wait until a) Her Ladyship is awake and b) in a good mood so I can get her to press the throttle to see if there is any movement under the bonnet. Great
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Post by Penguin45 on Sept 3, 2016 23:41:35 GMT
Sorry about the dusty residues. There just wasn't time. It was your floor wot dunnit, honest guv.
She wasn't really naughty - she'd been sat for a week and I treated her like mine. ¾ choke, turn her over with a dab of throttle, nothing. She went in the end. I was amazed that when I told you about this, you simply reached into the car and flicked the key and she started!
Regarding the current problem, I suppose the throttle cable might have hopped off the accelerator lever if the retaining clip is missing?
Chris.
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Post by dave1800 on Sept 4, 2016 2:16:00 GMT
Why would you want to touch the accelerator - that would potentially weaken the mixture as there is no accelerator pump? I was taught never to touch the throttle when starting a car with a SU carb - was that correct? In fact I have never owned a non fuel injected car with other than SU or Stromberg carbs so forget to dab the throttle when driving a vehcle fitted with a fixed choke carb. On the SU, the linkage opens the butterfly slightly when the choke is used to compensate and provide the fast cold idle. David She wasn't really naughty - she'd been sat for a week and I treated her like mine. ¾ choke, turn her over with a dab of throttle, nothing. She went in the end. I was amazed that when I told you about this, you simply reached into the car and flicked the key and she started! Chris. |
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Sounds like the dreaded vaporisation in the float chsmber. One "trick" I read was to pull the choke in and out before starting to releasse any vapour pocket in the nylon jet tube, no idea whether it works. Also fir a heat deflector to provide protection from the the exhaust heat.
posh Vanden Plas one, but it was still an Allegro! 
