A Dead Land Rover 2a

Hello,
I need help. My Dad and me own a 1969 series 2a Landy. The other week it acquired bad miss fire. We replaced all the spark plugs, leads, points, distributor cap, condenser and coil lead. We also checked the tappets and they were in order. So when we came to start it after. Nothing. We put all the old stuff back on and still no luck. The engine turns over. There is a strong spark and the petrol is reaching the plugs. We checked the timing and that is fine.
Any help with this would be greatfully recived.

Eyup Oily, it's possible that the coil is defective. Sometimes these start with a bad misfire (particularly under load) before they go tits up. Also check the condition of the low tension wire between the coil and the connection on the side of the distributor body.

Regards WP.

thanks for that we did suspect the coil maybe a problem

We have now re-placed the coil for a brand new one and still it refuses to start. We now suspect that it has the wrong rotor arm as it has a big gap between the end of the arm and the pick ups in the distributor cap. Could this be another problem?

I doubt it as you earlier confirmed a strong spark. Did you check the low tension lead for continuity ?. This is a long shot but by my own admission I once got the condenser contact on the wrong side of the plastic shim on the points post, that induced failure to start.

Regards WP.

Hello again. Still no luck. I have checked and replaced the low tention lead as you said and tried the points on either side of the plastic washer. We are now suspecting the timing is out as there is a strong spark and enough fuel present. It now fires once every so often the nothing after. Could anyone suggest how to set up the static timing please. Any help would be greatfully recived.

Try firing the motor up whilst twisting the distributor body slightly from left to right to see if it will catch on. Before you do this mark the position of the distributor body in relation to the block. It's possible that the distributor clamp has loosened if it still refuses to fire.

Regards WP.

strongly recommend you time it with a strobe lamp, easy to be miles out with static timing. Also if it's old & worn (like me) the strobe will show this up at low revs under no load. If worn, swallow hard, bin it & get a new one, you will be pleased with the result!

Hello Thanks for your advice. My Dad has got a strobe lamp but like you he is old and worn and it has been years since he has used it. Is it possible to use it on the Landy when the engine is not running and having to hold it on the key?

yes this is possible, its also an idea to try starting it with ether(easy start) loads of people will frown upon this but the way i see it is that if it won't start on ether it will never start

yella disco said:

yes this is possible, its also an idea to try starting it with ether(easy start) loads of people will frown upon this but the way i see it is that if it won't start on ether it will never start

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Bloody hell YD, you're pushin it chap. If the purists see this the Land Rover Taliban will be up in arms. I foresee a re-run of suspension renewal.

Regards WP.

ah good point wes, i forgot about the lz taliban, ok people scrap my last post , hows you wes, long time no chat

yella disco said:

ah good point wes, i forgot about the lz taliban, ok people scrap my last post , hows you wes, long time no chat

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Although we've already done the pm bit, I'm fine. Please excuse my public roodness !!!!!!!.

Regards WP.

no probs mate, but you know how he lz taliban react when we ignore posts

yella disco said:

no probs mate, but you know how he lz taliban react when we ignore posts

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This is very true my learned friend. Sod 'em eh?

Regards WP.

Try some of this stuff...

Thanks everyone for all your help. We finally got it running this morning. Here is how the story ends.
We replaced the distributor for a brand new one (not lucas but the modern equivalent. From www.mm-4x4.com for only £17.01 with out V.A.T) and tried to start it this morning. Nothing. Then checked to see if there was a spark but none at all. We then changed the spark plugs ( even though these were near enough new) for old ones we had lying about one at a time checking each one for a spark. As we put the plugs in, cranking it over it tried to start on one plug, so we were eager to put them all in. Once they were in we did a final check and turned the key. Bang put-put-put. The Landy erupted in to life. We didnt want to turn it off just in case it wouldnt start again. Whilst it was running we decided to put the bonnet back down as it was resting against the windscreen, as we put it down somehow the bonnet support bar slipped and touched both parts of the battery and BANG. The battery had near enough split in 2 with acid leaking every where. OH NO. lucky we had another battery handy. That was eagerly put on and charged as it was a bit flat. 1 hour later it was time to turn the key agian, hoping it will start, and it did, and quite smooth as well.
Now that it is up and running we now plan to do the rest of the work to it that is needed to pass the M.O.T.

Thanks again for all your help.

It's me again. The engine is still running sweet as a nut but the gearbox is now playing up. Every time it is in everse it stalls and what every gear it is in it is hard the dis-engage it. Could it be the clutch or the slave playing up?

Hello "me again". It could be either. If its been stood a while the clutch mechanism may want freeing up. Check and see if its losing fluid, if it is then it is most likely the slave or master cylinder at fault.

Regards WP.

Hello. Thanks for the reply. How would we go about freeing it up? ie wud we have to drive it or take the gearbox apart? Also if the slave or master cylinder is at fault and is leaking where abouts would it most likey to be leaking from?