Paula

We've been on a few runs up to Hertfordshire and she's been fine, but recently she's decided ahe doesn't want to go over 60mph. She starts to stutter and lose power. Then she's fine again at about 40mph. I've cleaned up the leads (i thought it might have got damp from an overflowing radiator) but still the same. I'm now thinking fuel pump. One day i might actually go bloody camping!

I stuffed a lot of rag in there before getting the angle grinder out. The P/O called her Betsy and the number plate is TNG so tingle!

They're conspiring! Her name is Betsy Tingle.

Some random bloke down my road tried to offer advice. He then called his mate from a local garage. He told me to take the rocker cover off and he'll come and have a look on his way home. He told me that "something's not right with the timing" and that i needed to take the front timing cover off. He'd be back tomorrow to look again. He was pretty stumped when all the marks lined up and he told me to get the timing gear off as it must have lost the woodruff key. The timing gear came apart taking it off and i could tell it had moved. New gear ordered from Australia! The new gear was fatter than the old one and i needed to grind out the timing cover! It's been a hell of a mission! 57C9CD8F-FEC9-46F1-91AE-A5B26E6E236C.heic 3D6E23FE-AC3A-40CA-BEFD-43EF40DFED19.heic 97762D3C-A9A8-4872-9360-119C899CEBC7.heic 51E77135-DB37-4865-9B73-0A42592A8811.heic E739D2C0-2825-4269-ACBD-9E9F4FF69610.heic 9C5D6529-D141-4889-955E-4F2343D87EAC.heic

I've got a brand new problem now. Which is nice. God forbid I don't have a broken vehicle outside the house. What would the neighbours say?

It was actually a little quicker, but i forgot to update you all! I'm sure you were wondering! The mind isn't what it was!

Well after all that. It turned out to be the bakelite timing gear had spun on its metal centre. So the valve timing was out but the marks still lined up! New gear fitted and it ran like a dream. Very odd

I’ll give it a prod

I just checked buy my shorting out the rotor inside that there’s no continuity. The electronic one I bought has a cap with sprung contact. It seems to work as long as the 4 contacts line up ok. blimey

Hmmmm

I’ve got a eBay distributor that I might try. the cap doesn’t have a sprung contact. Is that normal?

Feargal is looking very smug

I tried it, but couldn't get a spark

The one on there is definitly an after market one anyway. So probably exactly the same. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363440489575

I've gone mad and ordered a new carb. Just out of despiration really! And the fact it was £50. Always nice to have spares if i don't need it. (trying to convince myself here)

I've had the carb off now. The jets were anoyingly clear, well the 2 in the bowl were. I can't see anything odd but i'm scared to take it apart any more. It's all back togther now and still no go. I still suspect the carb though as i'm not getting that flooded smell. I need to get some brake cleaner. It almost starts with your foot right down, but it never does. Blooming frustating!

I thought about this. It looks like it’s been replaced. I can hear it click. But when it was running badly unplugging made no difference

I was all ready for holidays but I’ve developed a new fun problem. I started losing power over about 40 miles until I had to get recovered off the M25 because 20mph really wasn’t fast enough! I decided that it was the ignition and went through all that, setting timing and it ran very nicely until it stopped at a set of lights and refused to start. One more trip on an RAC van and I’m back home. My thoughts are now fuel as it’s occurred to me that both these problems started soon after filling up. Possibly stirring up crap from the tank?? So today I’m replacing fuel filters and upgrading hose. I’m not very confident about cleaning the carb though. I’m assuming that I remove the 2 plugs (arrowed in yellow) and the jets are under there? Wish they were Strombergs! She’s looking nice though!

I like the panting description! 🐶

Ok. I’m going with dry. I think the old one wasn’t tight enough. I’ve bought stubby spanners and long sockets to get in there. Thanks!

I had some flooring left over, rather fetching I think. The bed is me size! The engine seems good. Starts well on the choke. luckily these engines were used in a ‘Ute’ popular in Australia. So parts are available.

A passing neighbour donated them!

Actually on closer inspection the replacement part looks like its metal sandwich and the old one is just some cardboard type material. Also the magnifier on iphone is really good!

The fixing up is going very well! (not fitted the distributor yet... MX5 leather seats and all sorts of poshness though! But I have a blown manifold gasket. I've found a replacement on ebay. Would you put any sealant on it or just fit it dry? I'm a little concerned that the last one doesn't look very old and it might blow its end off again (see pictures).